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Patients
And Visitors
For your convenience
we provide here information about a number of services. If you cannot
find what you are looking for, please contact
Mercy On Call, at 358-2767 or 800-358-2767.
Area
Information
For
your convenience, we have provided a list
of Web sites with information about the Iowa City/Coralville
area.
Advance
Directives/Living Wills
Iowa
law provides two types of advance directives: the Declaration Relating
to Use of Life-Sustaining Procedures, known as a Living Will, and
the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care more
information.
Living Will
In a Living Will you may specify that certain life-sustaining procedures
be withheld or withdrawn if you are in a terminal condition and
unable to decide for yourself. However, medication or medical procedures
that provide comfort or ease pain are not considered life-sustaining
and are not withheld under a Living Will.
Durable
Power of Attorney for Health Care
In creating a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, you will
choose a person to make health care decisions for you in case you
are unable to do so, in accordance with your wishes. The person
named should be someone you trust and who is willing to act in this
capacity. It is also important to discuss your wishes with this
person.
Upon admission
to Mercy, individuals are asked if they have health care advance
directives. If so and a copy is available, if is made part of the
patient's hospital record.
For more information
about advance directives or forms from the Iowa
State Bar Association, visit their website or ask your nurse.
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Billing/Insurance
Information
Mercy's
Access Services Department has representatives available Monday
through Friday,
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to assist with questions or concerns about
your hospital bill and insurance.
Call 339-3616. more information
Birth
Certificates
Mercy
Hospital does not issue certified copies of birth certificates.
Copies must be obtained from state or local registrars, in accordance
with Iowa state law.
- For babies
born after July 1995:
Contact the Johnson County Recorders Office, 913 S. Dubuque St.,
Iowa City, IA 52240, phone 319-356-6095.
- For babies
born before July 1995:
Contact the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital
Records, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street,
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075, phone 515-281-4944.
- For babies
who are adopted or for any records ordered sealed by a court of
law:
Contact the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital
Records, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street,
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075, phone 515-281-4944.
For
other information about birth certificates, call 319-339-3681.
Business Center
Located near the main lobby, the business center houses a computer with Internet access, a fax machine, and an Internet port for a laptop computer. It is open 24 hours a day.
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Cafeteria
Mercy's
Cafeteria, located on the first floor, is open daily from 6:30 a.m.
to 8:30 p.m. It offers hot meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner,
as well as a short order line and salad bar.
A vending machine alcove is located near the Cafeteria. It is available
24 hours a day and offers cold drinks, chips, candy, and a selection
of cold foods such as fruit and yogurt.
CaringBridge
CaringBridge is a free, easy-to-use Internet service developed to keep friends and family informed during important life events – medical treatment, childbirth, rehabilitation or end-of-life care.
CaringBridge allows friends and family to be there for their loved one.
By visiting www.caringbridge.org, families may quickly and easily create a personal Web page, write journal entries and display photographs for their caring community. Anyone can use the service, and support is available if you have any questions.
Visitors who are provided the unique Web page address and optional password can read the journal and send their own messages of support and encouragement for patient and family.
Cashier
Services/ATM
Checks
up to the amount of $20 can be cashed at the Cashier's window, 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Cafeteria will accept
checks for the amount of a meal purchase. An ATM and change machine
are available near the main lobby.
Cellular
Phone Policy
There is no policy in place restricting the use of cell phones in
the building. However, in order to promote rest and recovery for
ICU patients and to prevent any electrical interference with monitoring
equipment, the ICU staff requests that cell phones be turned off
while visiting ICU patients.
Gift
Shop
Mercy's Gift Shop offers a variety of gift items for patients and
visitors. It is located near the main entrance and is staffed by
Mercy volunteers. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.;
Saturday, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 - 4 p.m.
Guest
Lodging
Mercy
offers private guest rooms for those that need to stay near the
hospital and do not need nursing care. These rooms are available
on a first-come, first-serve basis and are located on the third
floor of Mercy North. The accommodations include two twin beds,
television, telephone, and private bath with shower. A lounge and
kitchenette for the use of all guests is also available. The cost
is $25 per night. For more information, call Volunteer Services
at 319-339-3659. more iInformation
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Language
Translation Services
While patients may bring their own interpreters to the hospital,
this is sometimes not possible or appropriate. For this reason,
Mercy offers translation services for patients and visitors that
do not speak English. In some cases, translation can be provided
in person. In others, the services of Certified Language International
(CLI) are used; this telephone translation service is available
24 hours a day at no charge to the patient or visitor.
A variety of print, videotape, and online resource materials in
Spanish and other languages are also available in patient care areas.
Mercy
Lifeline
Mercy
Lifeline is a personal emergency response system. It offers peace
of mind to the user and reassurance to family and friends. Mercy
Lifeline is available for $30 per month, plus a one-time activation
fee. For more information, call Mercy's Lifeline Coordinator at
339-3649. more information
Lost
& Found
Articles found on the Mercy campus are kept in the Safety and Security
Department. Inquiries regarding lost articles can be made by calling
339-0300 or 800-637-2942, and asking the operator to connect you
to Security.
Medication
Record Information
Mercy Iowa City strongly encourages you to complete and carry a
medication record. more
information
Newspapers
The Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City Gazette, and USA Today are
sold in machines located just off of the main lobby.
