PATIENT GUIDE

Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. During your stay, your care team will strive to provide unparalleled safety and service.

 

Houston Methodist doctors and employees wear identification badges. Feel free to ask everyone who enters your room their name, role and purpose. If someone visits your room without a badge, tell your nurse.

 

You received a patient identification band. Staff members who provide a service to you will ask for your full name and date of birth before every test, procedure, treatment or medication. While this may feel overwhelming, it is the greatest action we can take to ensure your safety.

 

We do everything we can to prevent infections from spreading in our facilities, using best and proven practices. Please visit cdc.gov/hai/infectiontypes.html to learn how you and your visitors can help us prevent infections.

 

Good hand hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of infection, especially in a hospital. All doctors, nurses, staff and visitors should clean their hands every time they enter your room. We encourage you to speak up and ask someone if they have washed their hands.

 

If you have valuables with you, please give them to a loved one for safekeeping, or ask your nurse to request for hospital security to store them in a safe. You will be responsible for picking up your valuables when you leave the hospital. Houston Methodist is not responsible for replacing personal belongings.

 

Smoking, including vaping, is not allowed anywhere on Houston Methodist campuses, including medical office buildings and parking areas.

 

Make sure you know the name of all medications you take as well as purpose, dosage, frequency, duration, side effects and food/drug interactions. While you are in the hospital, you may be prescribed new medications. Your nurse will review them with you, including possible side effects. Hospital pharmacists are available 24/7 to provide medications your doctor orders during your stay, and to support any needs you may have. In some cases, it may be necessary to use medications you bring from home.

 

Talk to your nurse if you would like an additional person, or chaperone, at your bedside during a particular exam, procedure or treatment to make you feel comfortable.

 

We are committed to preventing patient falls. If you are at risk for falling because of medication, your condition, treatment or other reasons, we may place a sign on your door and ask you to wear an armband and/or special socks to alert others. Additionally, a bed alarm may sound when you attempt to get out of bed, alerting a nurse to assist you. Please call your nurse for help before getting out of bed.

 

Blood clots can permanently affect your quality of life, and can even be deadly. If you are at risk, you may need compression devices, medication or frequent walks.