OK_AllianceHealthPoncaCity_G06

Patient Guide Winter 2018

START PLANNING

Your Discharge Now!

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CARE HOW TO: • Fight Infections • Stop Falls REMEMBER TO

SPEAK UP

Ask questions and voice concerns.

1900 N. 14th St. Ponca City, OK 74601 580-765-3321 myalliancehealth.com

TELEPHONE DIRECTORY RESOURCES

for the Caregiver

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

When It’s Time for Hospice Care Remember, There IS a Difference 580-762-9102 • 800-814-9102

445 Fairview, Ponca City, OK 74601 • www.hospiceofnorthcentraloklahoma.com Basic Services: • Skilled Nursing with 24/7 Emergency Service • Social Service • Non-Denominational Spiritual Care • Hospice Aide & Homemaker Service • Trained Volunteers • Bereavement Care

The North Central Difference: • Massage Therapy • Community Grief & Loss Support • Local & Community Owned • We Honor Veterans Program • Memory Bears & Quilts • Pet Therapy & Pet Peace of Mind

Your health is important to us - including your financial health.

Treat yourself to a better way of banking – right around the corner!

1508 East Prospect, Ponca City OK (580) 718-4000

www.cherokeestrip.com VIP Club: text MYCU2 to 21000

Our new treatment system combines robotic technology and integrated software for more advanced treatment and superior care.

We treat more than your cancer. We’ll take care of you.

Visit our convenient location and meet our friendly staff!

Christopher Bozarth, M.D. Radiation Oncologist

Spot a Stroke

F. A. S. T. Face.

Arm.

Speech. Time to call 911.

StrokeAssociation.org

CO N T E N TS WELCOME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ABOUT US. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 PHONE DIRECTORY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Plus TV Channel Guide OUR COMMITMENT TO CARE.. . . . 5 RAPID RESPONSE TEAM. . . . . . . . . . 7 FAST FACTS ABOUT YOUR STAY.. . 8 SPECIAL SECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Take Charge of Your Care

Speak Up, Plus 7 Key Ways to Take Charge of Your Care n Choose a Support Person n Check IDs n Pay Attention to Your Care n 5 Ways to Fight Infections n Don’t Ignore Pain n Preventing Falls n Prepare for Surgery n Manage Your Meds n

ADULT VACCINES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 HOSPITAL INFECTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . 20 USING ANTIBIOTICS SAFELY. . . . . . 22 RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES. . . . . . 23 NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION.. 25 ADVANCE DIRECTIVES. . . . . . . . . . . 27 FOR THE CAREGIVER. . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 CHECKLIST FOR DISCHARGE. . . . . . 29 AFTER-HOSPITAL CARE. . . . . . . . . . . 30 SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH. . . . . . . . . . 31 Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline Heart Attack & Stroke Warning Signs Type 2 Diabetes CARENOTIFYTM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 LOCAL RESOURCE GUIDE. . . . . . . . . 36

On Our Cover Telephone Directory.. . . . . . . . 4 Speak Up! Ask Questions and Voice Concerns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Know Your Rights. . . . . . . . . . 23 Resources For the Caregiver. . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Start Planning Your Discharge Now!.. . . . . . . . 29

The editorial content displayed here is the responsibility of PatientPoint. This material is for your educational use only. It does not contain, nor should it be construed as containing, medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making any lifestyle or treatment changes. Sponsors are responsible for the material provided, and your healthcare provider’s participation in the program does not represent an explicit or implied endorsement of any material presented. The people shown are models and are not known to have any health condition. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Image credits: Getty Images, iStockphoto. ©2018 PatientPoint ®

Welcome Thank You for Trusting Us Welcome to AllianceHealth Ponca City! I would first like to thank you for trusting us with your care. We understand you have choices when it comes to healthcare, and our goal is to exceed your expectations about the care you receive in our facility.

In addition to having the skills to care for you, our employees have adopted the Community Cares philosophy of expectations. Our team is focused on building a culture dedicated to meeting and exceeding your expectations. This is our way to bring about positive change that will be reflected in enhanced patient care and ever-improving patient satisfaction scores.

MISSION STATEMENT

To be the primary and specialty healthcare provider that people in North Central Oklahoma will choose with complete confidence. There is a commitment to provide all necessary medical services that can feasibly be delivered with outstanding quality and in a cost-effective manner.

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Customer service is taken seriously here at AHPC because compassion is an important part of the medical services we provide. Rest assured that our first priority will always be quality—in our technical abilities and in our attitude—as we serve your needs.

I hope your stay in our facility is short and your recovery is quick. Please let us know when we do something great or if we don’t live up to your expectations. In either case, we’ll act on your feedback.

Thank you for your support.

Chris Mendoza, CEO 580-765-0500 Christopher.mendoza@myalliancehealthOK.com

AllianceHealth Ponca City is not, in any way, responsible for the advertisements in this booklet. AllianceHealth Ponca City makes no representation or endorsement of any kind related to the advertised services, entities, or businesses.

AllianceHealth Ponca City receives no remuneration in exchange for any advertisement.

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About Us Why We Are the Right Choice for Your Care You may hear the term Community Cares while you are a patient in our hospital. This is our culture of customer service behaviors that are based on best practices throughout healthcare facilities across the United States. AllianceHealth Ponca City has embraced the behaviors and programs as described below to help build a stronger organization for our patients, visitors and staff.

Our goal is to create a great place for employees to work, physicians to practice and patients to receive care. Working together, we can achieve these goals.

AIDET

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR CARE

Please speak up and tell us if we can do more. In fact, after We will: your stay, we’ll be Acknowledge our patients, Introduce ourselves and reaching out to you to find out how we others providing care for you, state the Duration of your procedure or care, Explain the care or procedure did. Please be honest and take a few you are going to receive, and always Thank You for moments to tell us choosing us to provide your care. what you think. Your responses to this Hourly Rounding patient satisfaction We complete hourly rounds to pro-actively and survey will help more efficiently address our patient’s needs, improve our services. concerns and care perceptions. Hourly rounding is a tool to reduce the risk of safety incidents.

CONTACT US AIDET is an acronym which staff will be using to improve communication with you and your family.

Leader Rounding

We conduct Nurse Leader rounding to verify care, identify coaching opportunities and harvest staff reward and recognition.

Bedside Shift Report

We commit to conducting nurse shift change report at the bedside involving the patient in the plan of care, update on procedures and medication review discussions.