Organ
and Tissue Donation
Organ
and tissue donation can save or improve the quality of life for
people who suffer from organ failure, bone defects, burns, or blindness.
This is a very personal choice and certified designated requestors
along with pastoral care are available 24 hours to assist in the
event that such a decision needs to be made. Mercy Hospital maintains
a close relationship with the Iowa Donor Network.
For more information
please contact any member of the nursing or pastoral care staff.
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Parking
Patient and visitor parking is available in the parking ramp adjacent
to the Mercy Medical Plaza, 540 East Jefferson Street. The fee is
50 cents per hour to a maximum of $4 per 24 hours.
The skywalk leading to Mercy's main lobby is on level 2 of the parking
ramp. It can be reached from any level of the ramp by elevator or
stairs. It is possible to exit the hospital by the skywalk 24 hours
a day. If you need to enter the hospital between the hours of midnight
and 4 a.m., enter through the Emergency Care Unit or dial "0"
on the telephone in the skywalk elevator lobby for assistance.
If you would
like an escort to your vehicle, please call ext. 3694 or dial "0"
and ask for Security. Security is also available to jump-start or
unlock vehicles at no charge.
Please note:
The parking lot outside the Emergency Care Unit is for emergency
patients and Breast Imaging Center patients only.
Valet parking
is available at Mercy's main entrance, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday
through Friday. The fee is $3, plus regular hourly parking fee,
50 cents per hour. The $3 valet fee is waived for those with a state
issued handicapped parking permit.
Campus
Parking Map
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Spiritual
Support
Pastoral
Care is an integral part of Catholic health care. Mercy offers patients
the spiritual services of prayer, sacraments, a listening presence,
and assistance in dealing with the emotions and questions that come
with sickness.
Mercy's experienced
staff chaplains:
- offer sacraments
- assist with
spiritual care regardless of faith or religious tradition
- strive to
visit all inpatients within 24 hours of admission and make outpatient
visits upon request
- will notify
a patient's own pastor upon request
Mercy's Chapel
is available to all patients, visitors, and staff for prayer and
solitude. It is located on the first floor and is open from 6 a.m.
to 12 midnight. Catholic Eucharist is celebrated at 3:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday; 9 a.m. on Saturdays; and 11:30 a.m. on Sundays.
Times may vary on holidays. Chapel worship services may be viewed
in patient rooms on channel 5.
A lending library
is available in Mercy's Pastoral Care office, located just off the
main lobby. It includes Bibles in various languages and versions
(including audiotape), the Hebrew Bible, and the Qur'an. Phone:
339-3556
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Smoking
Policy
No smoking is allowed in the hospital building or in Mercy Medical
Plaza. This is in order to safeguard the health and safety of our
patients, visitors, volunteers, and staff. Smoking is permitted
only in designated areas on the hospital exterior grounds. Identifying
signs are posted.
Special
Needs
For patients whose hearing is impaired, Mercy offers a TDD (telecommunication
device for the deaf) through a dedicated line in the Emergency Care
Unit. Relay Iowa can be contacted for TTY (teletypewriter) communication.
Patients and visitors who use sign language are encouraged to bring
an interpreter with them. Closed caption television, adapters, volume
control telephone receivers, and telecommunication devices are also
available.
For patients whose vision is impaired, escorts can be arranged,
as well as accommodations for a seeing eye dog. Sleeping arrangements
for an interpreter or family member can also be made.
Visiting
Hours
General:
12 noon to 8 p.m.
Children under 14 are welcome to visit when accompanied by an adult.
In consideration of our patients' health, we ask that the number
of visitors be reasonable.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU):
There are two time periods each day when no visiting is allowed
in ICU. These are 7 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. At other times, immediate
family members may visit for 5-10 minutes out of each hour. No more
than two visitors are allowed in the room at one time, and no visitors
under the age of 14 are allowed. Visitors should always check with
a nurse before entering a patient room. Children may not be left
unattended in the ICU waiting room.
Maternity:
Fathers and support persons may visit any time. Grandparents, siblings
of the baby, and other visitors may visit but we suggest visiting
between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Grandparents, siblings of the baby, and
other visitors may visit in mother's room during regular visiting
hours, 12 noon to 8 p.m. Children must be accompanied by a responsible
adult and should not visit if they show any signs of illness.
Pediatrics:
Parents may visit any time and one parent may arrange to spend the
night.
Please note:
Latex balloons cannot be brought into the hospital as they present
an allergy risk to some people. Mylar balloons are acceptable.
When
You're Away From Your Child
Mercy Iowa City provides a permission form that parents can complete
and leave with a caregiver in case the child needs medical/surgical
treatment while they are away. Click here
for a copy of Mercy's "Permission Form for Medical Care in
Parental Absence."
Mercy offers wireless internet access in most areas of the hospital, as well as Starbucks coffee in the cafeteria. Access is provided in public waiting areas, cafeteria, atrium, most patient rooms and the Guest Lodging area.
For those needing assistance, printed instructions are available at Mercy’s main lobby information desk. For those who cannot establish a wireless connection or who do not have a laptop computer, a PC with Internet access is available in the family communication center near the main lobby.
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