As a patient at St. Mary's Hospital, you have specific responsibilities, as outlined below.

You have the responsibility to:

• Provide accurate and complete information regarding yourself, your present medical problems, past illnesses and other matters relating to your health.
• Follow the plan of treatment established by those who plan your care and agreed upon by you. You are responsible for asking any questions you may have regarding the instructions you receive.
• Report any unexpected or sudden changes in your condition to those responsible for your care.
• Acceptany consequences, if you refuse treatment or do not follow medical instructions.
• Be courteous and considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, and to see that your visitors do the same.
• Provide accurate information when making financial arrangements to pay your hospital bill. You are responsible for the payment for your bill - including any portion that is not promptly paid by your insurance company.
• Observe hospital policies relating to your conduct as a patient.

An Advocate For You
When you come to St. Mary's Hospital for healthcare, all of your energy should be focused on getting better. But sometimes you need someone to talk to, someone who
can create a bridge between you, the patient, and the people caring for you.

That’s where our patient advocates come in. The patient advocates can help make your stay more comfortable, assist your family and make sure your feedback is channeled
to the right people in the hospital.

To ask a question or give us feedback about your care, treatment or service while you are in the hospital, please ask the nearest employee to contact a patient advocate
for you. You may also dial 0 for the operator and ask him or her to reach the patient advocate for you. 

Your satisfaction with the service at St. Mary's Hospital is very important to us. We may be contacting you after your visit to get feedback on your stay. This will help us continue to make positive changes to make your experience better.

For further communication, please feel free to call the hospital's CEO hotline at 301-475-6142, or contact our Administrative Offices at 301-475-6001.

St. Mary's Hospital is a full-service hospital that delivers state-of-the-art emergency, acute inpatient and outpatient services. More than 230 physicians work together with over 1,000 hospital employees to provide personalized care for each of our patients.

Our Mission: St. Mary's Hospital is a community hospital that upholds its tradition of caring by continuously promoting, maintaining and improving health through education and service while assuring fiscal integrity.

Our Vision: St. Mary's Hospital will be valued as an integral partner in the seamless Southern Maryland Healthcare Continuum. Respecting and being proactive in furthering the health of all in the community, we will provide excellence in service and education. Our future will be built on welcoming positive change and innovation, today and tomorrow.

Our Values: St. Mary's Hospital has adopted CARE with RESPECT as a framework of essential values to carry out our mission and vision.

How Are We Doing?
Here at St. Mary's Hospital we want to make your stay with us as positive and productive as possible. With this in mind, we'd like to know what we are doing right and what needs improvement. We depend on our patients and their families to let us know how we're doing.

If you are an inpatient or emergency patient in our hospital, you may later receive a brief survey in the mail. It takes just about ten minutes to convey your thoughts about your stay with us. By sharing your feelings about your healthcare experience, you can help us improve our care.Your response will help us understand what is important to you and what we can do to make your stay the best it can be. Please remember that our staff will be responsive to your feedback, so speak up if you have a question or concern.

To each of our patients who have returned these surveys in the past, thank you. We have learned some important information to help us serve you better.

You are always welcome to write to the President & CEO, Christine Wray, directly or to call her office at 301-475-6001. The mailing address is St. Mary's Hospital, P.O. Box 527, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650.

Once again, thank you for helping us understand how to meet your expectations for service excellence.

• You, as the patient, can also play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your healthcare team.
• The "Speak Up" program, sponsored by The Joint Commission, urges patients to get involved in their care. Such efforts to increase consumer awareness and involvement are supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body, and you have a right to know.

Your Hospital Bed
Hospital beds are electrically operated, and your nurse will show you how to work your bed properly. Rails are provided for your protection. They may be raised at night or during the day if you're resting, recovering from surgery or taking certain medications.For Your Comfort
All of our rooms are centrally heated and air-conditioned. If your room temperature is not comfortable, please notify the nursing staff. You are welcome to bring pajamas and other personal items from home. If desired, bathrobes are available from the hospital for use during your stay.

