Admission Information - IU Health

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At Indiana University Health, we are committed to providing you an exceptional experience. Our team of highly skilled professionals will work with you to create a plan made for your individual needs. We want to know what matters most to you. Please ask us any questions or let us know if there is anything we can do to make you more comfortable during this time.

Your care team

Uniforms allow you to quickly see our role in your care. Our nametags also share information about who we are. Thank you for allowing each of us to play a part in your healthcare.

Doctor, pharmacist or advanced practice provider

Oversees your care (you may have more than one doctor or provider)

Registered nurse (RN)

Plans and gives daily care

Respiratory therapist

Treats breathing difficulties and manages any breathing equipment you may need

Patient care support

Helps your nurse

Environmental services

Cleans your room and bathroom

Food Service

Answers your questions about meals and helps with food ordering and delivery

Patient escort (Transporter)

Takes you to tests or procedures

Specialty care

Supports your care with specific functions: technicians, assistants, aides and therapists

Patient and family-centered care

Healthcare can be complicated. At IU Health, you have a team who is ready to help you. As partners in your care and health, we offer comfort, education and resources to make life better for you and your loved ones.

An entire care team is dedicated to helping meet your individual needs. Each person who comes into your room should tell you who they are and why they are there. All IU Health team members, volunteers and business visitors wear official nametags. If you don’t know who someone is, or the purpose of their visit, just ask. Please note that you may see your care team using cell phones to communicate with the doctor or other providers directly. If you need help at any time, calling your team is as easy as pushing a button. When the call button is pressed, a light signals a team member that help is needed. Someone will attend to you as quickly as possible. As a care team, we’ll evaluate your plan of care each day to determine next steps, including:

  • Your goals
  • Your discharge needs and required services
  • What matters most to you during and after your stay

Purposeful rounding

Your care team will support you during your stay by checking in on you continually (rounding) to address your needs. These team members include, but are not limited to: providers, nurses, therapists, patient care assistants, dietitians, social workers, case managers, etc. A hospital leader will also visit you during your stay. This is an important time to share your thoughts and ask any questions. You can ask to speak with a hospital leader at any time.

Whiteboards

Whiteboards are another way to communicate during your stay. We write information about your care team and plan for the day on the board and update it regularly. You and your family and friends may also use the board to share information with your care team or ask questions.

Bedside shift report

When a change of staff is required, such as with shift change, we may come to your bedside to review and discuss your needs and preferences (this is referred to as bedside shift report). This helps promote a safe environment and provides a way for you to participate in your plan of care and address any concerns and questions you have. Before shift change, a member of your care team may come and do a quick check of your personal needs to get you ready for bedside shift report. During report, your nurses may review your treatment plan for the day. Let your nurse know if any of your family members or visitors should be included in your bedside report.

Dr Degesew Bezza call out image

Connecting with your care team

An entire care team is dedicated to helping meet your individual needs. Each person who comes into your room should tell you who they are and why they are there. All IU Health team members, volunteers and business visitors wear official nametags. If you don’t know who someone is, or the purpose of their visit, just ask. Please note that you may see your care team using cell phones to communicate with the doctor or other providers directly. If you need help at any time, calling your team is as easy as pushing a button. When the call button is pressed, a light signals a team member that help is needed. Someone will attend to you as quickly as possible. As a care team, we’ll evaluate your plan of care each day to determine next steps, including:

  • Your goals
  • Your discharge needs and required services
  • What matters most to you during and after your stay

Purposeful rounding

Your care team will support you during your stay by checking in on you continually (rounding) to address your needs. These team members include, but are not limited to: providers, nurses, therapists, patient care assistants, dietitians, social workers, case managers, etc. A hospital leader will also visit you during your stay. This is an important time to share your thoughts and ask any questions. You can ask to speak with a hospital leader at any time.

Whiteboards

Whiteboards are another way to communicate during your stay. We write information about your care team and plan for the day on the board and update it regularly. You and your family and friends may also use the board to share information with your care team or ask questions.

