Patient Guide

We are committed to your care.

Our goal is to provide the best quality care. To do so, we ask for feedback from patients like you. You may be contacted by phone, email or text and asked to complete a confidential survey. Please take the time to complete the survey. Your feedback will help us know what we’re doing well and where we can improve.

Privacy Practices Patient Rights & Responsibilities Concerns About your CARE Non-Discrimination Notice

Fast facts about your stay.

Support for Caregivers

We encourage patients to pick a key person to support them during their hospital stay. Whether you are that primary support person, or just one of many people caring for and supporting your loved one, you can play an important role in making sure your loved one gets the safest and best care both here and beyond the hospital.

Patient and Family Care
We participate in patient- and family-centered care. We believe that family plays an important role in ensuring the health and well-being of patients of all ages. Our goal is to create partnerships among healthcare practitioners, patients and families that will lead to the best outcomes and enhance the delivery of safe, quality, efficient, effective, and timely care.

What to Know Before You Leave
Caregivers can help ensure the best outcome for their loved one after a hospital stay by getting the answers to these three questions:

What is the next step for medical care (home or facility, follow-up with primary care physician or physical therapy, etc.)? Help your loved one arrange the details to make this happen—financial plan, transportation, scheduling, etc.
What new and former medicines does my loved one need to take? Help your loved one understand the details—timing, dosing instructions, side effects, prescription refills, etc.
What health warning signs do I need to watch for and what do I do if they happen? Help your loved one by writing these symptoms down as well as the name and contact number to call.

If you feel like you need a break or help, reach out to friends and family. And consult the resources listed here: National Alliance for Caregiving | Family Caregiver Alliance | Caregiver Action Network

Facts About Your Stay

ATM

For your convenience, an ATM is located on the first level of the hospital near the front entrance.

Bedside Shift Report

We want you to feel comfortable and cared for throughout your stay, so at each nursing shift change—about every 12 hours—your nurse will introduce your new nurse to you. The team will talk about your progress, medicine and tests scheduled for the day. Ask questions. The more you’re involved, the better and safer your care.

Bedside Technology

During your stay, you may see your doctors and nurses using computers or tablets. These tools help them care for you by providing around-the-clock monitoring, a variety of resources and quick communication with the rest of your healthcare team. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or nurse.

Cafeteria

Location: First Floor (near front hospital entrance)

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 7am - 11:30am

Saturday - Sunday: 11am - 12pm

All visitors are welcome to dine in the cafeteria.

Calling Your Nurse

Your room is connected to the nursing station via an intercom system. To call for your nurse, press the NURSE call button located at your bedside. If you have any questions on how to use the call button, ask a staff member to show you.

Cellphones & Video

During your stay, you may see members of your care team using mobile phones. At Georgetown Community Hospital, our staff are permitted to use phones for work-related activities, such as communicating with doctors or other care team members. Employees are not allowed to use phones for non-work-related activities. There are many work related benefits of cellphones and other communication devices, including access to medical references, clinical tools and patient information.

Channel Listing for TV

Concerns About Your Care

Please speak with your nurse or nursing supervisor if you have any questions or concerns about your care. If your issue still is not resolved, then contact the hospital patient advocate. You also have the right to file your complaint with either:

Office of Inspector General
Phone: 859.246.2301
Fax: 859.246.2307

Email: EEB.Complaints-Reports@ky.gov

Office of Quality and Patient Safety
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Website: www.jointcommission.org, then click “Report patient safety event”

Sometimes a healthcare choice can involve an ethical concern—such as a wish to refuse life-saving treatment or a disagreement over advance directives. Our medical ethics committee can help you and those who are here to support you make difficult decisions. For help, contact: 502.868.1100.

Electrical Appliances

For your safety, we reserve the right to inspect any electrical appliances brought into the hospital.

Fire Safety

We conduct fire drills from time to time. If you hear an alarm, stay where you are. In an actual emergency, hospital staff will tell you what to do.

Flowers

Flowers are delivered to patient rooms by individual florists. Please note that flowers are not allowed in Intensive Care Units.

