Hand Washing
Sinks and foam dispensers in your room are for you, your family and friends, and your care team to use. Please ask everyone to wash their hands when they enter and when they leave your room.

Hospital Bed
Hospital beds are electronically operated. Your caregiver will show you how to operate your bed to best fit your needs. Bedside rails are for your safety. They may be raised at night or during the day if you are resting, recovering from surgery, or taking certain medicines. The controls that raise and lower the head and foot of your bed are on the bedrails.

Call Button
A button to call your caregiver is on a remote control that is kept by your bed at all times. Pushing the red button alerts the nursing station. A staff member will answer your call and send the right caregiver to your room.

Most falls occur when patients try to get out of bed on their own - usually to go to the bathroom. It is our job to help keep you safe. Please ask for help when getting up so that we can maintain a safe environment for you.

Please ask for help. Sometimes people take medicines that cause them to use the bathroom more often than they normally would. This cannot be avoided. If possible, call for help before the need to get up and move becomes urgent.

Items from Home

• Medicines - Please ask family or friends to take your medicines home. Do not take any of these while you are in the hospital. Your nurse will give you any medicines you need to take while you are here.
• Personal Belongings - There is a closet in your room for clothes and other items, such as your dentures and eyeglasses. If you need anything, like shampoo, deodorant, slippers or a toothbrush, please ask. If you brought any electrical items like a blow dryer, computer or music player, please ask if it is OK to use. Only approved electrical devices may be used in your room.

Please put everything away, especially when you leave the room. Send valuables, such as jewelry and money, home with family members. If your family cannot take your valuables home, contact your nurse. Your items may be kept in the hospital safe until you can send them home. Bronson is not responsible for lost or damaged personal property. If you lose something, tell your nurse right away. We will do our best to find it. To ask about lost items, call Customer Service at (269) 341-6055.

Cell Phones
Cell phones and other electronic devices may be used on vibrate. Please hang up or push pause when your doctor or nurse needs to talk with you.

Smoking Policy
Bronson has a tobacco-free environment. This includes all patient rooms. Patients may not leave the unit to smoke. There are other options. Bronson has resources to help you quit.

Internet Access
Free wireless access to the Internet is available in most areas. There is no special code to login. Call the IT Support Center at (269) 341-6330 if you need help. To create your own Web page to write journal entries, share photos and keep family and friends updated, visit the CaringBridge®. This is also free for you. Bronson has a few computers that can be loaned out. Please ask your nurse if one is available.

Room Cleaning Service
Your room will be cleaned every day. If you have concerns or compliments, please call (269) 341-7920.

Temperature
Your room has its own thermostat. Please ask that it be adjusted so the temperature is right for you.

Television
Your television control is located on the same device as your caregiver call button. To request closed captioning, contact Facilities Services at (269) 341-7930.

TV Channels

Using Your Telephone
Your phone number is on the white board on the wall in your room. You can make local calls at no charge. Please give family and friends your direct patient room phone number.

To make local calls:
Dial 9, and then dial the seven-digit number.

To make a long distance call:
Dial 9, then 0 and the number you are calling including the area code.
To charge your call to a major credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) or to a telephone company calling card, enter the credit card number when you hear the dial tone. AT&T handles operator-assisted long distance calls, but you may use the long distance carrier of your choice. Contact your preferred carrier for access information. For questions about rates, billing or service, please contact AT&T Customer Service at (800) 288-2020.

To Reach the Following Operators
Hospital Operator:  Dial 0.
AT&T:  Dial 9+0.

Courtesy and pay telephones are available throughout the hospital.

Telephone Numbers
The main telephone number for Bronson Methodist Hospital is (269) 341-7654.

The following list of phone numbers may be useful. If you are calling any of these departments from Bronson, dial the last four digits for numbers beginning with 341. If you wish to reach a department not listed, please ask your nurse. To call another patient room, dial the last four digits of the telephone number.