Your Identification Bracelet
During admission, you will receive an identification bracelet with your name and other information. It will be placed on your wrist to identify you to the healthcare team participating in your care. Staff will reference your name and birth date to confirm your identity.

Calling Your Nurse
A button to call your nurse is at your bedside. When you press the button, your nurse is alerted that you need assistance and will respond to your signal as soon as possible.

Television
A television is available in your room. Please remember to be mindful of the volume and turn it off by 10 p.m.

Housekeeping
Your room is cleaned daily by a member of the housekeeping staff. If there is a housekeeping problem in your room, please tell your nurse and it will be taken care of promptly.

Telephone
A phone is located at your bedside for your use. Please turn to our Family and Friends section in this guide for details on telephone use.

Meals
Wholesome, nourishing and well-balanced meals are an important part of your treatment and recovery. St. Mary's Hospital makes every effort to provide nutritious meals that are
prepared according to your doctor’s orders. Patients are served breakfast between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., lunch between 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and dinner between 4:45 and 6:30 p.m. In between scheduled meal service, patients may order from the Room Service Menu located in their room.

A representative from the Nutrition Services Staff will deliver a menu for the next day’s meal every morning. Please mark your choices, and your menu will be picked up between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. If you are on a special diet prescribed by your doctor, you will receive menus tailored to your specific needs. Remember, if you are admitted in between our normal meal service times, you may select a meal from our Room Service Menu. When your tray is delivered, you will receive a menu to select your next meal.

Special Diets
The following are some general guidelines for patients with special diet needs. A registered dietitian from St. Mary's Hospital can answer your questions about your meals or diet. More detailed printed guidelines are also available. Please call Extension 6049 to speake with a member of our staff.

• Diabetic: Each day, attempt to eat three well-balanced meals and an evening snack. Try to eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal because carbohydrates have the most effect on your blood sugars. Carbohydrates include starches, fruit and juices, milk and sweets.
  
  Don't forget to choose other foods that contain protein and fats. Some vegetables and items like diet gelatin and diet sodas are freebees. Your evening snack will
  consist of either one or two carbohydrate choices. If you are on a clear or full
  liquid diet, you will receive foods that contain sugar such as regular gelatin, since you still need carbohydrates.

• Cardiac: Restrictions on the cardiac diet include low sodium, low cholesterol and no caffeine. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy products in your menus.

• Renal: This diet restricts sodium, potassium, phosphorous, and may also restrict protein and fluids.

• NPO: This means nothing by mouth. A dietitian will monitor your NPO status.

• Weight Management: If your doctor has ordered a diet for weight loss, we will provide a diet to start you on a gradual weight reduction process. Once discharged, if further help is needed, we offer a weightloss program called Simple Steps. For more information, call Extension 6019.

The Medical Staff
The physician who admits you is responsible for directing your care while you are a patient in the hospital. Your physician, as the coordinator for your treatment program, should be consulted if you have questions about your illness.

The hospital is pleased to have a diverse Medical Staff with many specialties represented. The majority of our physicians are board certified. If you need a physician referral, please call our Medical Staff Office at Extension 6088. St. Mary's Hospital publishes a pictorial physician directory, which is updated annually. If you would like a copy, please ask a nurse or patient advocate.

Healthcare Professionals
Nursing care is provided 24 hours a day by a team of professional registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse technicians. A charge nurse is responsible for directing and coordinating nursing care on each unit. Please feel free to contact your nurse or the charge nurse if you have questions or concerns.

While you are a patient at St. Mary's, you will be visited by many healthcare rofessionals other than doctors and nurses.  For example, radiology technicians, physical, occupational and speech therapists, registered dietitians and respiratory therapists
may participate in your treatment plan as well. All SMH staff members wear photo identification badges indicating their name and position so that you can identify them easily.

These physicians will manage and coordinate your care from admission to discharge. This individual will be in frequent contact with your primary doctor on every aspect of your medical care – whether your admission was planned or the result of an emergency.

