Patient & Visitor Guide (2024)

Visiting Hours

Family members and friends are encouraged to visit patients as part of the recovery process.

NOTE: As a result of COVID-19, UM Health-West has implemented some restrictions on visitors for the health and safety of our patients, staff and fellow visitors. See our visitor policy for the most up-to-date information.

Only healthy visitors are allowed. Visitors who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 are not permitted. All visitors must also wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status.

Parking, Free Valet, and Shuttle Service

Parking for hospital patients and visitors is the visitorparking lot directly in front of the hospital; all parking aisles arenumerically marked. Handicapped parking is reserved in marked spaces close toall entrances.

Free valet parking is available Monday through Friday*:
Hospital Main Entrance | M-Th: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Professional Building | M-Th: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., F: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

*Please note, due to staffing shortages, there may be days or times when valet services are not offered.

Shuttle service is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The shuttle vehicle is marked and lighted and can be contacted by calling 616.252.7330.

When picking up a patient, we ask the driver to bring the vehicle to the entrance only when the patient is actually ready to depart. A staff member will escort the patient to the lobby and remain with the patient until the driver arrives.

Food and Beverages

  • Hospital Café: Located on the first floor of the hospital, the café is open daily:
    Breakfast | 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
    Lunch | 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Dinner | 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
    Late Night | 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (only credit and debit cards accepted during this time)
  • Tommy Brann’s Coffee Bar: Serving Starbucks coffee and snacks in the front lobby of the hospital, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Vending machines: Available on levels 2, 4, 5 and 6, and in the Assisted Breathing Center and Emergency waiting room.

Gift Shop

Located in the Hospital Main Lobby and staffed by volunteers, the gift shop carries apparel, jewelry, cards, snacks, toiletries and more. Proceeds benefit the UM Health-West Foundation.

Gift Shop hours:
Monday – Friday | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Shop the online Gift Shop anytimehere.Free shipping is now available when shipping to a UM Health-West location!

Chapel

The Peter C. & Pat Cook Chapel is outside of the Café entrance near Subway. It is available at all hours to visitors and patients. It is intended as a quiet place for reflection and prayer for people of all faiths.

Hospital Grounds and Other Amenities

UM Health-West Hospital is situated on an innovative health village, with gardens and walking paths surrounded by restaurants, services and hotels.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
An ATM is available outside the UM Health-West Café near the public elevators. Based on where you regularly bank, there may be a fee assessed to your account for using this ATM.

Family Conference Rooms
These private rooms, found on each floor, may be used for quiet or spiritual reflection as well as a space for families to meet with one another or with physicians to discuss the care of a patient. For directions to a conference room, ask a staff member.

Frog Hollow Park
Visitors, especially those with children, are invited to visit and play in Frog Hollow Park, located in UM Health-West Village. Frog Hollow Park is an able-to-play park, providing opportunity for able bodied and disabled children to join together in play.

The Hearing Loop
Our Hearing Loop helps patients and visitors with hearing loss by tuning out noises in key areas of the hospital. To use it, switch your hearing aid to the “T” position in these areas: lobby, registration and information desk areas, as well as the emergency department and 6th floor nurses station. For more information about the Hearing Loop, call extension 7000.

Public Phones & Computers
Courtesy phones for local calls are available in waiting areas. There are no pay phones. Public access computers are available in the Tommy Brann’s Coffee Bar, in the hospital lobby, for visitors to use anytime, day or night.

Skytron Consumer Health Library
Our library has easy to read books about diseases and conditions and also features newspapers and magazines, computers with Internet access and comfortable seating in a quiet atmosphere. The library is open weekdays to staff, patients and visitors from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm and is located in the UM Health-West Professional Building. Feel free to ask the librarian for assistance. Contact the librarian at extension 7021 for more information.

Maps

UM Health-West Village MapDownload

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We Want to Hear from You

If you have any concerns about your care, please let us know so we can work with you to resolve them.

  • Your NURSE is the most immediate person who can address your concerns.
  • CLINICAL COORDINATORS are nurses that supervise the day-to-day care on the unit. You are welcome to request to speak with a Clinical Coordinator if your nurse cannot resolve your concern.
  • The CLINICAL DIRECTOR is the nurse who is in charge of the unit you are on. The Clinical Director is available to address concerns that your nurse or the Clinical Coordinator were not able to resolve.
  • After you have spoken with all of these nurses, if you feel your concerns have not been addressed to your satisfaction, please contact UM Health-West’s PATIENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR at (616) 252-7563.

Tips for your Hospital Stay – From the Patient Family Advisory Council

The UM Health-West Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) has gathered 10 tips to help patients heal and take an active role in their care.

Tips for your hospital stay

Patient & Visitor Guide (2024)

FAQs

How do you respond to patient questions? ›

Calm the patient as much as you can if they're concerned, but also be realistic with them. It's a tough balance to strike sometimes, with any of these patient questions, but it makes a huge difference to your patients to know they have someone there who cares enough to answer their questions.

