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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
Admission to the Medical Center
Your Stay in the Medical Center
If you have questions or concerns any time during
your stay at the Medical Center, ask a member of
your health care team. Your health care team consists
of your physician/provider, physician’s assistant,
nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker, dietitian,
pharmacist, and ward clerk. Health care teams also
include other health professionals depending on the
treatment setting. They may include addiction
therapists, vocational rehabilitation specialists,
recreation therapists, speech therapists, physical and
occupational therapists, and others. The health care
team can help you find just the right person to
address your needs.
Tell the nurse if you have a Living Will and/or
health care proxy. These documents will be added
to your medical record.
Co-Payments
A VA co-payment is charged to certain priority
groups of veterans receiving inpatient care, outpatient
care, and prescriptions. Congress changes
the inpatient co-payment each year on January 1st.
For current information on co-payment charges and
priority groups, contact the Veterans Service Center
located on the first floor or refer to your Health
Benefits Handbook.
Insurance
The VA is required by law to recover the costs of
providing medical treatment for non-service connected
conditions from a veteran’s health insurance
company. We will apply the payment from your
insurance company to your co-payment first. You
will be responsible for the remainder of the copayment
that the insurance company does not pay.
Medications
Do not bring medications from home. Tell the staff
about the medications you are taking. Medications
brought to the Medical Center will be sent home
with your family. Medications left at the Medical
Center will not be returned to you. Your doctor will
order the medications you will need during your
hospital stay and upon your discharge.
If you are taking part in a research project and are
on special research medication, bring that medication
to the hospital and tell your health care team.
Pain Management
We are committed to helping you get the best pain
relief. Only you can describe your pain. You will be
asked to rate the amount of pain you have on a “0 to
10” scale. Zero means no pain and ten describes the
worst pain you could imagine having. Please inform your provider if you are in pain.
Blood Donor Program (Autologous)
If you are having surgery, your doctor will determine
if you are able to donate your own blood for
the procedure. If you qualify, the American Red
Cross will contact you to schedule your appointment(s)
for donation. An iron supplement will be prescribed
to help in this donation process. The VA will pay the
cost for the donation. If you have any questions or
concerns about blood donation, discuss them with
your health care team.
Clothing
All medical and surgical patients are expected to
wear VA provided pajamas, robe, and slippers or
shoes. Patients on the Transitional Care Unit
(Community Living Center), Rehabilitation Unit, and the
Psychiatry Unit are permitted and encouraged to
wear their own clothing, unless otherwise indicated.
All patients are asked to keep one set of clothing
and footwear with them for discharge.
Have the following personal items with you when
you check in: toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit,
deodorant, and other toiletries.
Mail
Mail will be delivered to you on your unit. All
mail received after you are discharged will be
forwarded to your home address. It is important to
ensure that we have your current address. Mail sent
to you while you are a patient should be addressed
as follows:
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VA Medical Center Syracuse
Your Full Name and Unit
800 Irving Avenue
Syracuse, New York 13210
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U.S. postal stamps can be purchased in the vending
machine area located on the ground floor, room
CG25A.
Telephones
Most patient rooms have bedside phones. Your
bedside phone number is a five-digit number. To
receive a call in your room, callers should dial (315)
425-4400, then, enter the five-digit number. To call
outside the VA, dial “9” and the seven-digit number
for local calls. If you want to call long distance, dial
“0” for VA operator assistance when making a collect
call. To use a calling card, dial 9-1-800 and follow the
directions on the card.
No bedside phones are available in the Psychiatry
Unit. Callers should call the switchboard operator
and ask for you by name and unit. Pay phones are
located on most floors.
Identification Wrist Bands
Upon admission, you will be given an ID wristband.
Please wear your wristband at all times. Lost ID
wristbands should be reported to the health care
team right away.
Off Unit Notification
AAs a reminder, please tell a member of the health
care team before you leave the unit.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: December 29, 2006 |
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