1900 N. 14th St. Ponca City, OK 74601 580-765-3321 myalliance health.com

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Phone Directory Key Numbers

Main: 580-765-3321 | Administration: 580-765-0500 | Healthy Living: 580-765-0529 Housekeeping: 580-765-0481 | Infection Control: 580-765-0404 Quality/Risk Management: 580-765-0517 | Raspberry Thicket Gift Shop: 580-765-0586 Senior Circle: 580-765-0529

OTHER HOSPITAL SERVICES Birth and Family Unit 580-765-0405

Medical Surgical Unit 580-765-0435

Case Management 580-718-2959

Nutrition Services 580-765-0587

Critical Care Unit 580-765-0533

Outpatient Surgery 580-765-0525

Emergency Department 580-765-0514

Patient Accounts 580-765-0418

Information Desk 580-765-0570

Radiology 580-765-0575

Laboratory 580-765-0573

Surgery 580-765-0441

Medical Records 580-765-0401

TV CHANNELS 2 NBC

22 Government Access

45 FSN Southwest

3 Local Programming

23 Patient Channel

46 TBS

4 NBC

24 Freeform

47 TNT

5 ABC

25 The Weather Channel

48 AMC

6 TBN

26 USA

49 Cartoon Network

7 Fox

27 MSNBC

50 HGTV

8 Telemundo

28 Fox News

52 FX

9 CBS

30 Disney

54 Syfy

10 My Network TV

31 Discovery Channel

55 Travel

11 The CW

32 TLC

56 History Channel

12 OK52

33 ESPN

57 National Geographic

13 PBS

34 ESPN2

69 Animal Planet

40 CNBC

70 Food Network

16-17 Newborn Channel 18 ION

42 Lifetime

19 Educational Access

44 A&E

Check out our special hospital channel: 23 Patient Channel. The channel offers 24-hour programming focusing on common diseases and patient conditions. You may review the program schedule posted below the TV or get a copy from your nurse. View these programs and other presentations at www.thepatientchannel.com. For more information on the resources available at AllianceHealth Ponca City, visit myalliancehealth.com.

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Our Commitment to Care Patient Satisfaction Matters to Us How’s your stay? Are you getting the care you need? Are your doctors and nurses listening and responding to your questions or requests? Our goal is to provide the best quality care. To do so, we ask for feedback from patients like you.

During Your Stay

Please speak with your nurse or nursing supervisor if you have any questions or concerns about your care.

If your issue is still not resolved, you may: n

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ontact the Chief Nursing Officer (580-718-2928), C the Chief Quality Officer (580-765-0517) or the Administrator-on-Call (dial 0 to page). ile a complaint with your state or Quality F Improvement Organization (QIO). See Rights and Responsibilities p. 24 for contact information.

?How gniod are ewwe erdoing? a woH We want you to be satisfied with your care. To help, speak up if we can …

Respond quicker to your needs Explain things more clearly Help keep your room clean or quiet Ease your pain Help you understand your medicine plan

MAKING A DIFFICULT HEALTHCARE DECISION?

Sometimes a healthcare choice can involve an ethical concern— such as a wish to refuse life-saving treatment or a disagreement over advance directives (see p. 27). Our Ethics Committee can help your team of support people make difficult decisions. For help, contact our Case Management director at 580-718-2959.

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Our Commitment continued After Your Stay

Once you leave our care, we will continue to seek your feedback through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. This survey is designed to be a standardized tool for measuring and reporting satisfaction across all hospitals in the U.S. After you are released from the hospital, you may be selected to participate in the HCAHPS survey. The telephone survey asks multiple choice questions on key care topics, such as:

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doctor and nurse communication

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medicine and discharge information

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pain management and staff responsiveness

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overall quality of the hospital environment

The HCAHPS survey is backed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The survey is used to improve the quality of healthcare.

HCAHPS makes survey results public so hospitals are aware of where changes are needed. The results also enable healthcare consumers to review and compare hospitals before choosing a healthcare provider.

Want to Know How We Score?

You can review and compare the quality, care and safety ratings for different hospitals at: n Medicare Hospital Compare, uses HCAHPS results and other data: www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare You also can find information on hospitals through these accrediting organizations: n Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP): www.hfap.org n The Joint Commission: www.qualitycheck.org

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Rapid Response Team Special Support to Prevent Emergencies During your stay, you have access to a special service called the Rapid Response Team. You can call this service, and a critical-care team will check on you or your loved one and provide help before there is a life-threatening emergency.

WHEN to Call Rapid Response Call for help if you notice: n

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c hanges in heart rate or drop in blood pressure c hange in respiratory (breathing) rate or oxygen levels c hanges in urine output (much more or less urine) c hange in mental status or level of consciousness

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a ny time you are worried something might be wrong a ny change in the patient’s condition that needs immediate attention and the healthcare team is not responding, or if you continue to have serious concerns after speaking with the healthcare team

HOW to Call Rapid Response Step 1: Dial 4444 on bedside phone.

Step 2: Tell the operator: your name, room number, patient’s name and your concern.

Step 3: The Rapid Response Team will be sent to your room.

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Fast Facts About Your Stay An A-Z Guide to the Most Frequently Asked Questions ATM

An ATM is located in the main lobby near the elevators.

Bedside Report

We conduct bedside reports to keep you better informed about your plan of care, medications, tests and progress while you are here. This involves the nurses doing bedside reporting, in your presence, at each shift change, to ensure proper communication of all important information and to introduce you to your new nurse.

Cafeteria VISITING THE HOSPITAL? Thanks for taking the time to support your loved one’s care and recovery.

See p. 10 for important visitor information.

Location: Ground floor Hours: Breakfast: 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

All visitors are welcome to dine in the cafeteria.

Electrical Appliances

Electrical appliances, including razors, radios, heating pads, portable heaters, VCRs and other devices are not permitted in patient rooms.

Fire Safety

We periodically conduct fire drills. If you hear an alarm, stay where you are. In the event of an actual emergency, hospital staff will assist you.

Gift Shop

The Raspberry Thicket Gift Shop is located in the front lobby.

Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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Guest Meals

Guest trays are available for family members who are assisting with the care of the patient and unable to leave for meals. Only one guest tray is available per meal per patient.

Hourly Rounding

During your stay, staff will be checking on you at least every hour during the daytime shift and once every two hours during the nighttime shift. If you are sleeping, staff will make every attempt not to wake you up, unless treatments are due according to your personal care plan.

Mail and Flowers

A hospital volunteer will deliver mail, packages and flowers to you.

Please note that flowers are prohibited in intensive care units. Any mail received after your discharge will be forwarded to your home address.

You may take outgoing mail to the nursing station or give to your attending nurse.

