Your Room
We would like your stay at East Texas Medical Center Athens to be as comfortable as possible. If you have any questions regarding your stay or need assistance, please notify your nurse of your needs. Your room at ETMC Athens has been designed for your convenience. All patient rooms are equipped with controls for the nurse-call button, intercom speaker and television.
Telephone
Friends or family members can reach your room by simply dialing the hospital operator at 903-676-1000 and requesting you by name. Additional information regarding the use of ETMC Athens telephones is posted in each patient room. This information includes instructions on how calls can be placed directly to patient rooms.
You can place a call by dialing "9", listening for the dial tone and then dialing the local number. Long distance calls (third party billing only) may be placed by dialing "9", listening for the dial tone and then dialing "0". This will connect you to the outside operator who will assist you with your call. You may dial out at any time; however, calls are not directed to your room before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Callers during these hours may leave an emergency message by requesting to be connected with the nursing unit.
Mail and Flowers
Hospital volunteers deliver mail to patients mid-morning, Monday through Friday. Parcels and special delivery items are delivered as they arrive. Flowers and balloon bouquets are delivered directly to your room as they arrive. Due to the fact that some patients may be bothered by the fragrance of flowers, floral arrangements are not allowed in the Intensive Care Unit.
Visiting Guidelines
General visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. We request no more than two visitors at a time. Visitors may be limited under the following conditions:
At the physician's specific orders.
At the discretion of nursing personnel.
In addition, we request that all children be supervised by an adult. Family members of seriously ill patients on the Medical Surgical Unit may be permitted to remain with the patient, if the patient is in a private room.
Obstetrics Unit
Visiting hours in the maternity area are from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Labor Room visits are restricted to two visitors at one time. For safety reasons, please do not wait in the hallway of the labor area. Instructions will be given to visitors prior to their direct contact with the baby in the maternity area.
Intensive Care Unit
ICU visiting hours are every two hours on the even hours. Your adherence to these visiting hours will be appreciated. Visits are limited to two people at a time for 15 minutes and are restricted to the patient's adult family members and close friends. To optimize patient care, visits may be altered at the nurse's discretion.
Children under 12 are discouraged from visiting ICU. Small children under 6 years of age are not permitted to visit ICU. Gifts of flowers, food or candy are not permitted in ICU.
Please Note: Located in both the atrium lobby and cafeteria are plants and fountains. For your safety, we request that you walk on the designated walkways only. In addition, if you are visiting a patient in a room with a patio, for your safety please do not use the patio as an exit.
Services and Amenities
Handicapped Facilities
ETMC Athens offers reserved parking spaces near the front entrance and Emergency Department entrance for handicapped guests.
Emergency Department
The Emergency Department, located on the south side of the second floor, is open 24 hours a day, with emergency-trained registered nurses and medical doctors available at all times.
Public Telephones
Coin-operated pay telephones are located on the first floor next to the Admitting Office and on the second floor near the Laboratory.
Parking
Free parking for patients and visitors is available in front of the hospital. Emergency patient and out-patient parking is located on the south side of the hospital.
Security
ETMC Athens provides security personnel. If you encounter a problem or need assistance, please feel free to dial the hospital operator, and a security officer will be notified.
For security purposes, doors to the hospital are locked between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. with the exception of the Emergency Department entrance, which is open 24 hours a day.
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop, operated by the ETMC Athens Auxiliary, is located on the first floor across from the main entrance of the hospital. The Gift Shop is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. The shop offers a wide variety of gifts, snacks, toiletry items, magazines and books, as well as fresh flowers or potted plants. Proceeds are used to finance various projects of the Auxiliary to benefit our patients.
Volunteers
ETMC Athens is extremely fortunate in having a wonderful group of volunteers to serve you. The Auxilians may be spotted in various areas of the hospital by their pink attire. They give generously of their time to provide many hours of service to our patients and visitors. Our volunteers would be more than happy to visit with you, mail your letters, bring complimentary reading material, or purchase toiletry items from the ETMC Athens Gift Shop. Should you need them, they are available by calling extension 21199.
Notary Service
A Notary Public is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling extensions 21169, 21102 and 21136.
Patient Surveys
Questionnaires will be mailed to all patients shortly after their discharge. Please take the time to complete the survey and return it to the hospital.
Discharge
When your doctor determines that you are ready to go home, the unit clerk at the nursing station notifies the Admitting/Discharge Office of your dismissal. Your nurse will inform you if it is necessary to go to the Admitting/Discharge Office. A hospital staff member will escort you to the lobby when you are ready to leave.
Discharge Procedures
If arrangements for payment of your bill have been completed before your dismissal, a courtesy discharge will be provided, enabling you to bypass the Admitting/Discharge Office. Otherwise, a representative of that office will discuss your bill and financial obligations. Financial counseling is available to anyone requesting this service.
Physician's fees, such as those charged by the physician who interpreted your X -rays or administered anesthesia during surgery, are not included in the hospital bill. You will receive separate statements from these physicians for their services. Payments for services rendered and questions regarding these fees should be made directly to them.