What are My Hospitalist's Qualifications?
Our Hospitalists are not residents or physicians-in-training.  They are highly qualified, fully-trained physicians who specialize in the care of hospitalized patients. All of our Adult Hospitalists are Board Certified in internal medicine and our Pediatric Hospitalists are Board Certified or Board Eligible in pediatrics.

Social work staff are trained to help patients and family members adjust to illnesses and deal with financial, social and emotional problems that relate to illness or hospitalization.
Members of the department work with patients and families to help cope with acute and chronic illnesses and rehabilitation.

Cancer Care
St. Mary's Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient oncology services, and provides medical oncology/hematology evaluations and consultations, patient education and counseling, cancer surgery, research and diagnostic testing. The Outpatient Infusion Service (OPIS) Unit is located on the first floor of the hospital. Free patient parking is available adjacent to OPIS; the area is wheelchair accessible. The unit is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to
7 p.m.

Our Cancer Program and Tumor Registry are approved cancer programs by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Supportive care and treatments are offered to patients from Washington Hospital Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Georgetown University and George Washington Hospital among others. Supportive care is also offered to pediatric patients in conjunction with Children's National Medical Center.

St. Mary's Hospital participates in a variety of national clinical trials to local residents. Call Extension 6070 to contact OPIS.

Hospice patients are cared for at home and in the nursing home by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers who address the physical, spiritual and emotional pain of both the patient and family. For more information, please call 301-475-2023.

Every individual and every situation is unique at St. Mary's Hospital. If you have a special need or consideration, please mention it and we will try to offer assistance if possible. Following are a few special considerations for which you may require some
assistance.

Ethics Council
In compliance with state law, the St. Mary's Hospital Ethics Council is available to advise patients, families, physicians and hospital staff regarding ethical situations as necessary. The council is available to advise as to options for medical care and treatment of individuals with life-threatening conditions as well as withholding medical treatment.
The SMH Ethics Council is composed of a physician and nurse not directly involved with the care of the patient in question, a social worker, and the President & CEO or designated Vice President. Any others interested, such as the patient and/or family, and the patient's physician, nurse or clergy may also be invited to participate. For more information, please call Extension 6088.

Organ and Tissue Donation
In compliance with the Maryland Anatomical Gift Act and to ensure donation options are considered, we utilize the services of the Maryland Transplant Resource Center whenever necessary. If you have considered organ and/or tissue donation or have made special arrangements, please inform your nurse or patient advocate.

Advance Directives
Advance directives are legal documents that state your choices about medical treatment. They may name someone to make choices about your medical treatment if you are unable to make those choices yourself.

In keeping with our Patient Rights (shown on the left panel of this guide), St. Mary's Hospital adheres to the principle that all adults have the right to make decisions about their healthcare, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment that may extend or prolong life.

In compliance with state and federal laws, our admitting and nursing staff will ask if you have prepared an advance directive. If so, a copy will be made and placed in your medical record. You do not need an advance directive to receive care. If you would like information and/or assistance regarding advance directives, please call Extension 6255.

Interpreters
St. Mary's Hospital has access to interpreters for the deaf and hearing impaired, as well as a number of foreign languages if a patient should require it. For help in this area,
please ask an SMH employee to contact the Clinical Resource Management Department at Extension 6255.

Pastoral and Spiritual Care
St. Mary's hospital provides patients, visitors and staff spiritual and pastoral care. The volunteer chaplains rotate a 24-hour on-call schedule for patients who have indicated they would like a visit. If you would like, the chaplain will be glad to contact your clergy or spiritual caregiver. Please let your nurse know if you would like a visit or dial Extension 6453 during regular business hours.

In An Emergency
The Emergency Care Center is open 24 hours a day and is prepared to handle medical emergencies of all kinds.  In order to provide prompt care, patients are seen in order of the seriousness of their illness rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. The Emergency Care Center has a Fast Track for patients to expedite treatment should our triage nurse direct you that route. Your physician will be contacted if you need to be admitted to the hospital.