Medical Updates

Friends and family may call to receive an update on your status.

Any person calling for patient information must have the personal code number provided to you at admission. If you didn’t receive this number or need help, please ask a staff member. When calling, family members will be asked for this number and will not be given any information without it. This is to

ensure your privacy and to protect your personal information. The best time for your family to call for information is after 10:00 a.m. and before 6:30 p.m.

Pastoral Care

Chaplain services, provided by a group of volunteer ministers, are available to all patients and their families. Please contact your nurse to request these services.

The hospital chapel is on the first floor and is open from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

You may page Security by dialing 0 to open the chapel any other time.

Patient Meals

All patients will receive meals according to their doctor’s order.

To ensure the best care possible, please ask a nurse before having any food brought to your room.

Inpatient meals are served as follows: Breakfast: 7:30 a.m.

Lunch: noon Dinner: 5:00 p.m.

Personal Belongings and Valuables

If you have valuables, such as credit cards, jewelry and cash, please give them to a relative or friend to take care of during your stay. Store contact lenses, eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures in your bedside stand when not in use. Please don’t put them on your bed or food tray—they may be damaged or lost.

AllianceHealth Ponca City cannot be responsible for replacement of personal belongings.

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Facts About Your Stay continued Public Restrooms

Family and visitors should not use the bathrooms in patient rooms.

They are reserved only for patients in order to protect their health.

Public restrooms are located throughout the hospital.

Smoking

For our patients, visitors and staff, we are a smoke free hospital. This includes all electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes and vapors. You can request a nicotine replacement alternative from your physician.

Telephone

All patient rooms have phones.

To place a local call, dial 9 first, then the number. Long-distance calls may not be placed from your room phone. Please ask a staff member for help with longdistance calls. Your direct room telephone number is located on the whiteboard in your room. Direct calls to your room may be made by dialing 580-765-0-then the room number.

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Due to safety concerns, patients are not to go outside the nursing unit without checking first with the nurse. There also is complimentary tea, water and coffee available in all nursing units.

Visiting Hours n n

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Vending Machines

Vending machines are located in various areas of the hospital:

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General: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Maternity: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Note: No children under age 12 permitted, except siblings of newborns.

Critical Care Unit: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Visitor Guidelines n

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TV

Each patient room has a TV. Please be considerate of others by keeping the TV volume down and turning it off at bedtime.

First floor: in the Emergency Department and outside the Outpatient Surgery Department Second floor: through the second set of double doors after passing the Medical Surgical nurses station Third floor: in the waiting room by the main elevators

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If you are staying in a semiprivate room, no visitors of the opposite sex are allowed to stay after visiting hours are over.

For safety reasons, no visitors under the age of 18 are allowed to stay after visiting hours are over.

No unsupervised children are allowed throughout the facility.

Visitor Passes

Guests may enter through the main lobby doors. If visitors need to enter before 6:30 a.m. or after 8:30 p.m., they may enter through the Emergency Department door and ask for a pass.

Take Charge of Your Care You are the center of your healthcare team. Let this special guide help you get the best results from your hospital stay.

Speak Up!

During your stay, our doctors, nurses and staff will treat you and your family as partners in your care. One important way that you can be involved is to speak up. Ask questions, voice your concerns, and don’t be afraid to raise any issues relating not only to your care and treatment, but also to overall hospital services.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to making the most of your hospital stay—steps for taking charge of your care, getting the information you need, asking questions and interacting with hospital staff.

Ask Yourself Is there anything else the hospital should be aware of to improve my care experience?

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TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CARE continued

7 Key Ways

TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CARE SPEAK UP. Ask questions and voice concerns.

It’s your body, and you have the right to know.

PAY ATTENTION. Always double-check that you are getting the right treatments and medicines from the right hospital staff.

EDUCATE YOURSELF. Learn about your medical condition, tests and treatment options, so you know why following your care plan is so important.

FIND A SUPPORT PERSON. Pick someone to help speak up for your care and needs during your stay.

KNOW YOUR MEDS. Understand what your medicines treat, why you need them and how to take them for the best results.

CHECK BEFORE YOU GO. Make an informed decision when selecting additional healthcare services. Choose only accredited providers who meet patient safety and quality standards. Go to www.qualitycheck.org to learn more.

PARTICIPATE IN YOUR CARE. You are the center of your healthcare team. Make sure you know what’s happening every step of the way—from admission through discharge.

Source: The content within the “Take Charge of Your Care” section reinforces the safety and quality care goals and standards issued by The Joint Commission and other hospital accreditation organizations.

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Choose a Support Person A trusted friend or family member can be a big help during your hospital stay. Select one key person to be your healthcare advocate.

If you become stressed or your ability to communicate changes, this person can stand in for you—and stand up for your care.

A support person can: n

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a sk questions you might not think of and write down information ouble-check your d medicines and treatments atch for signs w your condition is getting worse and ask for help

Don’t forget to tell the staff who you’ve picked to be your support person.

Check IDs

While you are here, many people will care for you (doctors, nurses, aides), and these same people will care for many patients. To prevent errors in your care: Ask to see the ID of everyone who comes into your room, so you know the name and job of the person caring for you. If you do not see an ID badge, contact your nurse immediately. peak up if hospital staff does not S check your ID. Any time staff enters your room to give you medicine, transport you, or perform procedures or treatments, state your name and birth date.

Always double-check your name with staff to avoid errors.

This may seem repetitive at times, but it helps ensure you receive the correct care.

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TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CARE continued

Pay Attention to Your Care n

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n

n

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Tell your nurse if something doesn’t seem right.

You Are Key You are the most important member of your healthcare team.

Know what time you normally get medicine, and tell your nurse if you don’t get it.

Understand your treatment

equest drawings or R illustrations to help you learn about your condition.

Ask questions

ead and understand all R medical forms before signing. Ask if you need information explained.

Speak up about pain Know your medicines Plan early for a successful discharge

I f your treatment involves medical equipment, practice using it with your nurse before you leave the hospital. on’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion. The more information you D have, the better you will feel about making decisions.

Talk to your doctor and family about whether you want life-saving actions taken.

And Remember, Take Charge of Your Communication Ask About Jargon: If you hear a medical term you don’t understand, ask what it means.

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Teach Back: After you get instructions or an explanation, repeat back what you thought you heard so you can double-check that you understood.

Take Notes: Write down any key facts your doctor tells you so you won’t forget.