What do you say when visiting a patient? ›

Here are a few things you can say or do that are perfectly appropriate.
  1. Tell them you have been thinking of them or praying for them.
  2. Tell them you are sorry that they have been sick.
  3. Tell them you and others miss seeing them.
  4. Ask them how they are feeling.
May 15, 2018

What is a patient visit summary? ›

A patient visit summary is a concise document generated after a clinical appointment or hospital visit. It summarizes the significant aspects of the visit, including diagnoses, treatments administered, medications prescribed, and follow-up care instructions.

How do I make sure the patient comes first? ›

Putting patients first
  1. knowing the patient as an individual.
  2. being responsive.
  3. providing care that is meaningful.
  4. respecting the individual's values, preferences, and needs.
  5. fostering trusting caregiving relationships.
  6. emphasizing freedom of choice.
  7. promoting physical and emotional comfort.

What are six simple questions for a practice patient survey? ›

What should a patient satisfaction survey include?
  • How were your interactions with the doctor and office staff? ...
  • How was the wait time? ...
  • Did you get enough time with the doctor? ...
  • How easy was it to schedule an appointment? ...
  • What else do you want us to know? ...
  • How do you improve your practice and the patient experience?

What is the best reply to be patient? ›

"I am so thankful for your patience and kindness. Your understanding and willingness to wait has meant the world to me. I appreciate the time you have taken to be patient with me and for being there for me through the good times and the bad. Your patience has been a true source of strength and resilience for me."

What do I say to a patient? ›

Get well soon!” This classic, sweet message can lift their spirits. A simple acknowledgement, whether it's in-person or via text, shows that you're there and rooting for their recovery. This message is best if they're in the hospital for a temporary illness that they'll recover from quickly.

How do you talk confidently to a patient? ›

Avoid being judgmental.

But it's important to try to understand where they're coming from and avoid saying or doing things that make them feel uncomfortable or like they can't be honest with you. Be calm and understanding at all times when you talk to your patients.

How do you talk professionally to patients? ›

  1. Be attentive. “Listen completely and attentively. ...
  2. Ask open questions. ...
  3. Be curious. ...
  4. Summarise throughout. ...
  5. Involve friends and family. ...
  6. Use the right tone. ...
  7. Be aware of your patient's situation.
Jan 9, 2020

How to write a patient summary? ›

A good medical summary will include two components: 1) log of all medications and 2) record of past and present medical conditions. Information covered in these components will include: Contact information for doctors, pharmacy, therapists, dentist – anyone involved in their medical care.

How do you tell a patient story? ›

Make sure to use natural and authentic language, avoiding jargon or overly technical terms that could alienate readers. Focus on the journey: A compelling patient story often revolves around the individual's holistic experience with the healthcare system, from the initial diagnosis to the eventual outcome.

What is on a patient summary? ›

Your Summary Care Record is a short summary of your GP medical records. It tells other health and care staff who care for you about the medicines you take and your allergies.

What is the first priority for a patient? ›

The first priority during a medical emergency is to save lives. A person who is unconscious and unresponsive may be close to death, and rescuers must assess the situation and begin treatment as needed to restore and maintain the person's airway, breathing, and circulation (the ABCs).

What are 4 ways to identify a patient? ›

Acceptable identifiers may be the individual's name, an assigned identification number, telephone number, date of birth or other person-specific identifier." Use of a room number would NOT be considered an example of a unique patient identifier.

What is the first thing you should prioritize when meeting a patient? ›

The basic physiological needs are food, water, warmth, and rest. Located at the bottom of the pyramid, these are the most crucial things to focus on when you are caring for your patient.

How do we properly respond to questions? ›

How to respond to questions effectively
  1. Prepare for tough questions. ...
  2. Pause before responding. ...
  3. Monitor your body language. ...
  4. Reword the question. ...
  5. Take more time if you need to. ...
  6. Acknowledge the other person's emotions. ...
  7. Answer a portion of the question. ...
  8. Ask questions about the question.

How do you respond to an assess question? ›

In the case of 'assess' question words, you are expected to consider or make an informed judgement about the value, strengths or weakness of an argument, claim or topic. 'Assess' questions place particular emphasis on weighing all views concerning the essay subject, as opposed to your opinion only.

How do you respond to a health question? ›

Predetermined answers to respond with if you don't want to share your health information:
  1. I don't feel comfortable talking about that right now.
  2. Thanks for your care and I will share more about it if and when I am ready.
  3. My health and body is not a topic of conversation.
Apr 12, 2023

What do you think are some good ways to address patient questions or concerns? ›

Addressing Common Patient Concerns
  • Listen. ...
  • Empathize. ...
  • Ask/Inquire. ...
  • A.C.T. (Appear Calm and Tactful) ...
  • Conclude & Document. ...
  • Additional suggestions for the practice include:
  • Additional Resources:
Aug 3, 2021

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