Please note: For the safety of our patients and staff, Visitation Guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic remain in effect. Before visiting the hospital or outpatient facility, here's what you need to know.
Safety is the cornerstone of everything we do at Holland Hospital. Following are some of the practices in place to assure a hospital experience focused on your safety, care and comfort.
Your Positive ID
- Staff will ask you to identify yourself before performing tests and procedures.
- The bar code on your wrist band enables hospital staff to positively identify you with one swipe of a scanner. Your care team will check your wrist band each time they give you medications, including IV medications.
- If you are scheduled for surgery, we will confirm where you are having surgery and mark the surgical site. Your medical team will also confirm details immediately before your procedure.
- Staff will take precautions to prevent the spread of infections in the hospital. When blood is drawn, a label is immediately printed in your presence. You will be asked to confirm that the tube is labeled correctly with your name.
Staff ID Badges
Every health care professional, staff member or volunteer involved in your care is required to wear a photo identification badge. This enables you to know who is involved in your care at all times.
Medications
- Keep a list of the medications you take, including the dosages.
- Inform your physician and nurse of any medication you have brought with you to the hospital. Patients should not take any medications other than those specified or approved by their physician and administered by the nursing staff.
- Our nursing units use Pyxis machines to dispense medication accurately and efficiently. These computerized machines are monitored by our in-hospital pharmacy to supply medications in prescribed doses, decreasing the chance of medication error.
Preventing Falls
- Wear slippers or shoes with non-skid soles. Hospital floors can be slippery. Get up slowly. Sit on the edge of your bed for a few minutes. If you feel dizzy or weak, put on your call light.
- Your hospital bed is probably higher and narrower than your bed at home. When needed, call for help getting into or out of bed. If the siderails are up don't try to climb over or between them. Use your call light to get help.
- If you have an IV line, use your call light to get help moving with your IV.
- Most of the furniture in your room is on wheels. Don't try to use it for support. Use your call light to get help. Because wheelchairs tip easily, please ask for assistance when getting into or out of one.
- Keep items within easy reach. Ask your nurse or someone else to place your call light, glasses, phone or other needed items where you can easily get to them.
- Don't wait until the last minute to go to the bathroom. Get up slowly and ask for help if needed. Make sure the light is on if it's dark.
Hand Hygiene
Hand washing is the single most important thing health care workers can do to prevent infection. Holland Hospital’s hand washing policy requires all employees to “wash in, wash out” each time they enter or leave your room. If you notice that a health care provider does not wash or sanitize their hands, it is okay to remind them, and we encourage you to do so.
Emergency Drills
For the protection of our patients and visitors, Holland Hospital regularly conducts fire and disaster-preparedness drills to help us maintain our high level of readiness in the event of a true fire or disaster. During a drill, hospital staff may temporarily close all doors on the floor. Patients and visitors are asked to remain in their room until the drill is over.
Extra Security for Newborns
Our HUGS Protection System provides a high level of security. This is in addition to the many safety procedures already in place at Holland Hospital. Nurses and staff in the Boven Birth Center wear pink ID badges for easy identification.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs for patients or visitors are located on all nursing units and at hospital entrances. For safety purposes, please ask for assistance from health care staff when getting in and out of a wheelchair.
Additional Safety Measures for Patients and Visitors
For the well-being of all our patients, no one should visit the hospital if they are not feeling well, have a cold, or have been exposed to a contagious illness. All visitors should wash their hands when they enter a patient's room; a sink and hand sanitizer are located just inside the door.
Cell Phones
Cell phones may not be used in any patient care areas and should be turned off.
No Latex
Due to severe allergic reactions to latex rubber suffered by some patients, latex balloons are not permitted in the hospital. Visitors are asked to bring Mylar balloons instead to bring cheer to their patient.
Smoke-free Environment
To ensure the health and safety of Holland Hospital patients, visitors and employees, smoking is not permitted in any Holland Hospital building or on the premises, including walkways and parking facilities.
Concealed Weapons
Holland Hospital prohibits persons from carrying a handgun, firearm, or prohibited weapon of any kind onto hospital property regardless of whether or not the person is licensed to carry the weapon.