5 Ways to Fight Infections The hospital is a place you come to get well, but you also can come in contact with germs that can make you feel worse. Ask friends and family not to visit if they are sick. You also can reduce your chances of infection by taking the following safety precautions: 1

Clean your hands. n after touching hospital objects or surfaces n before and after eating n after using the restroom

No Soap? No Problem.

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are as effective as soap and water for killing most germs. To use, apply the cleaner to the palm of your hand, and run your hands together.

Keep rubbing over all the surfaces of your fingers and hands until they are dry.

2 A sk hospital staff members to clean their hands. We ask that all staff members clean their hands when entering and exiting your room. This should be standard practice, but don’t be afraid to remind them if they forget or to ask them to wear gloves when touching you. Ask visitors to clean their hands too!

over your cough if you are sick. If you are sick or have an infection, 3 C limit this spread of germs by sneezing and coughing into tissues, promptly throw them away and avoid touching others. Ask the staff if there is anything else you should do—like wear a surgical mask­— to prevent the spread of germs.

eep an eye on bandages or dressings. If a bandage or dressing 4 K covering a wound, incision or IV site becomes loose, wet or painful, notify your nurse. Also if you have a catheter or drainage tube, tell your nurse if it becomes loose or dislodged. eep your vaccinations up-to-date. Make sure you are as protected 5 K as possible from the spread of infection. Check with hospital staff about whether it’s safe for you to receive any vaccines you might need.

Some infections can spread easily, so staff and visitors may be asked to wear isolation clothing like gowns and masks. Your doctors or nurses also may take extra precautions. This is the best way to reduce the spread of these infections.

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TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CARE continued

Don’t Ignore Pain No one knows how much pain you are in but you. Tell your doctor or nurse when pain strikes or if it comes back again after it goes away.

Talk about your pain level throughout the course of your stay.

Ask yourself, then share with your nurse. n

Where does it hurt?

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When does it hurt?

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Does it keep you from doing things—like sleeping, dressing, eating?

Which words describe your pain? q aching

q cramping

q pressure

q shooting

q bloating

q cutting

q pulling

q soreness

q burning

q dull

q radiating

q stabbing

q comes and goes

q numbing

q searing

q throbbing

q constant

q pressing

q sharp

q tightness

How bad is it on this pain scale?

Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale

0 No Hurt

2 Hurts Little Bit

4 Hurts Little More

6 Hurts Even More

8 Hurts Whole Lot

*Copyright 1983, Wong-Baker FACES® Foundation, www.WongBakerFACES.org. Used with permission.

You’re the Expert on Your Pain Starting to get uncomfortable? Pain medicine not working? Speak up. You may need to get more of the current pain medicine you are on or switch to a different kind of medicine to get relief. Don’t try to ignore painful symptoms. Managing your pain will help with your healing process. Talk to your doctor or nurse when pain strikes.

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10 Hurts Worst

Preventing Falls As a patient, you can help reduce the risk of falling by: S peaking up and notifying staff if you feel unsteady, dizzy or lightheaded when you stand or walk. nU sing the nurse call button for help getting out of bed. nH aving a colored wristband that lets the staff know you might need assistance getting out of bed. nA sking for help going to the bathroom or walking around. (And using hospital handrails when they're available.) nW earing nonslip socks or footwear. nK eeping often-used items and walking aids within easy reach (glasses, remote, tissues, etc.). nM aking sure your wheelchair is locked when you get in or out of it. Never step on the footrest. nM aking sure your robe or pajamas don't drag on the floor. They can cause you to trip. nA sking your nurse to show you how to walk properly with your IV pole, drainage bags or any other equipment. nR eporting spills on the floor immediately. nT elling the nurse you need help if you feel nervous about walking. nY our visitors and family also can help by making sure your room is not cluttered and moving chairs back against the wall before they leave. n

Help us protect you from falls by speaking up and telling us if you feel unsteady, dizzy or lightheaded.

Prepare for Surgery At Alliance Health Ponca City, patient safety is our top priority. In order to give you the best care and keep you safe, make sure you and your surgical staff confirm these things before your procedure: n your name n the type of procedure you are having It is possible that your procedure will require having the site marked; you or your support person will be asked to participate in the site marking and the verification of what is planned for your care. Take part in your care; ask questions!

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TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CARE continued

Manage Your Meds Whether you take one medicine or five, it’s important to know what you are taking and why.

Ask your doctor these questions about any new (and current) medicines you take: n

n

n

n

n

n

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hat is the name of my W medicine? Generic name? hy am I taking it? How will W it help? When will it start working? hat dose? How often?

W How long? hat is the best time (morning, W night, etc.) or way to take it (with food, with water)? hat are possible side effects?

W What do I do if they happen? re there any foods, drinks or A activities to avoid?

What do I do if I miss a dose?

Remember, Take Charge of Your Medicines Think you’re due for your next dose? Wondering if this new medicine can replace one you already take? Want to make sure all your medicines and supplements are safe to take together? Don’t be afraid to ask.

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Prevent Medicine Errors Be sure your doctors and nurses know: n All the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements you take.

n Any allergies you have to medicines, anesthesia, foods, latex, etc. n That your name matches the name on the medicine (use your ID bracelet to double-check).

Adult Vaccines

Which Vaccines You Need to Protect Your Health Vaccines work with your immune system to help protect you from infections and disease. As you age, you’re more at risk of certain health conditions because your immune system isn’t as strong as it used to be. And if you do get sick, the symptoms can be more serious than when you were younger.

Three types of vaccines are especially important for older adults, including:

Influenza Vaccine— The flu

vaccine is recommended for all ages every year, and there is a higher-dose vaccine for adults older than 65. You need the vaccine every year because the flu virus changes over time.

Zoster or Herpes Zoster Vaccine—This vaccine protects

against shingles. It’s one dose and is recommended for all adults age 60 and older. Shingles causes rash, blisters and severe pain.

Pneumococcal Vaccines—

Recommendations recently changed for pneumonia vaccines.

Even if you already received one vaccine, you may still need another.

Talk to your doctor about the vaccination schedule that’s right for you.

Pneumococcal conjugate or PCV13: You need one dose of this vaccine if you are age 65 or older and didn’t receive it at a younger age. It’s best to get this one before the PPSV23 vaccine (see below).

Wait at least 12 months if you receive the PPSV23 first.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide or PPSV23: If you are age 65 or older, you need one dose of this vaccine, ideally 6 to 12 months after receiving the PCV13 vaccine (see above).

Talk to Your Doctor Your doctor is your best source for information about vaccines. Which vaccines are right for you depend on your age, other health conditions you have (including pregnancy) and where you travel.