Bedside shift report

When a change of staff is required, such as with shift change, we may come to your bedside to review and discuss your needs and preferences (this is referred to as bedside shift report). This helps promote a safe environment and provides a way for you to participate in your plan of care and address any concerns and questions you have. Before shift change, a member of your care team may come and do a quick check of your personal needs to get you ready for bedside shift report. During report, your nurses may review your treatment plan for the day. Let your nurse know if any of your family members or visitors should be included in your bedside report.

Dr Degesew Bezza call out image

Rights and responsibilities

The Patient Rights and Responsibilities brochure provides an overview of information related to your rights as a patient. A detailed brochure is available at points of registration and is posted in many common areas of the hospital. You have the right to get information in a way you can understand. This includes information:

  • About your condition
  • About the suggested treatment and chances for recovery

View the full Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The IU Health Community Agreement

At IU Health, we always take care of each other, ensuring everyone feels accepted and valued. We ask that all patients, team members, visitors and vendors follow the IU Health Community Agreement. This agreement serves as a guide to how we treat one another when in IU Health facilities and/or when IU Health services are being provided.

As a patient, team member, visitor and/or vendor at IU Health I will give and receive:

  • Truthful words
  • Care and concern
  • Compassion
  • Dignity and respect

I am responsible for what I say and how I act. If I do not uphold this agreement, I will be asked to leave.

Your Privacy

A copy of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Notice of Privacy Practices is provided at registration. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice electronically. Ask your nurse for a copy.  View the full legal notices.

Interpreters and other communication assistance

IU Health provides language interpreting and translation services free of charge to you. Free aids and services can be provided by an IU Health team member to help you communicate throughout your hospital visit.

Qualified sign language and spoken language interpreters can be provided. Other available services include:

  • Audio and video devices
  • Large print
  • Document translation

As a patient with vision, speech, hearing or cognitive impairments, you have the right to get information from the provider in a way that meets your needs. You have the right to get information about your condition tailored to your age, language and ability to understand. You will be provided with the information about your condition in a way that you can understand, as well as the plan for treatment and recovery.

If you need these services, contact the Language Service Department at 317.962.2142 (8 am – 4:30 pm) or 317.962.5500 (all other times) or consult with the nearest IU Health team member.

We ask because we care

We believe that everyone deserves the highest quality of healthcare, and we recognize that every patient is unique and requires personalized care and resources to fit their specific needs. At your next appointment, we may ask for information regarding you or your child’s race, ethnicity, preferred language, sexual orientation and gender identity. Knowing all we can about you or your child helps us provide comprehensive, holistic care that honors all aspects of your identity. Answering these questions is voluntary, but your cooperation would greatly help us in our mission to help make Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation.

We respect your right to privacy. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used to enhance the care and support we provide. For more information about why we ask.

Your Comfort

A restful environment helps with healing. Let us know right away if you are having trouble with noise in your room. Visitors should silence their cell phones while in your hospital room. Visitors may be asked to return at a later time if their behavior is disturbing other patients or making it hard for the care team to take care of you.

Although rest is important, it is also important that we care for you—even at night. Tell your nurse if you are not getting enough rest, and we will work with you to manage your nightly treatments to best fit your sleep needs.

Helping with pain

Your comfort is important to us. We want to help manage your pain. If you are in too much pain, you might not be able to do the things needed to get better. There are many ways to help with pain. Tell your nurse if your pain goal is not being met, and we will work with you on how to best manage your pain.

The importance of quiet

A restful environment helps with healing. Let us know right away if you are having trouble with noise in your room. Visitors should silence their cell phones while in your hospital room. Visitors may be asked to return at a later time if their behavior is disturbing other patients or making it hard for the care team to take care of you.

Although rest is important, it is also important that we care for you—even at night. Tell your nurse if you are not getting enough rest, and we will work with you to manage your nightly treatments to best fit your sleep needs.

Helping with pain

Your comfort is important to us. We want to help manage your pain. If you are in too much pain, you might not be able to do the things needed to get better. There are many ways to help with pain. Tell your nurse if your pain goal is not being met, and we will work with you on how to best manage your pain.

Chapel and Spiritual Services

Our patients are much more than simply a disease to be treated or an injury to be healed. We know each patient has physical, emotional and spiritual needs. That’s why the people in the Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services department work closely with medical staff to assure the well-being of the whole person. Pastoral care is available at no charge to anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, and in a manner respectful of individual rights to privacy. Please ask your nurse if you would like to contact pastoral services.

