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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 licensed provider (physician,
physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner),
nurse, social worker, dietitian, pharmacist and
ward clerk. Health care teams may include other
health professionals depending on the setting, such
as addiction, vocational, recreation, occupational,
and physical therapists. They can help you find just
the right person to address your needs.
Tell the nurse if you have a living will or health
care proxy. These documents will be added to
your medical record to tell about your wishes.
Co-Payments
A co-payment is charged to veterans in Priority
Groups 7 and 8 who are receiving inpatient or
outpatient care and/or prescriptions. The inpatient
co-payment is changed each year on January 1st.
For current information on co-payment charges and
priority groups, contact the Veterans Service Center
in Buffalo on the first floor, E-Wing and in Batavia,
building #1, first floor (clinic area) 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 the 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 rest of the copayment
that your insurance company does not pay.
Medications
Please, do not bring medications from home.
Instead, make a list. Tell the staff about all
medications you are taking (prescribed and overthe-
counter). Medications brought to the Medical
Center will be sent home with your family or mailed to your home address after you are admitted. Otherwise,
the medications can not be returned to you.
Your doctor will order any medications you will need
during your hospital stay and upon your discharge.
Exception: If you are taking part in a research
project and are on special research medication, bring
them to the hospital and tell the 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. For more
information about pain control, talk with a member
of your health care team.
Blood (Autologous)
If you are having surgery, ask your provider if you
are eligible 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 cost for the
donation will be paid by VA. If you have any
questions, contact the Transfusion Service in
Buffalo at (716) 862-8932.
Clothing
All medical and surgical patients are expected to
wear VA provided pajamas, robe and slippers or
shoes. Patients on the Community Living Center Unit, and the Psychiatry Unit are
permitted and encouraged to wear their personal
clothing unless otherwise indicated. Wear the robe
that you are given whenever you leave your room.
All patients are asked to keep one set of clothing and
footwear with them for discharge. We encourage
you to label all your personal belongings.
Have the following personal items with you when
you check in: toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit,
deodorant and other toiletries, as needed.
Mail
Mail will be delivered to you on your unit. All mail
received after you are discharged will be forwarded
to your home address. Therefore, it is important to
ensure that we have your current address. Mail sent
to you while a patient should be addressed as follows:
VA Western New York
Healthcare System
(Your Full Name and Unit)
3495 Bailey Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14215
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or
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VA Western New York
Healthcare System
(Your Full Name and Unit)
222 Richmond Avenue
Batavia, NY 14020
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In Buffalo, U.S. postal stamps can be purchased by
using the vending machine located in the dining hall
near the Food Court in the basement.
In Batavia, patients can purchase stamps at the canteen on the ground floor, building 1.
Telephones
In Buffalo, most patient rooms have bedside phones.
The bedside phone number is a four-digit number.
To receive a call in your room, callers should dial
(716) 862- then enter the four-digit number. To call
out, 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 or Intensive Care Unit. Callers should call the
switchboard operator and ask for you by name and
unit. Pay phones are located in the basement, main lobby and
third floor in the core area.
In Batavia, a pay phone is located in the Primary
Care Clinic.
Batavia bedside phones: To receive a call in your
room, callers should call (585) 297-1000
and give
the extension to the operator for connection or dial
direct (585) 297- then enter the four-digit number.
Identification (ID)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 your health care
team right away.
Off-Unit Notification
As a reminder, please tell a member of your health
care team where you are going before you leave the unit. Ask if you have to sign-out on the unit clipboard. Remember to sign-in when you return.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: August 23, 2007 |
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