Patients & Visitors
Thank you for choosing Wythe County Community Hospital to meet your health care needs. We consider it a privilege to serve you and your family. The goal of every Wythe County Community Hospital staff member is to make your stay as pleasant and as comfortable as possible while following the medical care plan especially designed for you by your physician. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about your care or any of the hospital's services.
The information presented below covers a wide range of hospital services and policies. If you need additional information, please call us at (276) 228-0200.
We will do our best to resolve any difficulties that might arise while you are here or pass along any suggestions or compliments that you may have.
Admissions
Patients may pre-admit once admission has been scheduled. Admissions are processed via the registration clerks at the registration desk in the Emergency Department located on the second floor of the hospital. Once you arrive on the nursing unit, the staff will help you get acquainted with your room and your surroundings.
Patients undergoing outpatient surgery should report to the registration desk in the Emergency Department if arriving prior to 7:00 a.m. Patients arriving after 7:00 a.m. should report to the 3rd Floor pre-surgical testing area.
Expectant mothers should check in via the registration clerks at the registration desk in the Emergency Department before coming to Labor and Delivery. If you are an admission please check in via the registration clerks in the Emergency Department.
What to Bring
You will need to bring a small number of personal items to the hospital, such as pajamas, robe, slippers, and personal toiletry articles including cases for glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures. If you bring with you or any of the prior mentioned items are brought to you after your admission, please make sure your nurse is aware that you have them in your possession. These items are your responsibility to keep up with. Bring your driver’s license, insurance card, claim forms, and your co-pay and deductible amounts.
Do Not Bring
Do not bring watches, jewelry, cash or other valuables to the hospital. Wythe County Community Hospital will only be responsible for these items if they are deposited into our safe. Ask your nurse about safe deposits upon admission. Please do not bring medications to the hospital. Your physician and the hospital pharmacy will provide all of your medication while you are in the hospital. However, it is important to provide your physician with a list of all medications that you are currently taking.
Cafeteria
The cafeteria, located on the second floor at Wythe County Community Hospital, is open to visitors for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday. The hours are:
- Breakfast 7:00 am to 9:00 am
- Lunch 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
- Dinner 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Snacks and soft drinks may be purchased 24-hours-a-day from the vending machines located on the second floor near the ER waiting area, 3rd and 4th floor waiting areas.
Discharge
When you are medically ready to leave the hospital, your physician will write a discharge order on your medical chart. Your nurses and your physician will discuss discharge information with you, including special diets, medications and limitations on your activities. The case manager will assist you in making arrangements for home care or other community services, if needed. Your physician will let you know if an office visit is necessary after discharge.
Be sure to check your room for all personal belongings and reclaim any valuables from the hospital safe. When your transportation arrives, please allow your nurse or auxillary to escort you from the hospital.
Family Waiting Room and Visiting Hours
Wythe County Community Hospital has open visiting hours depending upon the condition of the patient.
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, children of all ages are allowed in the Women’s Center, as long as they are not ill. Children are not allowed in the birthing rooms during the delivery.
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.
Family Waiting Room
For the convenience of your family and friends, Wythe County Community Hospital has various waiting rooms for Med/Surg/ICU, Childbirth Center, and Surgery.
Intensive Care Unit
Due to the nature of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) visitation is determined on an individual basis. Wythe County Community Hospital traditionally practices an open policy however depending on the needs of the patient, visitation may be restricted.
Financial Arrangements
When you are admitted, you should confirm financial arrangements for your care. If you have hospitalization insurance, please bring your policy, identification card, and other pertinent information with you.
Most insurance companies require pre-admission certification and a second opinion before surgery. Please review your pre-admission requirements and coverage and advise your physician of these requirements. This process must be complete before admission, unless it is an emergency. If this has not been done in accordance with the policy's requirements, your insurance benefits may be reduced or denied. Also if the patient leaves the hospital “against medical advice” (“AMA”) your insurance may choose not to pay for the hospitalization.
As a courtesy, Wythe County Community Hospital will file a verifiable third-party claim and help in any way possible to expedite their payment. However, please remember that the patient is ultimately responsible for the hospital bill because an insurance policy is a contract between patients and their insurance company.
Most hospital insurance plans do not fully cover hospital bills. All bills are payable in full at the time of discharge unless financial arrangements have been made with the business office (276) 228-0245 before discharge. At the time of discharge, you should be prepared to pay the estimated balance due over the verifiable insurance coverage, or make arrangements with the Business Office.
The Business Office will file your claim for insurance assigned to the hospital. If an insurance payment is less than our estimate, you will be billed for the balance due. Wythe County Community Hospital can provide payment arrangements and financing options.
Assistance with Medicaid eligibility is available by calling the patient financial counselor at (276) 625-8819.
Hospitals and doctors charge separately
Once you are discharged from the hospital, you may receive a separate bill from the physician, anesthesiologist, pathologist, radiologist, or emergency department physician. These physicians are not employees of the hospital.
If you have questions about your coverage of your bill, please call the Business Office at (469) 256-2420 and we will be happy to help you.
Food Services
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.
If lab tests or x-rays delay your meal time, the nursing staff will be happy to order a tray after you return to your room. 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.
Housekeeping
Wythe County Community Hospital believes in the perseverance of our natural resources therefore, bed linen is changed every other day or as needed depending on patient needs. If you need additional linens or housekeeping services, please contact your nurse.
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.
Mail and Flowers
Cards and flowers sent by your family and friends to make your stay more pleasant are delivered daily. Latex balloons are not allowed, but mylar balloons may be delivered. Flowers are NOT allowed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Mail received after you are discharged will be forwarded to your home. Mail for patients should be addressed as follows:
Patient Name
Wythe County Community Hospital
600 West Ridge Road
Wytheville, VA 24382
Medicines
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.
Newspapers
Local newspapers may be purchased from boxes outside the front doors of Wythe County Community Hospital.
Pediatric Care
For the safety of our pediatric patients, those under the age of 12, we require an adult to stay with them at all times. If your child is under 2 years of age, we require the use of a baby bed for the safety of your child.
Pet Visitation
Wythe County Community Hospital is committed to providing personalized care that recognizes the benefits of integrating traditional medicine with complementary medicine as a supportive service. Patient must be deemed, by their physician, as appropriate to benefit from the visit of his/her dog.
Smoking Policy
To protect your health and the health of others, Wythe County Community Hospital is a smoke-free environment. Smoking is not permitted in patient rooms, corridors, lobbies, waiting rooms, campus or any other area of the hospital.
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. 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
- 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"
Public Internet Access
Public wireless internet access is currently available in our main lobby on the first floor and in the Emergency Department waiting area.
Valuables
We encourage you to entrust your valuables to a friend or relative while you are in the hospital. 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 security guard, 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. The hospital cannot be responsible for lost items unless they are placed in a Valuables Envelope. Glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures must be documented in your chart.
Change Begins With Me Program!
Change Begins With Me forms are used to recognize employees who “go the extra mile” for our customers, which include: Patients, Vendors, Visitors, Physicians, and co-workers. A Change Begins With Me form can be completed by anyone that wants to recognize what a WCCH employee did to “go the extra mile” for them. Forms are available throughout the facility; ask your nurse for as many as you need or print them from our website.
Patient Advocate Contact
Our patient advocate team will act on your behalf and work well with other members of your healthcare team such as your doctors and nurses to answer questions or concerns that you might not feel you understand clearly. You may contact someone from the patient advocate team by calling 276-228-0378.