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Prevent Hospital Infections Take Steps to Reduce Your Risk During Your Stay According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 25 patients gets a healthcare-associated infection while staying at the hospital. Often, these happen because hospital procedures and equipment can expose internal parts of your body to germs. The chart below lists common infections and steps you can take to prevent them.

INFECTION

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HOW IT STARTS

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Germs enter your urinary tract while using a tube to drain urine

Surgical Site Infections

Germs affect the site of your surgery—either on your skin or internally

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

Germs enter your bloodstream through a large tube that’s inserted in a vein near your neck, chest or groin

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Germs enter your lungs through a tube in your mouth, nose or neck used to help you breathe

Superbugs

Superbugs are strains of bacteria that are resistant to several types of antibiotics. For many years, antibiotics have been prescribed to people around the world for unnecessary reasons. The overuse of antibiotics helped to create these resistant superbugs; examples include MRSA, VRE, ESBLs and C. diff. These superbugs can be spread from person to person by touch or from contaminated objects on surfaces. They also can survive for long periods of time on hands and other surfaces. Remember to only take antibiotics when prescribed by your doctor. Protect yourself by taking these steps below, and lastly, always remember to wash your hands and ask everyone you see during your stay to wash his or her hands, too.

SYMPTOMS n n n n

n n n

n

n

n n

fever burning pain bloody or frequent urination redness pain drainage of cloudy fluid fever r ed skin and soreness at site fever chills

PREVENTION n n

n n

n

n n n

n n

n

n

n

n n n n n

cough mucus fever chills shortness of breath

n n n

n

clean hands before touching area keep urine bag below level of bladder to prevent backflow don’t tug, pull, twist or bend the tube secure catheter to your leg and ask every day if it’s still needed do not shave surgery site (irritation increases risk of infection) clean hands before touching area don’t let visitors touch or dress your wound ask your nurse to show you how to care for your wound c lean hands before touching area make sure staff wears gloves, gown, cap, mask and sterile drape when handling tube speak up if your bandage comes off, looks wet or dirty, or if your skin looks sore avoid touching tube or letting visitors touch tube ask that tube be removed as soon as possible c lean hands before touching area ask if it’s safe to raise the head of your bed know how often the inside of your mouth needs to be cleaned and speak up when it hasn’t happened ask that tube be removed as soon as possible

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Using Antibiotics Safely Take Steps to Improve How These Medicines Work Antibiotics can be life-saving medicines, but using them incorrectly can harm your body. Taking antibiotics when you shouldn’t can lead to antibiotic resistance. This means the medicines that used to work to fight off harmful bugs won’t work anymore.

LEARN MORE

When your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, it’s important to make sure you’re taking the right dose for the right amount of time.

Visit www.cdc. gov/getsmart for tips on using antibiotics after discharge.

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While you’re in the hospital, your doctor will review your medicines, including antibiotics, regularly. He or she may change the dose or stop giving you the antibiotic if you don’t need it anymore. If you’re taking antibiotics outside the hospital, it’s important to finish them unless your doctor gives you different instructions. This helps to make sure the antibiotics will help you if you ever need them again. Once you start taking antibiotics, you should gradually begin to feel better, but keep in mind that it may take a few days for your symptoms to go away completely.

You also can improve antibiotic use after you’re discharged. Start by taking these steps: n K eep up with vaccines. Vaccines help prevent diseases from spreading and infections that may require antibiotics. n Wash

your hands. This is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs that cause infections and keep yourself and your family healthy. n Ask

about symptom relief. Talk to your doctor about how to relieve symptoms of your illness so you can feel better. n Only take antibiotics for infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics don’t help illnesses caused by viruses, like colds and the flu. n A sk about watchful waiting. Some bacterial infections can get better without antibiotics. Your doctor may recommend waiting a few days to see if you get better before giving you antibiotics. n Take

antibiotics as prescribed. Even if you feel better, do not skip doses or stop taking an antibiotic early without approval from your doctor. n Throw leftover antibiotics away. Ask your pharmacist about the best way to get rid of leftover antibiotics.

Rights & Responsibilities You Have the Right to:

B e treated in a dignified and respectful manner and to receive reasonable responses to reasonable requests for service E ffective communication that provides information in a manner you understand, in your preferred language with provisions of interpreting or translation services at no cost, and in a manner that meets your needs in the event of vision, speech, hearing or cognitive impairments; information should be provided in easy to understand terms that will allow you to formulate informed consent R espect for your cultural and personal values, beliefs and preferences P ersonal privacy, privacy of your health information and to receive a notice of the hospital’s privacy practices P ain management A ccommodation for your religious and other spiritual services A ccess, request amendment to and obtain information on disclosures of your health information in accordance with law and regulation within a reasonable time frame H ave a family member, friend or other support individual to be present with you during the course of your stay, unless that person’s presence infringes on others’ rights, safety or is medically contraindicated C are or services provided without discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression P articipate in decisions about your

care, including developing your treatment plan, discharge planning and having your family and personal physician promptly notified of your admission S elect providers of goods and services to be received after discharge R efuse care, treatment or services in accordance with law and regulation and to leave the hospital against advice of the physician H ave a surrogate decision-maker participate in care, treatment and services decisions when you are unable to make your own decisions R eceive information about the outcomes of your care, treatment and services, including unanticipated outcomes G ive or withhold informed consent when making decisions about your care, treatment and services R eceive information about benefits, risks, side effects to proposed care, treatment and services; the likelihood of achieving your goals and any potential problems that might occur during recuperation from proposed care, treatment and service and any reasonable alternatives to the care, treatment and services proposed G ive or withhold informed consent to recordings, filming or obtaining images of you for any purpose other than your care P articipate in or refuse to participate in research, investigation or clinical trials without jeopardizing your access to care and services unrelated to the research K now the names of the practitioner who has primary responsibility for your care, treatment or services and the names of other practitioners providing your care

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Rights & Responsibilities cont.

