Your room
Your room may be private or semi-private. The charge is the same and the Admissions Department staff can quote the room rate. If you have a preference, please let us know, and we will honor your request when possible.
Nursing personnel helps you get settled in your room and helps you put away your personal items. To prevent damage or loss, we urge you to send home anything you do not need, especially clothing, valuables, and money. The hospital has a safe for money or small valuables. The hospital is responsible for what is in the safe but not for items you choose to keep in the room or at the bedside. If you need an item from the safe, you must request it in writing, and an appropriate person will bring it to you.
Nursing personnel shows you how to work your bed, bed equipment, television, and call button. When you need help, push the call button and your nurse answers as soon as possible. All patient bathrooms and showers have an emergency pull cord. A light flashes at the nursing station to alert your nurse that you need help.
Daily routine
Your daily routine may vary, but many patients can expect the following:
- In the morning, you have a visit from your health care team, which usually includes your attending physician, nurse, resident or intern, and medical students. Others, such as a social worker, physical therapist, pharmacist, or dietitian, may also attend.
- Later your nurse helps you bathe, if you need help, and change your sheets if needed. He or she may:
- Give you your medicines
- Perform treatments (such as dressing changes) as ordered by your doctor
- Take your temperature, pulse, or blood pressure
- You may have blood drawn or be taken to another department for a test or treatment as needed.
Meals
Menu selections
Your doctor prescribes the type of diet you need to follow during your stay. A food and nutrition services representative helps you to choose the food and beverages that are allowed on your diet. On some units, a host delivers a paper menu for you to choose your next day’s selections. On other units, a dietetic aide visits you with their computer and helps you make your selections. All patients may also call directly to the Dietitians Office at extension 5-5903 to make choices for the next meal.
Questions about your diet?
During your stay, if you have specific questions about your diet, please ask to speak with a registered dietitian or dietetic technician. After you are discharged, if you have questions about your nutritional needs, call the dietitian's office.
Meal times
- Breakfast selections are available from 6:30 to 10:00 am. Usual breakfast delivery to the patient units is 7:00 to 8:00 am.
- Morning snack is from 10:00 to 11:00 am
- Lunch selections are available from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Usual lunch delivery to the patient units is 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
- Afternoon snack is from 2:00 to 4:30 pm.
- Dinner selections are available from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. Usual dinner delivery to the patient units is 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
- Evening and overnight beverage and snacks are available between 7:00 pm and 6:30 am, on all patient units.
Television
Televisions are in every room at no added charge. You may view many network channels as well as DHMC programs on patient education, relaxation, bingo, and chapel services. If you would like to use the closed caption option, your nurse can tell you how to access it. If you have a roommate who is trying to rest, please keep the volume low.
View the television channel guide.
Telephone
Telephones are in every room. If you have trouble hearing, please tell your doctor or nurse. He or she can bring you an amplified telephone or will call 603-650-7777 to order a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY/TDD).
Phone calls to patient rooms, from either inside or outside, do not go through between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am.
Public telephones for visitors are located throughout the medical center. Please ask your nurse for the location of the nearest public phone.
We ask you not to use cell phones or other radio frequency-transmitting devices in any critical care area, or where signs are posted prohibiting use of cell phones. You may use cell phones in the rest of the hospital.
- To call another patient or a department within the hospital, dial 00 and an operator can give you the number.
- For local calls, dial 32 and then the number. There are no charges for local telephone calls.
- For long distance, you may place your call collect or use your phone card. If you dial 32-0-area code (including NH) and the number you wish to reach, you are be given a choice of how you want your call to be charged. Long-distance calls cannot be charged to your hospital bill.
- Friends and family outside the medical center can reach you by calling 603-650-5000 and asking for your phone number.
Internet
Patients who have their own devices with wireless connections can log into our guest network. Laptops are not provided to patients. Due to security issues, personal computers must have approved antivirus software installed.
Mail and flowers
Mail is delivered at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm weekdays. If you want to send a letter, your nurse can mail it. If mail arrives after you have gone home, it is forwarded to your home address.
Each afternoon, volunteers deliver flowers and plants sent to patients from family and friends. They may also bring you a plant or bouquet donated by the Hanover Garden Club. Please note that plants and flowers are not permitted in the intensive care units or some isolation rooms.
Reading cart
Books and magazines are available through Volunteer Services at 603-650-7056.
Puzzles, board games, and cards
Puzzles, board games, playing cards are available through Volunteer Services by calling 603-650-7056.
TV bingo
Bingo is televised on Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on channel 15. Bingo cards are delivered on your breakfast tray. Prizes are delivered following the program.