info@LifeCenterHospital.org
Your Hospital Stay
Visit Us Before You Are Admitted.
We will be happy to introduce you to your nursing and rehab team. You will also learn during your tour that a specialty hospital is somewhat different from a regular full service hospital, (which provides medical and / or surgical services to all individuals that seek care and treatment, as well as 24 hour emergency service). LIFE Center Specialty Hospital does not provide total medical, surgical and emergency services on a 24 hour-basis, but rather specialized medical services. Specifically our facility offers short term skilled nursing care; rehabilitative nursing and training; and physical, occupational and/or speech therapies. We strive to assist you and your family to reach your goal of returning home by enhancing your personal skills and capacities and suggesting tools and resources to prolong your independence, safety, and dignity.
LIFE Center Specialty Hospital does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the ground of race, color, or national origin, or on the basis of disability or age in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities, whether carried out by LIFE Center Specialty Hospital directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which LIFE Center Specialty Hospital arranges to carry out its programs and services. For further information about this policy, please contact Janis Thompson, CEO and 504 Coordinator by calling 903-870-7117 or 1-800-RELAY TX.
Notary Public
Authorize any official document, health-care proxy, living will.
Please call 0 for the operator and provide the room number, time and date that a notary will be needed. This service may be arranged between the hours of 9 am until 3 pm on Monday through Friday.
Patient Representatives
Patient representatives are available to assist patients and families with questions about available services, patient rights, concerns, grievances, and hospital policies.
Patients or family members who believe that their concerns about patient care or safety have not been addressed are encouraged to contact hospital administration at (903) 870-7117 or (903) 870-2250. If the issue has not been resolved through the hospital, patients or family members may contact The Joint Commission (previously known at the JCAHO) at (800) 994-6610 or visit their website http://www.jointcommission.org.
Hospital Services
Gift Shop
Volunteers open the Gift Shop daily. Personal hygiene products, robes, house shoes, socks, and rehab kits are available as well as novelties, candy, soft drinks and other snacks.
Caregiver Connections Patient & Family Resource Center
Assistance is offered by a trained staff and coordinated with certified personnel from the Area Agency on Aging to respond to questions onsite regarding advanced directives, selecting a nursing home or home health agency, completing a public benefits check up, reviewing eligibility for free or reduced cost medications and telecommunication equipment for persons with disabilities, and/or counseling with caregivers regarding resources, training and support.
Faith-Related/Spiritual Services
Hospital stays can be difficult and emotionally overwhelming for both the patient and family caregiver. Spiritual care can be offered in the chapel located at the end of the main entrance hallway or privately during a bedside visit. Please call the operator (0) and request to speak with Pastoral Care to arrange for Bible study, private prayer, and/or to assist patient/family to contact their own clergy or spiritual leader.
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services
Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, and auxiliary aids may be requested from your charge nurse or by calling the reception desk between the hours of 8 am until 3 pm.
Interpreting Services and Translators
Arrange for a foreign language translation through the charge nurse on your unit or by calling the reception desk between the hours of 8 am until 3 pm.
Discharge and Departure
Ideally, the first day that you enter the hospital should be the first day to begin planning for your discharge from the hospital. Before and during your stay, you may experience several assessments to determine how you are able to perform activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and walking. You may also be asked other questions regarding the safety of your home, your local caregiver support system, and income information to determine eligibility for services if needed.
Your Last Day At the Hospital.
Your physician will decide the actual day of your discharge depending on your physical condition and discharge needs. Your physician will notify you and other members of the health-care team in advance of your expected discharge date. You will also receive a questionnaire inquiring about our service during your stay. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your feedback is very important so that we can continue to improve all aspects of care offered.
When You Are Discharged
The day of your discharge, the nurse will confirm with you when all of your care is complete and you may leave the hospital. The nurse will give you discharge instructions and prescriptions for medications that you will need to have filled. Your nurse will ask you to sign a discharge note that indicates that you agree with your physician's decision to discharge you. If you do not agree with the physician's decision, you have the right to appeal.
Your Post-Hospital Care
If you will need further nursing, personal care, or other assistance after discharge, a social worker will meet with you and your family during your stay to help coordinate your care. If you have questions you may also find resource information for caregiving and post hospital care in the Caregiver Connections Resource Center located in the front lobby of the hospital.