F ormulate advance directives concerning care to be received at end-of-life and to have those advance directives honored to the extent of the hospital’s ability to do so in accordance with law and regulation; you also have the right to review or revise any advance directives B e free from neglect; exploitation; and verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse A n environment that is safe, preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image B e free from any forms of restraint or seclusion used as a means of convenience, discipline, coercion or retaliation; and to have the least restrictive method of restraint or seclusion used only when necessary to ensure patient safety A ccess protective and advocacy services and to receive a list of such groups upon your request R eceive the visitors whom you designate, including but not limited to a spouse, a domestic partner (including same sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend. You may deny or withdraw your consent to receive any visitor at any time. To the extent this hospital places limitations or restrictions on visitation; you have the right to set any preference of order or priority for your visitors to satisfy those limitations or restrictions E xamine and receive an explanation of the bill for services, regardless of the source of payment

You Have the Responsibility to:

P rovide accurate and complete information concerning your present medical condition, past illnesses or hospitalization and any other matters concerning your health T ell your caregivers if you do not completely understand your plan of care

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F ollow the caregivers’ instructions F ollow all medical center policies and procedures while being considerate of the rights of other patients, medical center employees and medical center properties

You Also Have the Right to: Lodge a concern with the state, whether you have used the hospital’s grievance process or not. If you have concerns regarding the quality of your care, coverage decisions or want to appeal a premature discharge, contact the State Quality Improvement Organization (QIO).

Regarding Problem Resolution, You Have the Right to: Express your concerns about patient care and safety to hospital personnel and/or management without being subject to coercion, discrimination, reprisal or unreasonable interruption of care; and to be informed of the resolution process for your concerns.

If your concerns and questions cannot be resolved at this level, contact the accrediting agency indicated below: Oklahoma State Department of Health Services 1000 NE 10th Oklahoma City, OK 73117 800-522-0203 KEPRO 5700 Lombardo Center Dr., Suite 100 Seven Hills, OH 44131 844-430-9504 Fax: 844-878-7921 Office of Quality and Patient Safety The Joint Commission One Renaissance Blvd.

Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 800-994-6610 Email: patientsafetyreport@jointcommission.org

Notice of Nondiscrimination This provider complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

This provider does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. This provider: P rovides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: n Qualified sign language interpreters

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ritten information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic W formats, other formats)

P rovides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: n Qualified interpreters

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Information written in other languages

If you need these services, contact the Risk Officer/ADA Coordinator at AllianceHealth Ponca City.

If you believe that this provider has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can file a grievance with: Risk Officer/ADA Coordinator AllianceHealth Ponca City 1900 N. 14th St., Ponca City, OK 74601 580-765-3321 • TTY: 800-722-0353 Fax: 580-765-0341 • PoncaCityOKRiskManager@chs.net You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Risk Officer/ADA Coordinator is available to help you.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave. SW., Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, DC 20201, 1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD). Complaint forms are available at www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

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Call 1–580-765-3321 (TTY: 1–800-722-0353).

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Notice of Nondiscrimination

ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you.

Spanish ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística.

Vietnamese CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn.

Chinese 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。 Korean 주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원 서비스를 무료로 이용하실 수 있습니다.

German ACHTUNG: Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen, stehen Ihnen kostenlos sprachliche Hilfsdienstleistungen zur Verfügung.

Arabic

Burmese သတိျပဳရန္ အကယ္၍ သင္သည္ ျမန္မာစကား ကို ေျပာပါက၊ ဘာသာစကား အကူအညီ၊ အခမဲ့၊ သင့္အတြက္ စီစဥ္ေဆာင္ရြက္ေပးပါမည္။ Hmong LUS CEEB TOOM: Yog tias koj hais lus Hmoob, kev pab cuamtxhais lus, yog pab dawb xwb.

Tagalog PAUNAWA: Kung nagsasalita ka ng wikang Tagalog, mayroon kang magagamit na mga libreng serbisyo ng tulong sa wika.

French ATTENTION : Si vous parlez français, des services d’aide linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement.

Laotian ເອົາໃຈໃສ່: ຖ້າທ່ານເວົ້າພາສາລາວ, ພວກເຮົາມີບໍລິການໃຫ້ຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອດ້ານພາສາໂດຍບໍ່ເສຍຄ່າໃຊ້ ຈ່າຍໄວ້ບໍລິການທ່ານ.

Thai เรียน: ถ้าคุณพูดภาษาไทย คุณสามารถใช้บริการช่วยเหลือทางภาษาได้ฟร Urdu

Cherokee Hagsesda: Iyuhno hyiwoniha Tsalagi gawonihisdi, Adasdalisgi gawonihisdi unadasdelvdi, asewui tla gohusdiyidagvwalida. Nihi etsadvnvisdanelvi.

Persian

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OK

Advance Directives A Simple and Smart Way to Take Charge of Your Care One of the most important decisions you can make about your care is to fill out advance directives in case you can no longer speak for yourself. Advance directives are documents that let others know your wishes about the type of care you want. And they will only be used if you become unconscious or too ill to communicate yourself.

Different states have different laws about advance directives. Check with your Admissions department or nurse if you have any questions. Directives can include:

Living Will

This set of instructions explains the type of lifeprolonging medical care you wish to accept or refuse. It can include your wishes about the use of resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops, a ventilator if you stop breathing, or feeding tubes or IVs if you cannot eat or drink.

Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare

This is a legal document that names your healthcare proxy—someone who can make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to do so. An official healthcare proxy can represent your wishes on emergency care but also on other medical issues like potential treatment options, blood transfusions, kidney dialysis, etc. Choose someone you trust, discuss your medical wishes, and make sure the person agrees to represent you in this role.

Healthcare Surrogate

A person (agent) appointed to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This person is sometimes chosen by patients themselves, or, depending on state regulations, may be chosen by the patient’s doctor in certain circumstances. If you are choosing your own healthcare surrogate, choose someone you know well and trust to represent your preferences. Be sure to discuss this with the person before naming him or her as your agent.

FILL OUT YOUR FORMS

Make sure you submit advance directives each time you go to the hospital, so your most current information and wishes are on file. You do not need a lawyer to fill these out. For more information and to obtain the forms you need, contact your case manager.

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For the Caregiver Your Role as a Patient Advocate.

CAREGIVER...

Know what condition your loved one is being treated for.

Patient’s Rights Know your patient’s rights and responsibilities.

Advance Directives Know whether your loved one has an advance directive, and if so, what it specifies.

While your loved one is in the hospital, who will speak up for him or her? You can, by being the patient’s advocate—the person who will help the patient work with doctors, nurses and hospital staff. To help your loved one make the best decisions about his or her care and treatment, follow the advice in the caregiver list at right.

While you are making sure that your loved one’s needs are being met, don’t neglect your own. Caregiving is a stressful and timeconsuming job. You may neglect your diet, your normal exercise routine and your sleep needs. You may find that you have little or no time to spend with friends, to relax or to just be by yourself for a while. But downtime is important. Don’t be reluctant to ask for help in caring for your loved one. Take advantage of friends’ offers to help and look into local adult daycare programs. Find out more about how you can ease the stress of caregiving at www.caregiver.org.