Maryland law requires consent for treatment from the parent or legal guardian of any child under 18 years of age. In order to provide care and protect the privacy of patients, visitation by the family spokesperson will be at the discretion of the staff. If you or a loved one experiences a minor injury in the evening or on the weekend, St. Mary's Hospital also offers Express Care at the St. Mary's Medical Center at Charlotte Hall. Hours for Express Care are weekdays 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends/holidays
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Joint Commission
St. Mary's Hospital encourages the public to report any concerns with patient care and safety to the hospital's management. If the concerns in question cannot be resolved
at this level, the individual is encouraged by St. Mary's Hospital to contact The Joint Commission or the Office of Health Care Quality.

Headquarters and Conference Center
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Boulevard
 Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: 630-792-5000 • Fax: 630-792-5005
Email: complaint@jointcommission.org

Office of Health Care Quality
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Spring Grove Hospital Center-Bland Bryant Building
55 Wade Avenue
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
Phone Number: 410-402-8000 • Toll-free: 1-877-402-8218

Precautions include vigorous hand washing, the use of gloves when starting IVs and the wearing of other protective equipment during specified procedures. These precautions offer a safeguard against disease for you and every other patient who receives care here.

Medications
All medications you take while in the hospital are prescribed by your doctor, dispensed by the hospital pharmacy and administered by a nurse. For your safety, patients are not permitted to administer drugs or keep personal medications at the bedside.

A Smoke-Free Environment
Smoking is not permitted in any part of the hospital setting.  If you are a smoker, please talk to your doctor about a prescription or smoking cessation program to help you stop.
Other materials and assistance are available through the hospital's Pulmonary Services and Health Connections departments.

A fire alarm override has been provided for access to the building by emergency personnel in the event of a fire.

St. Mary's Hospital makes every effort to maintain a safe and secure environment for patient care. Your health and safety are our main concern during your stay. Following
are some basic guidelines regarding patient safety.

• When each patient is admitted, he or she will be evaluated for any risk factors that may cause a safety concern. The patient will then be evaluated according to age, mobility, strength, disease processes and neurological status.
•  If the patient has any safety issues to be addressed, he or she will be moved as close to the nurse’s station as possible.
•  Should a patient become confused while at St. Mary's Hospital, various methods will be tried to help keep the patient calm and free from injury. The family may be asked to stay with the patient during this time of confusion or restlessness. If this is not possible, a staff member will be assigned to take care of the patient. During  this time, the hospital staff will continue to help the patient remain calm by turning on the TV, walking with the patient, playing different games and offering frequent rest periods.
•  If the above methods do not help to calm the patient, a safety device may be needed to help the patient stay in bed so that he or she will not become injured.

Here are a few basic rules to avoid mishaps while staying at St. Mary's Hospital.

• Always wear bedroom slippers when you get out of your bed.
• Please do not get out of bed to use the bathroom without assistance unless your physician has given you permission to do so.
• Take care not to lean on a bedside cabinet or table for support; they may move under your weight.
•  Always have assistance in getting in and out of a wheel chair. Be sure to use the nurse’s call button for assistance.
• Drink hot liquids only while you are in an upright position to avoid upsetting them or spilling them on yourself.
• Please do not attempt to lower the bedside rails without help.

At St. Mary's Hospital, your health is our primary concern.  Please talk to your nurse if you have any questions about your safety or that of a loved one.

Visitors play a vital role in supporting loved ones and friends at St. Mary's Hospital. We'll do our best to make you feel welcome and comfortable during your time with us.

Visitor Policy
We have a strong commitment to customer service at St. Mary's Hospital. Family-focused care in a caring environment can be achieved while maintaining staff and patient safety. It is our philosophy that visitation of family and friends be as minimally restrictive as possible. On a case-by-case basis, limitations may need to be made due to the clinical condition of the patient or at a patient's request. Keeping your visit to 15 minutes will be helpful toward the patient’s well-being and recovery.

