During your time at the OSUCCC – James, we encourage you to participate in your care. You can learn more below about how you can take care of yourself while at the OSUCCC – James.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please ask a member of your health care team or call Patient Experience at 614-293-8609.
Participate in Your Care
You can participate in your care by:
- Asking questions. We will answer any question you have. Ask us about procedures, treatments and medications that are part of your care.
- Notifying your nurse if you have pain or discomfort. We will help you with pain management.
- Reminding our staff to clean their hands each time they enter the room. Also, remind your visitors to clean their hands when they come in the room, after touching objects in the hospital room, before and after eating and after using the restroom.
- Participating in conversations about your care with doctors, nurses and other staff.
- Partnering with us as we teach you how to care for yourself.
- Using your call button before you get out of bed or if you need anything.
We want you to be a partner in your care. Watch a short video with tips of how you can participate.
Leaving Your Unit
It is best for you to remain on your unit while in the hospital. Due to your care needs, there may be times you should not leave the unit because of medicines, tests, procedures or consultations about your care. By staying close, your care team can follow your course of treatment without delay or interruption and in a safe manner.
Please speak to your nurse or a member of your care team before leaving the unit.
Please Call, Don’t Fall
Your safety is important to us. Nurses and PCAs will check on you frequently, help you safely get out of bed and ensure that the equipment and items you need are within reach. Before getting out of bed, please call. Our staff can help you to move safely in your room with your medical equipment.
Preventing Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers happen when the skin and tissue under it are damaged by pressure. These can happen anywhere on the body, and are most common on bony/firm areas such tailbone, hips, elbows, ears, heels and ankles. Your nurse will work with you to help prevent pressure ulcers. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your nurse.
- Change your position every two to four hours to keep pressure off any one spot.
- Check your skin often for redness during the day. If you need help, ask your nurse to help you.
- Keep your skin clean and dry.
- Put moisturizing lotion on your skin often.
- If you are in a chair or wheelchair, use a special cushion to help reduce pressure.
ID Bracelet
You may notice that we often check your ID bracelet, or often ask the same questions of you. We do this to double check your identity and ensure your safety, especially before giving you medicine or starting a procedure.
Hand Hygiene
Clean hands are the single most important tool in preventing infections. Everyone — including visitors, doctors and nurses — should clean their hands:
- When entering the room
- After touching objects or surfaces in the hospital room
- Before and after eating
- After using the restroom
Your health care providers know to practice hand hygiene. Do not be afraid to ask your providers if they have cleaned their hands.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
As a patient, you have many rights and responsibilities. Visit our patient rights and responsibilities page to learn more.
Privacy Policies
The confidentiality of your medical information is important to us. We want you to know that we are taking many actions to protect your privacy. Under federal privacy regulations (HIPAA), patients have rights regarding their medical information.
You have the right to:
- Inspect and receive a copy of your medical information
- Request an amendment or change of incorrect information about you
- Request a restriction on how we use or share your information
- File a complaint about our privacy practices
The Notice of Privacy Practices describes important information about your rights and our obligations to protect and appropriately use and share patient health information.
These rights do have special limitations. If you wish to receive a copy of this notice, please contact Patient Experience at 614-293-8609 or the Privacy Office at 614-293-4477.
Advance Directives
Advance directives are the legal documents that allow you to give direction to medical personnel, family and friends concerning your future care when you cannot speak for yourself. This may happen if you become unconscious, are terminally ill or confused and cannot make informed choices. You do not need a lawyer in order to complete advance directives.
In the State of Ohio, there are three forms of advance directives:
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care lets you choose someone as your agent to make all health care decisions for you when you are unable to speak for yourself.
- Living Will lets you give written directions about your care when you are terminally ill or in a permanently unconscious state and unable to speak for yourself.
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order says you do not want to have CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) performed if your heart should stop beating. Please speak with your physician or nurse practitioner if you would like to execute a DNR.
If you want more information or the forms needed for advance directives, please call Social Work at 614-366-5119 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Patient Experience
The Patient Experience Department is dedicated to making your stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible. Our team is available to assist if you have questions or concerns regarding your care. All interactions between patients or their representatives and our staff are confidential.
If you would like to speak with someone in Patient Experience, please call us at 614-293-8609 and press 3 to speak to a patient advocate.