Orientation to the Hospital Unit
Upon arrival, your admitting nurse will orient you to the environment and all the equipment in your room. In addition, they will inform you regarding services specific to your unit and in the hospital.
PATIENT/FAMILY LOUNGE
Each floor has a parent lounge – a place for families to relax and meet with guests. Restrooms for parents and visitors are located in the lounge.
PLAYROOMS
Patients admitted to the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors may attend the playroom located on their unit. Visitors under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult when attending the playroom. Arrangements can be made with the Child Life Department for siblings of patients admitted to the NICU or PICU to attend the playroom on the 5th floor. If the patient is in isolation neither patient nor siblings are allowed in playroom. Playroom hours are posted.
PLACES TO EAT / ROOM SERVICE
CHOC has two full-service cafeterias located in our North Tower and Holmes Tower, and a Coffee Kiosk serving Starbucks Coffee on the 2nd floor of the Holmes Tower. Click here for hours and information about available meal services.
BEDSIDE PHONE CALLS
To make bedside telephone calls:
Local: Dial 9, 1, 714 and then the number.
Toll and Long Distance Calls: Dial 7 (dial tone) 0, then the number.
Calls from patient rooms for Toll and Long Distance must be charged on a credit card or billed to the home phone.
CELLULAR PHONES
The use of cellular phones is allowed in many areas of the hospital. However, cellular phones may interfere with some types of medical equipment. For this reason, cellular phones must be “OFF” in certain areas of the hospital. Signage will be posted in all restricted areas. Please limit your cell-phone usage to the unrestricted areas.
BLUE PHONES (TRANSLATING PHONE)
Each patient bedside is equipped with a blue phone that has two handsets. Hospital staff and physicians will use this phone to connect to a translator when a patient/family speaks a language other than English. The blue phone can also be used as regular phone. To use it as a regular phone, please use the left hand set.
INTERPRETERS
The Interpreter/Translator Department helps patients and families communicate with the nursing and medical staff. Spanish and over-the-phone interpreters are available seven days a week. Efforts are made to provide on-site interpreters for other languages when possible. Multi-lingual phone interpretation (blue phones) is available 24 hours a day. To request an interpreter, please contact your child’s nurse.
About Your Room
CALLING YOUR NURSE
In most units, a call button is located at your bedside. When you press this button, the nursing station is alerted that you need assistance and a light flashes above your door. A staff member may use an intercom to speak with you and someone will respond to your room as soon as possible.
DURING THE NIGHT
Please use the call light to alert a staff member if you need anything.
HOSPITAL BEDS
Hospital beds are electrically operated. A staff member will show you how to work your bed.
PARENT SHOWERS
Ask at the nurse’s station.
SIDE-RAILS
For safety reasons, we ask that you make sure the side-rails on your child’s crib or bed are raised at all times.
ROOM ASSIGNMENT
The room your child is assigned has been arranged in order to allow the best care. Single bed rooms are utilized for patients needing isolation.
ROOM ENVIRONMENT
CHOC has always believed in creating a healing environment for children and their families. We wish to provide an environment that will reduce stress and promote healing. We ask for your participation and cooperation in maintaining a calm and nurturing environment. If you have any concerns about the environment for your child, or yourself, please talk with a CHOC staff member. We are happy to help you.
PREVENTING PATIENT FALLS
Be sure your child wears shoes or slip resistant socks or slippers. Do not let your child ride on the IV pole. Be careful around monitor cables and cords. During your child’s stay, he/she may be given medications for pain, sedation or seizures that may cause your child to be dizzy. Always ask for help before getting up.
TELEVISION
Televisions are provided in each patient room. In addition to the major networks, select cable channels are provided free of charge. Seacrest Studios at CHOC (in-house radio station) is broadcast through the TV during weekly scheduled broadcasts. Educational videos are also available for you to view.