Visiting Guidelines
For the safety and security of our patients and their families, all visitors to the inpatient areas must sign in at the front desk, and must wear a visitor’s badge issued at sign-in.
The badge should be displayed on a visible article of clothing throughout your visit.
Visiting hours may occur any time of the day or night but may have the following restrictions:

• Intensive Care Center: Visitors must use the telephone in the visitor’s waiting area to gain entry. Visitation may be altered or reduced at the nurse’s or doctor’s discretion.
• Maternal & Women’s Health: A telephone is provided in the waiting area to assist visitors in gaining entry to patient rooms. Children are allowed to visit, providing they are healthy.
• Behavioral Health: Visiting hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Two visitors are allowed at a time per patient. All visitors must sign in at the nursing station. All packages must be inspected. Visitors under the age of 12 are allowed with permission of the charge nurse. Special exceptions can be made at the discretion of the psychiatrist.
• Medical/Surgical/Pediatrics & Telemetry: Family and friends are encouraged to visit at any time. It is important to remember that the patient will need rest periods while in the hospital and the length of the visit should take into account the patient’s welfare. Nurses and physicians may assist with assuring these rest periods.
• Emergency Care Center: Visitors are permissible at the discretion of the nurse and/or physician caring for the patient. As a rule, the number of visitors will be restricted to two. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.  Visitors may not be present under certain conditions as determined by the physician resent.
• Children: Visiting children must be attended to by an adult other than the patient. Children must not be left unattended. They may enter patient care areas only if they are healthy at the time of the visit.
• Overnight Visitors: Family or significant others are welcome to stay overnight with their loved ones in single rooms. It is requested that only one guest remain over night in the patient room. A sofa bed is available in most patient care areas for this purpose. When additional guests wish to stay overnight, alternative accommodations will be suggested on a case-by-case basis. The hospital is not obligated to accommodate an overnight stay. 

Condition Reports
 Any personal information about a patient’s diagnosis and treatment must come from the patient’s physician. This information is only given to a member of the immediate family who the patient designates as family spokesperson.

At St. Mary's, we create a record of the care and services you receive at the hospital. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements.  Your right to privacy applies to all of the records of your care generated by the hospital.

We are required by law to:

• make sure that medical information that identifies you is kept private;
•  give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to medical information about you; and
• comply with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Information about the condition and location of any inpatient, outpatient or emergency patient at St. Mary's Hospital will only be released if the patient or the patient's family gives permission that the information can be shared. For the purpose of directing phone calls and visits, the patient's location will be included in the hospital directory only if the patient has no objection. To help you understand your right to privacy, St. Mary's Hospital has prepared a comprehensive Guide to Protected Health Information. You will receive a brochure during the registration process.

• Local calls: A phone is located at the bedside in our patient rooms. To place an outside local call, dial 9 plus the area code and the number you wish to reach. There is no charge for local calls.
• Long distance calls: To make a long distance call from a patient room, dial 9-0-area code and the number you wish to reach. An outside operator will give you instructions for making a collect call, a calling card call, or other long distance arrangements. Any charges for the long distance call will be between you and the long distance provider.
• Special needs phones: TTY phones are available for deaf or hearing impaired patients. Braille and large numbered phones are available for blind and visually impaired patients.
• Cell phones: Some electro-magnetic interferences from wireless communication devices can unintentionally affect electronic medical equipment. For this vital safety reason, use of cell phones, portable phones, two-way radios, and other personal communication devices must be restricted.  In general, it is safe to use your cell phone in the Lobby, the Café at Buena Vista, and the Gift Shop. For patient safety, please abide by the posted restrictions.
• Pay phones: There are pay phones located in the Main Lobby, the Outpatient Lobby, and the waiting rooms of the Birthing Center and the Intensive Care Center.

Refreshments for Visitors
Café at Buena Vista, the St. Mary's Hospital’s cafeteria is located on the first floor. It is open for breakfast from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m., for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and for dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The cafeteria is also open between meals for beverages, desserts, sandwiches and salads.

Vending machines offering snacks and sodas are locatedin the cafeteria and the Emergency Care Center lobby. The machines are accessible 24 hours a day.