Gift Shop

Location: First Floor near main hospital entrance

Hours of Operation: Mon. to Fri.: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hearing Impaired

We have services available for people who are deaf or hearing impaired. If you need these services, please contact your nurse.

Hospital Safe for Valuables

Georgetown Community Hospital can provide safety for your valuables and personal belongings. Please talk to your nurse or someone from your care team on utilizing the hospital safe.

Hourly Rounding

A nurse will visit you every hour during the day and every two hours at night to check on your comfort, help you change positions in bed, assist with trips to the bathroom, and make sure you can reach your phone, call light, and personal items easily.

Housekeeping Services

If you have requests or concerns about your room's cleanliness, please contact a member of your care team or dial ext. 8330 during business hours with your concerns.

Interpreters and Translation Services

Interpreter services are available for patients. Please contact your nurse for assistance.

Lost and Found

If you misplaced an item during your hospital stay, please call our main hospital phone number (502.868.1100) and ask to speak to the director of the specific unit.

Mail

Mail and email sent to our website are delivered to patients Monday through Friday by hospital volunteers. Flowers may be delivered by individual florists, staff or volunteers. Fresh flowers are not allowed in critical care areas.

Mail received after discharge will be forwarded to the patient’s home. Outgoing mail may be taken to the nurses station or given to your attending nurse. Postage stamps are available in the gift shop.

Medicines

Please do not bring any prescription or over-the-counter medicines to the hospital. All medicines you take in the hospital need to be prescribed, filled and given to you by hospital staff. Tell your doctor about any medicines you regularly take. If you still need them, hospital staff will give them to you.

Parking

Georgetown Community Hospital is proud to offer convenient and free parking. There are no large parking lots or busy parking garages. Often times, you can find a parking spot near one of our entrances.

Pastoral Care

If you would like a visit from the chaplain for spiritual care and comfort, please ask your nurse to contact a chaplain or provide a list of pastoral services. The chapel is always open for prayer and meditation. It’s located on the first floor across from respiratory therapy.

Personal Belongings and Valuables

Personal care items such as contact lenses, eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures can be stored in your bedside stand when not in use. Please do not put them on your bed or food tray to help avoid them being lost or damaged. Leave valuables like jewelry or cash at home, or give them to a trusted relative or friend to watch over. If this is not an option, valuables may be locked up by Security at your request. Georgetown Community Hospital cannot be responsible for replacing personal belongings.

Public Restrooms

For everyone’s health and safety, we ask visitors not to use patient restrooms. Public restrooms are located throughout the hospital. Ask hospital staff to direct you to the nearest one.

Rapid Response Team

You can call a critical-care response team to respond if your condition worsens and you do not get the immediate care you need.

How to call rapid response:

Push the nurse call button located on the bedside.
Tell the nurse you need rapid response and your concern.
The Rapid Response Team will be sent to your room.

Smoking

Given the serious health hazards of tobacco use, we have chosen to become a 100 percent tobacco-free campus. No smoking or tobacco products will be used while on GCH property, parking lots, associated buildings and vehicles. Patients and visitors are asked not to smoke during their hospital visit.

If You Smoke or Use Tobacco
While you are in the hospital, please do not suffer from nicotine withdrawal. You can receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or other appropriate support during your hospital visit. Please ask your nurse for more information.

Telephone

Using Your Telephone

Your friends and family can call your hospital room directly. Your direct number is 502.868 + 1 + the room number.

If you need to make a phone call, dial 9 + area code + the phone number you want to call. To reach your nurse, use your call button or call the nurse directly using the phone number listed on the whiteboard.

To call patient rooms in the ICU, call the nurses station at 502.868.1298.

Calling from INSIDE the hospital? Dial 1 + the three digits only.

TV

Each patient room has a television. Please be considerate of others by keeping the volume down and turning off your TV at bedtime. TVs are controlled by the bedside pillow speaker or side rail controls. Closed captioning is available for the hearing impaired. Ask a staff member if you have any questions on using your TV.

Vending Machines

Here you can find beverages and snacks 24 hours a day. Located in our surgery waiting room near the front of the facility.