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Ask Questions If your loved one is too ill or reluctant to ask questions, make note of his or her concerns and any you may have. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

Help Track Medications Your loved one may be prescribed medications while in the hospital and may be seen by several doctors. Keep track of it all with a small notebook.

What’s Next?

Will your loved one need home care or care at another facility? Ask to speak with a case manager to find out what your options are.

Checklist for Discharge Make sure you have the following information before you leave the hospital.

pD ischarge summary. This includes why you were in the hospital, who cared for you, your procedures and medicines.

Not Ready to Leave?

You have the right to appeal your discharge if you don’t agree with the decision that you are ready to leave the hospital. Speak with your discharge planner or physician and share your concerns. You also may need to reach out to Medicare, Medicaid or your insurance company.

pM edicine list. This includes all your new and former prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements. Ask if there are any medicines you can stop taking or that are not good to take together. Also make sure you know why, how and when to take each one.

pP rescriptions. Check that your pharmacy has your new prescriptions and that you have a plan to get them filled. p Follow-up care instructions. Beyond medicine, this can include: n warning signs to watch for n foods or activities to avoid

n daily living adjustments n tests or appointments

(like how to get into bed) n how to care for incisions or

n who to call with questions use equipment pA fter-hospital services. Know how much support you’ll need in these areas: n Personal care: bathing, eating, dressing, toileting

n Home care: cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping

n Healthcare: taking your medicines, doctor’s appointments, physical

therapy, wound care, injections, medical equipment p Local resources. Ask your discharge planner for help finding local aftercare services or other support groups.

Try the teach-back method. Repeat back what you hear the discharge planner say to make sure you understand the details correctly.

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After-Hospital Care Quick Guide to Recovery Options for After Your Stay

After-hospital care that fits your needs is important. Make sure you understand what your hospital staff recommends for you.

Home Healthcare— Care

provided by professionals in your home to help maintain or restore health. Includes: home care services such as housekeeping and meal preparation; personal care services such as bathing, dressing or eating; and healthcare services such as physical therapy or skilled nursing.

Independent Living—

Communities with individual, private apartments or homes.

Includes: meals, housekeeping, maintenance, social activities and possibly transportation.

Assisted Living— Individual units or apartments, usually in a longterm care facility. Includes: home and personal care services, as well as help managing health conditions

and medicine routines—plus social activities and transportation.

Medical staff is on-site 24 hours.

Nursing Home— Long-term care

facility for individuals who don’t need a hospital, but can’t be cared for at home. Includes: all daily living and personal care services, 24-hour skilled nursing care, plus social activities and events. Special units often available for people with Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss.

Some nursing homes also offer short-term rehabilitative stays for patients recovering from an injury or illness.

Hospice— Care program that

provides support for terminally ill patients and families in hospitals, facilities or homes, depending on the patient’s condition. Includes: 24-hour help with pain control, symptom management and emotional or spiritual support.

To get started evaluating or finding after-hospital care resources in your area, visit:

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Eldercare Locator www.eldercare.gov

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National Respite Network and Resource Center www.archrespite.org

Contact your health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid to find out what care and services are covered for you, and to obtain help with costs.

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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH

Stop Smoking Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and Web Coach What is the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline?

The Helpline is a free and effective service that provides a series of oneon-one cessation talk sessions over the telephone, including information and tips about stopping tobacco use, referrals to community resources, if needed, and nicotine replacement starter kits for some. The Helpline has been proven to be effective with people everywhere because it walks and supports the caller through the process of quitting.

How does telephone assistance work?

A Helpline Quit Coach™ talks with callers to determine if they are ready to quit, discusses their options for using nicotine replacement products or other cessation aids, assists callers in developing a quit plan that is right for them, schedules up to four follow-up sessions to coach callers through their quitting process, and encourages them along the way. Upon enrollment, uninsured and Medicaid-eligible callers may receive up to five calls with a Quit Coach™. Pregnant callers may receive up to ten phone calls. Insured callers may receive one call with a Quit Coach™.

Services are provided in many languages. No one will call to sell something, and there are no hidden charges!

What is a Quit Coach™?

Quit Coaches™ are trained, master’s-level counselors certified in tobacco use treatment.

Many are former tobacco users themselves.

What is Web Coach?

Those who wish to quit also have the option to use an online service called Web Coach. This offers support through live chat and email with the same highly trained Quit Coach™.

Participants will receive support in setting a quit date and developing a personalized quitting plan. Those who have quit tobacco can track how long they have been tobacco free and the money saved. This service also is free. Go to www.quitnow.net/Oklahoma for assistance.

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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH Free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges provided as “starter kits”

All tobacco users who are ready to stop using tobacco and register for helpline services are eligible to receive a two-­week “starter kit” of free nicotine replacement patches, gum or lozenges, unless not indicated due to health concerns. The Helpline sends the starter kit to the caller’s home.

Patches, gum or lozenges are FREE, and there is no catch. No one will contact the caller to sell them something, and there are no hidden charges.

Uninsured callers may receive up to eight weeks of patches or gum. Teens under age 18 must have their doctor’s approval.

Who is eligible to receive helpline services?

Anyone living in Oklahoma, age 13 and older may call the Helpline.

Specialists will assist tobacco users, family members, friends and health providers. Uninsured callers receive up to five Quit Coach calls; insured callers receive one call; Health Choice members and Medicaid recipients receive up to five calls.

Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Who funds the Helpline?

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

3 Tips to Help You Quit 1. Fight the Urge Don’t let yourself think that you can have just one cigarette, but if you do slip, start again and make tomorrow your new first day to quit.

2. Get Moving Exercise is a good way to keep your mind off cigarettes. The longer you go without smoking, the better you can breathe and the easier it will be to exercise.

3. K eep Your Mouth Busy Try toothpicks, celery, sugarless gum or sugar-free lollipops.

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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH

Heart Attack & Stroke Warning Signs Recognize the Signs and Get Help Quickly A heart attack or stroke is a medical emergency and every second counts. The faster you or a loved one recognizes the symptoms and gets help, the better your chances of surviving, with the least amount of damage to your heart or brain.

Once you’ve had an event, you’re at greater risk of having one in the future, but the symptoms of a second event can be different from the first.

Heart Attack Warning Signs

The main symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. It also can feel like pressure, fullness or squeezing in your chest. These feelings may start gradually and get worse, or they may come and go.

Women also may have unusual heartburn, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea, or feel tired or anxious weeks before.

Stroke Warning Signs

Think F.A.S.T. when it comes to recognizing a stroke:

F ACE DROOPING: Does one side of your face droop or is it numb?