Chapel and Meditation Rooms
The Chapel and the Meditation Rooms are adjacent to each other and located on the first floor. Visitors of all faiths are welcome to visit these areas for prayer and meditation.
The Chapel is generally used by persons of all denominations who are Christian. The Meditation Room is used by persons who are of other faiths. We have several copies of the Torah, Quran, New Testament and Psalms, which are available on loan from the Volunteer Office.

Gift Shop
The Gift Shop is located just off the main lobby, and is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop has gift items, jewelry, magazines, greeting cards, balloons, flowers, candy and toiletries. The shop is operated by the St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary, a group of dedicated volunteers and proceeds from sales are donated to the betterment of the hospital.

St. Mary's Hospital is fortunate to have a generous community that cares about the health and well-being of our neighbors and friends. There are many ways to help at St.
Mary’s Hospital, and the following are a few avenues.

Volunteers
St. Mary's Hospital has an active volunteer workforce.  Members of the community give their time and talent to many different departments throughout the hospital.  All volunteer activities are coordinated through the SMH Volunteer Coordinator. There is a special program for Junior Volunteers who are at least 14 years old and going into the ninth grade. Volunteers are asked to work a minimum of one four-hour shift per month, and specify an area of interest. If you’d like to learn more, please call Extension 6453.

Foundation
The St. Mary's Hospital Foundation is an independently governed, charitable arm of this non-profit hospital. The Foundation spearheads the hospital’s Capital Campaign and runs special fundraising events, including the Foundation Gala each fall and the Epicurean Experience in September. The group periodically funds special needs for the hospital, from the expansion project and special medical equipment to annual healthcare scholarships.

Auxiliary
The St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary coordinates and participates in many activities that generate funds to improve hospital facilities and services. Auxiliary members staff the hospital’s Gift Shop seven days a week. They hold fund-raisers in the spring and fall, have bingo nights and operate the vending machines within the facility. The Auxiliary has played a key role in the acquisition of many vital improvements for the hospital.

Gifts can be made in honor or memory of a loved one or friend, or to recognize the dedicated health professionals who care for you. Copper, silver, bronze and heart leaves each represent a different level of giving from $100 to $1,000. All gifts are fully tax-deductible. Special donor receptions are held periodically to hang new leaves on the tree. A Family Album featuring donors and their families is available through the Marketing and Public Relations Department. For more information on the Giving Tree, please call Extension 6455.

• Our Beautiful Facility: The newly expanded and renovated facility is a wonderful backdrop for delivering medical care. Our units were designed for and by the nurses, doctors and other clinicians who now occupy the spaces. The hospital features private rooms and generous allowances for treating, observing, maneuvering and communicating with patients and families.
• Attractive Salary & Benefit Packages: Flexible schedules, incentive pay plans, including weekend alternative positions and a market differential for nurses in the Emergency Care Center (ECC).
• A Place to Feel at Home: You’ll be surrounded by caring teammates who live and raise their families in our community. It's a place where everybody knows their neighbors, and a helping hand on and off the job is A Great Place to Work just an instant away. You'll feel appreciated with our CARE with RESPECT employee recognition programs, including our monthly CARE ceremony.
• Career-Building Opportunities: St. Mary's Hospital offers an expanded clinical ladder for RNs, specialty area preceptorship programs and professional growth plans, along with educational scholarships, tuition reimbursement and reimbursement plus bonus for specialty certification.
• Our Southern Maryland Region: Steeped in history and surrounded by 400 miles of scenic shoreline, St. Mary's County has the best of both worlds: acres of beautiful rural countryside and an increasingly high tech center for business and community growth. With the presence of the Patuxent Naval Air Station, higher education opportunities and attractive residential communities, St. Mary's County is a rich resource waiting to be discovered. Do you know someone who might want to reap these benefits?  To explore career opportunities, please visit our website at www.smhwecare.com, or call 301-475-6018.

Our Business Office is here to process your bill for hospital services and assist you with any hospital billing problems you may have. Please note that the rates for our services are set by the State of Maryland. St. Mary's Hospital rates are among the lowest in the state.

