Patient Guide

Admissions

We ask that our patients enter through our Main Entrance and Emergency Room entrance located under the covered driveway on the north end of our hospital. The Main Entrance can be found on the far right of the hospital (when facing the hospital) or you can follow the RED signs to the Emergency Department.

All patients register at the Registration Desk located in the Emergency Department. For you convenience, the Registration Desk is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As a reminder, it is important for all patients to arrive on time.

During the Registration process, we ask that everyone sign the following: Consent of Treatment and Authorization to Bill the Insurance Provider.

If you are a Medicare recipient, you will be required to sign the following: Medicare Secondary Questionnaire and Medicare Rights Statement.

Back to Top

ATM

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

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

---

Cafeteria

Our campus cafeteria is called "The Café." It is located near our Administration and is open to all visitors for lunch every  week day - Monday through Friday.

Hours:

Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

---

Cellphones & Video

During your stay, you may see members of your care team using mobile phones. At Southern Tennessee Regional Health System Lawrenceburg, 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.

Back to Top

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:

The Tennessee Department of Public Health
Department of Health Division of Healthcare Facilities
665 Mainstream Drive, Second Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
1.877.287.0010

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 the QRM Director at 931.766.3165.

Back to Top

---

Discharge

We ask that our patients be picked up in the covered circular driveway at the north end of the hospital. When facing the hospital, this would be the entrance at the far right.

Back to Top

---

Electrical Appliances

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

Back to Top

---

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.

Back to Top

Flowers

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

Back to Top

Hearing Impaired

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

Back to Top

---

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.

Back to Top

---

Hours of Operation

The Southern Tennessee Regional Health System - Lawrenceburg is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Our cashier's hours are 8:00am - 3:30pm during weekdays. 

After hours payments can be made at our Emergency Department registration desk (follow the RED signs to Emergency Department). 

Our Medical Records department is open Monday through Friday from 8am until 4pm.

Back to Top

---

Housekeeping Services

Please contact your nurse info on room cleaning schedule, who to call, etc.

Back to Top

---

Interpreters and Translation Services

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

Back to Top

---

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.

Back to Top

---

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. 

Mail for patients should be addressed as follows:

Patient Name
Southern Tennessee Regional Health System 
1607 South Locust Avenue
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee 38464

Back to Top

---

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.

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.

Back to Top

---

Newspapers

Local newspapers are delivered to patient's rooms on the day they are distributed in Lawrenceburg. They are also available in the Emergency Department for visitors.

Back to Top

---

Parking

The Lawrenceburg Campus has ample parking surrounding the hospital. If the front parking areas are full, please pull to the side of The Women's Center and park in a secure location. Please be sure to secure your car and never leave valuables in your car.

Back to Top

---

Pastoral Care

If you would like a visit from the chaplain for spiritual care and comfort, please ask your for chaplain availability. The chapel is always open for prayer and meditation.

Back to Top

---

Patient Meals

Patients are served breakfast between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., lunch between 11:30 a.m.  and noon, and dinner between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Your meal may be delayed if you are scheduled for a special test or treatment. When possible, you will be served after your exam or test. 

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.

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.

Back to Top

---

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. Southern Tennessee Regional Health System Lawrenceburg cannot be responsible for replacing personal belongings.

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.

Back to Top

---

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.

Back to Top

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. Ask a staff member to learn more.

Back to Top

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 STRHS Lawrenceburg property, parking lots, associated buildings and vehicles. Patients and visitors are asked not to smoke during their hospital visit. This policy includes pipes, vapor and e-cigarettes. If you would like information about Southern Tennessee Regional's smoking cessation program please call 931.762.6571.

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.

Back to Top

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".
 
Telephone Tips

• Medical/Surgical Room Phone Number -  Bed "A": (931) 968-2+room number/ Bed "B": (931) 968-2+50 added to room number
• Childbirth Center Room Phone Number – (931) 968-2+room number 
• Dialing the Hospital Operator from your room - Press "0"
• Placing a local Call from your room - Press "9" then dial the number
• Long Distance & Calling Card Calls from your room - Press "9" then "0"
• To reach an Outside Operator from your room - Press "9" then "0"

Back to Top

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. Guests may also utilize our FREE WiFi to stream your favorite programming on their devices.

Back to Top

Vending Machines

Our visitors can find snacks and drinks at the following locations:

• Medical Floor Hospitality: Snacks, Drinks, and Sandwiches
• ICU Waiting Area: Snacks and Drinks only
• OB Waiting Area: Drinks only

Back to Top

Visiting Hours

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

For the convenience of your family and friends, we have various waiting rooms for Med/Surg/ICU, Childbirth Center, and Surgery. If you need assistance locating a specific waiting room, please ask one of our many volunteers. 

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.

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

To promote healing and safety and limit infection, some units may limit the number of visitors you can receive at one time.

• General Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Note: Patients have the right to choose to receive visitors from among family, friends or other individuals at any time during their stay.

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.

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.

Back to Top

Waiting Rooms

The main waiting areas are clearly marked at entrance of the ER and The Women's Center. Smaller waiting rooms can be found in the departments deeper inside the hospital. If you need assistance, please ask one of our many volunteers.

Back to Top

What to Bring

Please bring the following items with you:

• Drivers License or Picture ID
• All active medical insurance cards
• Social security card
• Contact information for an immediate family member
• Current list of ALL medications
• Living Will (if applicable)

If you have been instructed to bring x-rays or imaging studies of any kind, please call (931) 766-3241 and our staff can help you acquire these from other facilities. 

We recommend to our over night patients that they bring: 

• Nightwear
• Robe
• Rubber soled slippers
• Personal hygiene items like toiletries
  

Back to Top