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours are subject to change. Please ask your nurse for official hours during your stay.

Georgetown Community Hospital reserves the right to restrict visitation/telephone calls to respect the following patient needs: confidentiality, privacy, security, spiritual care, physical and emotional needs and promotion of an environment conducive to healing.

Visitors under the age of 14 must be cleared by the nursing unit. Children will not be left unattended within the hospital.
All regular entrances will be locked at 9:00 p.m. The only accessible entrance after 9:00 p.m. will be through the Emergency Department Admitting doors. These instructions will be announced every night at 9:00 p.m. by the PBX Operator.
Any visitor staying after 9:00 p.m. should report to the Emergency Department Admitting desk to receive a visitor's sticker which will identify the visitor name, date, patient visiting, unit, and room number.

ICU

Visitation may be limited from 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. to accommodate shift change report/assessment of patients.
Limit of 2 visitors per patient (exceptions at primary nurse or physician discretion only).
All visitors for patients located in the ICU should check with ICU personnel prior to visiting.
Visitors may be restricted due to patient care needs.
No children under age 14 without special permission from primary nurse or physician.
At the primary nurse's discretion, in unusual circumstances, a family member may be permitted to stay with the patient in ICU.

PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES

There will be no visitors when the patient is being prepared for surgery. Once ready, the nurse will call for 2 visitors.
After surgery/procedure one visitor is allowed to go to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after patient is settled and assessed.

MEDICAL/SURGICAL UNIT

Visiting Hours are open but for patient rest and recovery, request no visitors after 9:00pm.
Patients are allowed two visitors at a time. (Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Nurse Director/Charge Nurse).
Visitors under the age of 14 must be cleared for visitation by the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse and must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

BCU

Visiting Hours are open but for patient rest and recovery, request no visitors after 9:00pm
Patients are allowed two visitors at a time. (Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Nurse Director/Charge Nurse).
Visitors under the age of 14 must be cleared for visitation by the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse and must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

After physician has seen patient, two visitors will be allowed.
Pediatric patients must have parents/caregivers in attendance during visit and physician examination.
Visitors may be restricted in patient area or specific rooms due to the care needs of the patient or increased acuity/activity in the department.
Visitors must stay in the patient area (not in hallway). Visitors must use the designated waiting area.
Visitation may be restricted in the Emergency Department during disasters (internal and/or external).

WOMEN'S CARE

These guidelines will support the family with the integration of the newborn into the family unit; as well as provide for the safety and comfort of patients and visitors.

Labor and Delivery - Only two visitors at a time.
Post-partum/GYN- Visiting hours are 8AM-8:30PM. Siblings regardless of age may visit with adult supervision. The primary support person may remain throughout entire stay. Anyone that has experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, cough, runny nose, infected/draining lesions, pink eye or any other infectious/communicable conditions in the past 48 hours should not visit. Visiting hours may be restricted due to care needs of the patient or increased acuity/activity in the department.
Nursery - No open visitation. Parents or adults with matching armband may visit anytime in the presence of nursing staff.

INFECTION PREVENTION GUIDELINES FOR VISITORS

Adjustments to the visitor policy may be amended at times for prevention of spread of infections, such as Flu, COVID-19. During these times new policy guidelines will be posted and communicated to staff, physicians, visitors and the community of Georgetown.

Visiting Overnight
Overnight visitation with a patient must be coordinated with the charge nurse and/or nurse manager and is only permitted under certain circumstances. If overnight visitation has been approved, you will be given a visitor card by the nurse, who will provide you with instructions for obtaining a visitor pass from the security guard. Please wear this badge and remain in the waiting room or the patient’s room at all times during your overnight visit. We reserve the right to revoke overnight privileges.

Wifi

To access the hospital wifi, select “Guest Access” on your device settings and agree to the terms and conditions.

Channel 2	WKYT (CBS)
Channel 8	WLEX (NBC)
Channel 10	WTVQ (ABC)
Channel 14	ESPN
Channel 27	The Weather Channel
Channel 29	Lifetime
Channel 49	HGTV
Channel 54	Hallmark
Channel 54	Food Network
Channel 60	History