Your Hospital Bill
The hospital is responsible for submitting bills to your insurance company and will do everything possible to expedite your claim. You should remember that your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company, and you have the final responsibility for payment of your hospital bill. We have several payment options available to assist you in paying your bill.

Your hospital bill reflects all of the services you receive during your stay. Charges fall into two categories: a basic daily rate, which includes your room, meals, nursing care,
housekeeping, and charges for special services that include items your physician orders for you, such as x-rays or laboratory tests. St. Mary's Hospital also does the billing for the professional services provided to you by our pathologist, our oncologists and hospitalists.

If you have certain tests or treatments in the hospital, you may receive bills from physicians you did not see in person. These bills are for professional services rendered by these doctors in diagnosing and interpreting test results while you were a patient. Radiologists, cardiologists, Emergency Care Center Physicians, anesthesiologists and other specialists perform these services and are required to submit separate bills.  If you have questions about these bills, please call the number printed on the statement you receive from them.

If You Are Covered by Medicare
We will need a copy of your Medicare card to verify eligibility and process your Medicare claim. You should be aware that the Medicare program specifically excludes payment for
certain items and services such as cosmetic surgery, some oral surgery procedures, personal comfort items, hearing evaluations and others. Deductibles and co-payments also are the responsibility of the patient. 

There are some tests that Medicare will cover only for a specific diagnosis. If your physician orders one of these tests and a covered diagnosis is not provided, you will be informed.  An advance beneficiary notice will be explained to you, and you will be requested to complete and sign it.

If You Have No Insurance
A representative from the Patient Accounting Department will discuss financial arrangements with you. A Medical Assistance Eligibility Counselor from St. Mary's County Department of Social Services is available here at the hospital Monday through Friday, from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. to assist you in applying for Medicaid or other assistance programs.

We hope to make your operative experience as pleasant as possible. Your care is our primary concern. Your surgeon will arrange your surgery as far in advance as possible
so that necessary insurance information is obtained and preoperative tests are performed early. Once your surgeon has contacted us, a registration clerk will call you to obtain information, make an appointment with you for your preoperative interview and schedule your diagnostic tests.

Guidelines to help the registration go smoothly:

• Have your insurance card, referrals, authorizations, instructions and physician's orders handy.
• Tell the registration clerk the name of your primary care physician and the name of your surgeon.
• Advise the registration clerk if the following conditions apply: drug or latex allergy.
• Advise the clerk of any specific tests or test days scheduled by your surgeon.

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight or the morning of your surgery. This includes water, candy, gum or chewing tobacco.
•  If you are taking medications, check with your doctor or the preoperative nurse to see whether you need to take anything on the day of surgery.
•  Make arrangements to have a responsible adult drive you home following surgery, and preferably, have some one stay with you for 24 hours.
• Refrain from taking any alcoholic beverages or unprescribed medications for 24 hours prior to and after surgery.

• Report to the St. Mary's Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Center at the prearranged time.
• Do not wear makeup or fingernail polish. Please leave all your valuables at home, including jewelry; your wedding band may be worn. The hospital cannot assume responsibility for lost valuables. Wear casual, loose, comfortable clothing. Remove contact lenses before surgery. A friend or family member may stay with you in the Surgery Unit both before and after your operation. Please limit visitors to two per patient. However, visitors will not be allowed in the operating suite.
• If your child is having surgery, you may bring a long a favorite toy. Please remain in the Ambulatory Surgery Center during the procedure.

• You will spend a little time in our Post Anesthesia Care Unit before returning to the Ambulatory Surgery Center.  You will be asked to cough and breathe deeply and allowed to sit up.
• You will be given specific postoperative instructions before you leave the hospital. You can also expect a phone call from your nurse 24 to 72 hours after surgery to see how you are recovering and to answer any questions you may have.
• DO NOT plan to drive, operate any equipment, make important decisions, sign legal papers or drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after surgery. When you return home, it is not unusual to feel sleepy or slightly dizzy.