Try to smile.

A RM WEAKNESS: Is one arm weak or numb? Raise both arms.

Does one arm drift downward?

S PEECH DIFFICULTY: Is your speech slurred? Are you unable to speak?

Try to say a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.”

T IME TO CALL 911: If you notice any of these symptoms, even if they go away, call 911 right away.

Other sudden symptoms can include:

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numbness or weakness in your leg

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confusion or trouble understanding

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trouble seeing in one or both eyes

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trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance and coordination

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severe headache with no known cause

If you think you or a loved one is having heart attack or stroke symptoms, call for help immediately.

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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH

Type 2 Diabetes Managing Diabetes During Your Hospital Stay Keeping your blood sugar under control takes careful attention.

To help, make a diabetes care plan with your doctor or nurse. Include information like:

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n

n

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ow often your blood sugar h needs to be checked how often you need to take your medicines and insulin what to do if you can’t eat how to handle your insulin pump if you have one

You may also want to ask a friend or family member to be your diabetes advocate. Together you can work with hospital staff to follow your diabetes care plan.

Tracking Your Blood Sugar

Tracking your blood sugar can give you valuable information about how your body’s working so you know if you need to make adjustments. Being sick and taking new medicines can cause your blood sugar numbers to go up or down. Ask your nurse if your blood sugar needs to be tested more often.

Taking Medicine or Insulin

You’ll still need your medicines and insulin (if you take it) while in the hospital, but your nursing staff is responsible for giving them to you.

If you have questions about your schedule, it’s okay to ask.

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Planning for Meals

Once you’re admitted to the hospital, ask if there’s a special meal plan for patients with diabetes. You can also ask to see the hospital’s dietitian if your blood sugar is too high or too low during your stay.

If you need to take medicine or insulin before your meal, work out a schedule with your nurse.

Avoid Infections

Having diabetes puts you at a higher risk of infection, so be extra careful during your hospital stay:

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n

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sk everyone who comes in A your room to wash their hands.

Wash your own hands when you can, or ask for hand sanitizer to be placed near your bed.

Tell your nurse about any cuts, sores or bruises that you have.

Ask friends and family who aren’t feeling well to not visit.

If you have questions about managing your diabetes while you’re here, contact your nurse.

CareNotify™ Access Health Information from Your Smartphone CareNotify™ is a system to help you be informed about your care and what you need to do to stay healthy.

CareNotify™ includes a Patient Portal as well as capabilities for secure, direct communication to patients via text or email.

Watch for Our Text Message If you provided your smartphone number when you were admitted, we will text you after your visit. CareNotify™ gives you access to your health information right on your smartphone.

If you provided a smartphone number when you were admitted (or the hospital has your smartphone number on file), you will receive a text message from CareNotify™. If you provided an email address rather than a smartphone number, you will receive an email instead of a text message.

For more information about CareNotify™, visit our hospital website and click on “Patient Portal.” There you will find frequently asked questions and a link to access the Patient Portal.

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Local Resource Guide Car Seat Programs n

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Kay County Health Department 580-762-1641 Ponca City Fire Department 580-767-0368

Crises Resources n

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American Red Cross – Ponca City 580-765-6605 Peachtree Landing 105 W. Hazel, Ponca City 580-762-3208

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Department of Humans Services (DHS):

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C hild Welfare 800-597-1872 Adult and Family Services 580-763-6700

Veterans Administration 1-800-482-2800 or 1-800-827-1000

Adult and Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-522-3511

Misc. Medical Services and Information

Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Hotline – Ponca City 580-762-2873

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Edwin Fair Community Mental Health Center – Ponca City 580-762-7561

Parenting Resources n

Kaw Nation Domestic Violence Program 580-716-8156 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK, 1-800-SUICIDE or suicidepreventionlifeline.org

General Information and Referral Services n

Kay Co. and Local Government Agencies

New Emergency Resource Agency – 112 S. 1st, Ponca City 580-765-5372

O klahoma 211 – community services and volunteer opportunities Smart Start Kay, Co. 580-765-9015

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Living Hope Pregnancy Center 580-765-0664 Northern Oklahoma Youth Services (NOYS) 580-762-8341

Senior Citizen Program and Websites n

Area Agencies on Aging:

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Kay County 1-800-749-1149 or 580-237-4810 n O sage County 918-584-7526

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Golden Villa Adult Day Care – Ponca City 580-762-0264

Support Groups n

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Ala-Non 580-762-7578 or 762-8955 Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) 580-765-8462 G amblers Anonymous 580-761-1770

Ponca City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Caring for your loved ones.

Dr. Mark Oatman – Medical Director 1400 N. Waverly • Ponca City, OK

(580) 762-6668 Skilled Nursing at Its Best

Peaceful Living

• Physical, occupational and speech therapy • Restorative care • 24-hour care provided • RNs, LPNs, and CNAs on duty • Medication administration • Wound care • IV therapy

• Spacious and comfortable homelike setting • Private rooms for all residents • Spacious area for family events • Planned social events • Activities program tailored to the emotional and physical needs of residents • In-house beauty shop • Nursing supervisor on call 24 hours a day • Dual-certified rooms

• Only Locally Owned Home Health • Wound Care Certified (WCC) Nurses • Ostomy Certified Nurses • Psych Certified Nurses • Skilled Nursing • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy • Home Health Aides

580-762-6000 See us on Facebook www.precisehh.com

Providing Healthcare for Women in Kay County for Over 40 Years

Solo Practice Ron M. Kreger, MD

Infertility • Laparoscopy • Gynecology

580-762-8944 117 Patton Drive • Ponca City, OK 74601

21 Years of Trusted Health Care (580) 762-5800 111 Patton Dr., Suite A Ponca City, OK 74601 www.healthback.com Back to Health, Back to Life!

6:00am GET BATH READY FOR DAD 6:30am PACK LUNCH FOR THE

KIDS 10:00am GIVE DAD HIS MEDICINE 1:00pm FOLD EVERYONE’S LAUNDRY 2:00pm SORT DAD’S BILLS 3:30pm PICK UP THE KIDS 4:20pm TAKE DAD OUT FOR FRESH AIR 5:30pm REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN DAD TOOK CARE OF ME 6:00pm MAKE DINNER 8:00pm HELP DAD TO BED 11:00pm FINALLY GO TO SLEEP Only those who care for others know what it’s really like to care for others. That’s why AARP created a community with experts and other caregivers to help us better care for ourselves and for the ones we love.

aarp.org/caregiving or call 1-877-333-5885