The care providers at Penobscot Bay Medical Center are responsible for meeting your health needs during your hospital stay and preparing you to manage your illness after you go home. The health care professionals that take care of you want to provide you with all the information you need to maintain and improve your health. It is your right and your responsibility to ask for more information if you have questions on any aspect of your care.
From the time of your admission, a Registered Nurse Case Manager will be assigned to work with you, your doctor and the other members of the PBMC healthcare team. As required by insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the Case Manager will review your care to assure that the standards for care and use of services are being met.
The Patient Care Team will provide care to you under the direction of your physician. Members of the Patient Care Team are:
- Registered Nurse, RN: In addition to delivering a portion of your care, the registered nurse coordinates the activities of other Patient Team members providing care during your hospital stay.
- Certified Nursing Assistant, CNA: The Certified Nursing Assistants will provide your basic daily living needs such as food delivery, bathing, help with walking, etc.
- Unit Secretary: This person maintains the medical and financial records related to your stay.
- Rehabilitation Services: Inpatient Physical, Occupational, Respiratory, Speech, and other therapists provide rehabilitation services through consultation, evaluation, and individualized treatment. These therapists provide each patient with education and training to reach his or her highest functional level: mobility and safety, self-care, swallowing, and cognitive skills.
- Dietician: PBMC's Nutritional Services Department may be involved in the evaluation of your dietary needs in conjunction with your care.
In the course of your treatment, you may be visited by a care giver from the following services:
- Cardiopulmonary
- Radiology
- Respiratory Care
- Laboratory
- Physical and Occupational Therapy
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Quality Management
- Social Work
The Quality Management Department monitors the quality of care delivered throughout the organization.
Social Services offer skilled professional help to any patient who has personal problems related to his or her illness. This help may include talking with family members and patients about services available in the community or assistance in filling out applications for disability and Medicaid programs and Advanced Directives.
Social Services and Registered Nurses work together to ensure that appropriate plans and services are in place at the time of discharge. For example, this might include helping the patient and family with nursing home placement. The members of the department are well informed about the various community, state, and federal programs available, and can act as resources to make sure appropriate services are identified. In certain situations, the Quality Management staff will also work with patients after discharge when needs are identified at a later time. If you are concerned that you may need help at home, ask about the services of Kno-Wal-Lin Homecare Services.
Ethics Committee
Making decisions about medical care is increasingly difficult and complex. Sometimes patients, families, and care givers need help discussing difficult issues and making choices that are best for all concerned. If you are struggling with these kinds of decisions, the PBMC Ethics Committee is available as a resource to assist you. The committee strives to look out for the best interests of the patient. You may contact the committee by calling Cynthia Seefahrt at 596-8441 and leaving a message including the patient's name and the person to contact.
Updated: 5/2/08