Patient and Visitor Guide

• Admissions 
• What To Bring 
• Do Not Bring 
• Cafe
• Closed Caption Television
• Discharge
• Family Waiting Room and Visiting Hours
• Family Waiting Room
• Intensive Care Unit
• Hospitals and doctors charge separately
• Food Services
• Gift Shop
• Housekeeping
• Latex Allergies
• Mail and Flowers
• Medicines
• Newspapers
• Pediatric Care
• Pet Visitation
• Smoking Policy
• Telephones
• Valuables

Thank you for choosing Southern Tennessee Regional Health System to meet your health care needs. We consider it a privilege to serve you and your family. The goal of every Southern Tennessee Regional Health System staff member is to make your stay as pleasant and as comfortable as possible while following the medical care plan especially designed for you by your physician. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about your care or any of the hospital's services. 

The information presented below covers a wide range of hospital services and policies. If you need additional information, please call the hospital in your location.

We will do our best to resolve any difficulties that might arise while you are here or pass along any suggestions or compliments that you may have.

Joint Commission Accreditation

Joint Commission accreditation addresses all complaints that pertain to patient safety or quality of care issues within the scope of Joint Commission standards. The Joint Commission has a toll-free hotline number that gives patients, their families, caregivers and others an opportunity to share concerns regarding quality of care issues at this accredited hospital.

The toll-free number is 1-800-994-6610, or visit http://www.jointcommission.org/.

Admissions

Patients may pre-admit once admission has been scheduled. Admissions are processed via the registration clerks in the front lobby; after hours admissions are processed at the registration desk in the Emergency Department. Once you arrive on the nursing unit, the staff will help you get acquainted with your room and your surroundings. 

Patients undergoing outpatient surgery should report to the registration desk in the front lobby at Lawrenceburg, Winchester, and Sewanee and the rear entrance of our Pulaski location. Outpatient registration hours are from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm. 

Expectant mothers should check in through the Emergency Department before coming to Labor and Delivery. If you are an admission please check in via the registration clerks in the front lobby.

What to Bring

You will need to bring a small number of personal items to the hospital, such as pajamas, robe, slippers, and personal toilet articles including cases for glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures. If you bring with you or any of the prior mentioned items are brought to you after your admission, please make sure your nurse is aware that you have them in your possession. These items are your responsibility to keep up with. Bring your driver’s license, insurance card, claim forms, and your co-pay and deductible amounts.

Do Not Bring

Do not bring watches, jewelry, cash or other valuables to the hospital. Southern Tennessee Regional Health System will only be responsible for these items if they are deposited into our safe. Ask your nurse about safe deposits upon admission. Please do not bring medications to the hospital. Your physician and the hospital pharmacy will provide all of your medication while you are in the hospital. However, it is important to provide your physician with a list of all medications that you are currently taking.

Cafè 

All of our campuses feature a cafeteria. Each location is a little different and so, the menus, the hours, and the daily specials differ from location to location. While you are visiting our campus, please enjoy a meal or a snack at one of our Cafès. You'll be glad you did.

Snacks and soft drinks may be purchased 24 hours per day from the vending machines.  Please ask one of our team members for directions to the vending machines.

Closed Caption Television

Closed Caption Television is available to all patients. Please contact the nurse’s station for instructions to change the settings on your television to closed captioning.

Discharge

When you are medically ready to leave the hospital, your physician will write a discharge order on your medical chart. Your nurses and your physician will discuss discharge information with you, including special diets, medications and limitations on your activities. The case manager will assist you in making arrangements for home care or other community services, if needed. Your physician will let you know if an office visit is necessary after discharge. 

Be sure to check your room for all personal belongings and reclaim any valuables from the hospital safe. When your transportation arrives, please allow your nurse to escort you from the hospital.

Family Waiting Room and Visiting Hours

* Please see the current visitation policy due to the COVID pandemic.

Southern Tennessee Regional Health System has open visiting hours depending upon the condition of the patient. 

Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times when visiting the hospital. In the Childbirth Center Department or Labor and Delivery, only siblings of the newborn under the age of 12 are allowed into the Childbirth Center Department. All other children must be over the age of 12 to enter the Childbirth Center Department. 

Please use caution when bringing young visitors to the hospital. Do not allow children with cough, fever, rash, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or recent exposure to illness to visit.

Family Waiting Room

For the convenience of your family and friends, our Southern Tennessee Regional Health System hospitals have various waiting rooms for Med/Surg/ICU, Childbirth Center, and Surgery.

Intensive Care Unit

* Please see the current visitation policy due to the COVID pandemic.

Due to the nature of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) visitation is determined on an individual basis. Southern Tennessee Regional Health System traditionally practices an open policy however depending on the needs of the patient, visitation may be restricted.

Financial Arrangements

When you are admitted, you should confirm financial arrangements for your care. If you have hospitalization insurance, please bring your policy, identification card, and other pertinent information with you. 

Most insurance companies require pre-admission certification and a second opinion before surgery. Please review your pre-admission requirements and coverage and advise your physician of these requirements. This process must be complete before admission, unless it is an emergency. If this has not been done in accordance with the policy's requirements, your insurance benefits may be reduced or denied. Also if the patient leaves the hospital “against medical advice” (“AMA”) your insurance may choose not to pay for the hospitalization. 