 If you experience any difficulty at home, please do not hesitate to call your physician.

Health Connections programs provide accurate and useful healthy living information through seminars, classes, support groups, health fairs and demonstrations. Free and low cost programs are offered on the St. Mary's Hospital campus and in the community through our Health Connections department. Class offerings are listed quarterly in the hospital's quarterly newsletter, Healthy Living, and are also on the St. Mary's Hospital website, www.smhwecare.com under Health Connections.

Health & Wellness Programs

• Parents To Be Series offers soon-to-be parents and their families an opportunity to prepare for the birth of their new child. This series includes five-week child birth series, new baby care, infant safety, breastfeeding, prenatal yoga, acupressure and massage for pregnancy and big brothers & sisters courses.
• Parenting Classes continue to help parents face the challenges of raising their children. Classes include, infant massage, infant brain development, child passenger safety seat checks, adolescent communication and 1234 Parents and Active Parenting Now.
• Seniors can join the Health Connections Gold Card Club. The club meets monthly, September through June,for lunch and an educational session on a health topic asked for by the club members. AARP Driver Safety Program is also offered.
• Healthy Living programs are offered throughout the year both at the Health Connections building and at locations through out the community. Simple Steps, a weight management program, Ask a Nurse, and Smoke Free for Life, a smoking cessation class are examples of our programs to promote healthy living.
•  Support Groups meet regularly on the following topics: depression, Type 2 diabetes, children & adolescents with diabetes, cancer, special diets, pulmonary partners, asthma and good grief.
• Community Safety is involved in the American Heart Associations Heartsaver CPR and the American Health and Safety Institute First Aid classes are helping to prepare our community members to effectively deal with health emergencies. Our Safe Sitter classes prepare adolescents 12 to 14 years of age to safely take on their first baby-sitting job with confidence. For younger children Health Connections offers teddy bear clinic, Mr. Yuk, first aid, Glow Germ and latchkey kids programs.
•  Lactation Resource Center is staffed with Certified Lactation Consultants that teach the prenatal breastfeeding class, attend the weekly Breastfeeding Moms’ Group, and provide individual support to breastfeeding mothers and their families. The lactation consultants make their rounds Mondays through Friday, to visit breastfeeding mothers and make follow-up support calls after discharge. They are also available for individual consultations at the Health Connections Building by appointment. As an added service the center has breast pumps, breast feeding supplies and nursing bras available for sale. The pumps may also be rented from the Center.
• Diabetes Education is offered through the Diabetes Self Management class, a recognized American Diabetes Association program. Our Certified Diabetes Educators assist individuals with diabetes to gain knowledge and develop skills to manage their disease and reduce their risk of complications. Insulin pump training is also available. The Diabetes Self Management program requires a physicians order and is covered by most insurance. 

Monthly, we offer a variety of free programs, such as the Diabetes Walk and Talk, that are open to anyone in the community.

Please consult our calendar in the Healthy Living newsletter or online at www.smhwecare.com.

Nutrition Therapy is offered with the idea that good nutrition is important for maintaining a healthy body.Some disease processes require you to change what you eat as part of the treatment for the disease. Our Registered Dietitian can help you understand the relationship between food and the disease process as well as provide the skills you need to modify your eating habits. A physicians order is required for this service. Insurance coverage varies based on individual policies and diagnosis.

• We're Headed Your Way: The Health Connections Outreach Center is a partnership between the St. Mary's Health Department, the St. Mary's Department of Social Services and St. Mary's Hospital. Look for the forty-foot van in your neighborhood. On board is staff from the three agencies with health service access and health information. Free or minimal cost health screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C, PSA, and body composition are also available on the Outreach Center. Check the Healthy Living newsletter for the Outreach schedule. The Outreach Center is available to attend community events, schools, churches, libraries and day care facilities. Call the Health Connections office at 301-475-6019 for more information.
• Coming Our Way? School and community groups may coordinate tours of St. Mary's Hospital by calling the Health Connections office at 301-475-6019. We look forward to showing you around our state-of-the art facility.