Ask questions and plan ahead
Patient Rights
At Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, each patient deserves compassionate and professionally competent care delivered with respect for individual dignity. All hospital team members must comply with specific patient rights. A copy of your patient rights is contained within the patient guide provided upon admission.
Advance Directives
It is a tragic fact that sometimes when a crucial healthcare decision must be made, the patient involved may not be conscious or coherent enough to make it. By making certain important decisions now, you can be assured that your wishes will be followed, even if you are not in a position to speak for yourself.
There are several kinds of "advance directives" you can use to indicate what you want and who you want to speak for you.
Using the Advance Healthcare Directive form, you can give instructions about your own healthcare. You also have the right to name someone to make healthcare decisions for you when you can't. This form enables you to do either or both of these things.
Another type of advance directive is an Interim Directive. This directive applies to one hospital visit only. You may direct your treatment and name a decision-maker in case there is a time during your stay that you are too ill to speak for yourself.
Both of these forms are available at our hospital, in both English and Spanish. We encourage you to talk with your friends, family and spiritual advisors about these directives and your decisions regarding them.
For additional assistance and information, please ask your caregiver to contact the chaplain or social worker. Call (661) 327-4647, and ask for the chaplain or Social Services Department.
Family Spokesperson
New governmental rules have changed how healthcare professionals can communicate and the amount of information that they can provide family members. As a patient, you can designate individuals that may receive this "Protected Health Information" about your condition. You will be assigned a Patient Identification Number (PIN) by your nurse upon admission. You may give this PIN to persons you want to have information about you. Staff will give minimal information about your condition to individuals who do not have the correct PIN.
For Your Comfort
For your comfort, you may wish to ask a family member to bring you a pair of pajamas or a nightgown, slippers, robe, toothbrush and hairbrush for use during your hospital stay.
If you wear eyeglasses, dentures or hearing aids, be sure to store them properly with your belongings when they are not in use. Ask your nurse for a container labeled with your name to safely store your dentures. Please don't place any of these items on your meal tray or in the tissue boxes.
Please Leave The Following Items At Home: Jewelry, credit cards, other valuables and cash. Please limit the personal items you bring and arrange to send extra items home with a family member.
For Your Safety
Expect staff to ask your name and look at your armband frequently. This is part of the patient identification process. Help prevent infection by washing your hands whenever possible. Expect staff to do so also. Don't be afraid to ask staff to explain medications and treatments. After all, our staff is here to assist you. We encourage you to stay informed and are willing to answer questions.
Interpreter Services
Interpreter services are available for any patient or individual needing assistance with language translation and for those who are hearing impaired. These services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through an outside contractor.
Telecommunication Devices (TDD)
The hospital offers telecommunication devices (TDD) for the hearing impaired. To request telecommunication devices (TDD), please ask your nurse.