As a courtesy, Southern Tennessee Regional Health System will file a verifiable third-party claim and help in any way possible to expedite their payment. However, please remember that the patient is ultimately responsible for the hospital bill because an insurance policy is a contract between patients and their insurance company.
 
Most hospital insurance plans do not fully cover hospital bills. All bills are payable in full at the time of discharge unless financial arrangements have been made with the business office (931-967-8281) before discharge. At the time of discharge, you should be prepared to pay the estimated balance due over the verifiable insurance coverage, or make arrangements with the Business Office. 

The Business Office will file your claim for insurance assigned to the hospital. If an insurance payment is less than our estimate, you will be billed for the balance due. Southern Tennessee Regional Health System can provide payment arrangements and financing options. 

Assistance with Medicaid eligibility is available by calling the patient financial counselor at (931) 962-8704.

Hospitals and doctors charge separately

Once you are discharged from the hospital, you may receive a separate bill from the physician, anesthesiologist, pathologist, radiologist, or emergency department physician. These physicians are not employees of the hospital. 

If you have questions about your coverage of your bill, please call the Business Office and we will be happy to help you.

Food Services

Because nutrition is an important part of your recovery, our dietitian prepares a variety of menus according to your doctor's instructions. If your doctor wishes you to adhere to a special diet once you have left the hospital, our dietitian can explain your new eating plan and how you can adapt it to your lifestyle.

If lab tests or x-rays delay your meal time, the nursing staff will be happy to order a tray after you return to your room. One guest tray will be provided free of charge for families of patients age 12 and under. Nourishment rooms are available on each nursing unit. A variety of snacks and beverages are provided for our patients.

Gift Shop

The Winchester and Pulaski (*Pulaski Gift Shop currently closed due to the COVID pandemic)campuses feature a Gift Shop located in the front lobby. Our gift shops offer flowers, cards, baby items, toiletries, candy, and more.

Housekeeping

Southern Tennessee Regional Health System believes in the perseverance of our natural resources therefore, bed linen is changed every other day or as needed depending on patient needs. If you need additional linens or housekeeping services, please contact your nurse.

Latex Allergies

In an effort to prevent or reduce exposure to known allergens, thereby reducing the risk of reaction, patients found to be allergic to latex will be treated with medical products which are free of latex or will be shielded from contact with latex.

Mail and Flowers

Cards and flowers sent by your family and friends to make your stay more pleasant are delivered daily. Flowers are NOT allowed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Mail received after you are discharged will be forwarded to your home. Mail for patients should be addressed as follows: 

Patient Name and Campus Location

Example: 
Southern Tennessee Regional Health System - Winchester
185 Hospital Rd
Winchester, TN 37398

Medicines

We will need a complete list of medicines you are currently taking, including those not prescribed or ordered by your doctor. While in the hospital, please take only medicines administered by your nurse. If the medicines are not given at the same time as you normally take them, please let us know and we will try to do things as you do at home. Sometimes meals or tests may hinder your normal routine.
 
We use generic medicines when possible to keep costs low. Because of this, some medicines may look different from your usual pills. If you have questions about the pills or other medicines you are taking, do not hesitate to ask your nurse or physician.

Newspapers

Local newspapers are delivered to the hospital. They are also available in the Emergency Department for visitors. 

Pediatric Care

For the safety of our pediatric patients, those under the age of 12, we require an adult to stay with them at all times. If your child is under 2 years of age, we require the use of a baby bed for the safety of your child.

Pet Visitation

Southern Tennessee Regional Health System is committed to providing personalized care that recognizes the benefits of integrating traditional medicine with complimentary medicine as a supportive service. Patient must be deemed, by their physician, as appropriate to benefit from the visit of his/her dog. Only dogs that are certified to be medically fit shall be allowed to visit.

Smoking Policy

To protect your health and the health of others, Southern Tennessee Regional Health System is a smoke-free environment. Smoking is not permitted in patient rooms, corridors, lobbies, waiting rooms or any other area of the hospital. We are a Healthier Tennessee Workplace and so, we are 100% Smoke Free.

Telephones

The telephone at your bedside is for your use and convenience. To make local calls, dial "9" and wait for the dial tone, then dial your desired number. Long distance, credit card or collect calls may be placed by dialing "9" + area code and desired number. The hospital utilizes AT&T as its long distance company. If you wish to use a different company for credit card calls, dial your company's access code after dialing "9" + "0" or use the 800 number listed on your credit cards after dialing "9" + "1".
 

Valuables

We encourage you to entrust your valuables to a friend or relative while you are in the hospital. If you have valuables at the hospital please ask the nurse for a Special Valuable Envelope. Your valuables can be placed in the hospital safe, by the House Supervisor, once you have sealed them in the Special Valuables Envelope. The envelope must be filled out and signed by you or a responsible relative and your nurse. The content list will remain with your hospital chart and a copy of the list will be sealed inside the Valuables Envelope. Ask your Nurse about this hospital policy if you would like to use it. The hospital cannot be responsible for lost items unless they are placed in a Valuables Envelope. Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures must be documented in your chart.