Your visitors

Family and friends can be important to the healing process. We welcome visitors and we ask everyone to follow hospital guidelines. Visiting hours or guidelines might vary per facility and current infection prevention guidelines. It is especially important that visitors with a fever, cough or rash do not visit.

We can assist with ways to visit remotely as needed. Various facilities and inpatient units may have specific visitation times, guidelines and entrances. Please ask your nurse for details. You have the right to choose who may visit during your stay. Visitation rights include the right to receive visitors designated by you, including but not limited to, a spouse/partner of the same or different sex, domestic partner of the same or different sex, another family member or friend. Also included is the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.

When there are concerns for patients, visitors and/or staff safety, IU Health reserves the right to take appropriate action.

Dr Kandice Ludwig Call out image

Other helpful information

All IU Health facilities are tobacco free. For the safety of everyone, smoking or vaping of any kind are not allowed in any IU Health building or on the grounds.

All IU Health facilities are alcohol and drug free.

To protect the privacy of our patients, team members and visitors, the taking of photographs, video recordings or audio recordings is prohibited in all areas of the facility except in private rooms. Please respect the preferences of our team members and visitors by not including them in photographs or videos without permission.

Only IU Health security officers or on-duty law enforcement officers may carry or have in their possession a firearm or weapon while in an IU Health facility. Law enforcement officers should check in with Safety and Security if they plan to carry while on the premises.

We allow service animals to accompany individuals who are visiting, working or being treated in this facility. However, this does not include family pets, “comfort,” “therapy” or “emotional support animals.” The hospital will make decisions consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any applicable Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.

We provide free, wireless internet access for you, your family members and other visitors. Please note that we cannot give technical support for your device or help with connectivity.

We strongly recommend visitors take measures to secure their devices and internet communications. We encourage use of a virtual private network (VPN) for work communications, along with a personal firewall and anti-virus software to protect personal data. It is your responsibility to take precautions and provide security measures suited to the situation and intended use of the service.

  • Our wireless network should not be used for inappropriate or unlawful purposes.
  • IU Health is not responsible for any personal information that is compromised, or for any damage caused to your hardware or software while you are at an IU Health facility.
  • IU Health reserves the right to monitor your use of our network and terminate network access at will and for any purpose deemed necessary.

We suggest you not bring valuables to the hospital. If you come with valuables, please send them home or contact your nurse about sending them to the Safety and Security department.

Communicating with IU Health after your stay

Discharge follow-up call

One to three days after you leave the hospital, you may get a follow-up phone call from us asking how you are feeling and about your ongoing care. Please share how you are feeling and ask any questions you may have. We want to make sure you understood your discharge instructions and are following your plan of care. We may also be able to help ease your concerns or identify if you need to be seen by a provider.

Patient feedback survey

After you leave, we may send you a brief survey so that you can tell us about your experience.

Our patients provide the best insights about their experiences. A member of our registration team should ask how you prefer to receive a survey through one of the ways listed below:

However you receive a survey, we appreciate you sharing your feedback about your experience.

My IU Health

Be a partner in your healthcare experience anytime, anywhere with My IU Health. With My IU Health, you can easily access your medical information at your convenience. Ask a member of your care team to send you an email invitation to register. If you wish to register for a My IU Health account between visits, please call My IU Health Patient Portal Support at 317.963.1661 from 8 am – 4:30 pm (EST), Monday – Friday (excluding major holidays). Once registered, you can log in to:

  • View lab, microbiology, pathology and radiology results that are posted to your My IU Health account immediately after testing is complete
  • Request prescription renewals
  • Schedule or manage existing appointments
  • Connect with physician offices through a convenient, secure and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant messaging system
  • Receive alerts via email and/or text when new information is added to your health record, or a secure message is received
  • Arrange your own payment plan with auto-pay, consolidate and manage your family’s bills, access or print monthly statements, payment history and receipts

A simple thank you could make their day

Take a moment to thank an IU Health team member who made a difference in your care. There are several easy ways to send positive feedback to your care provider using the IU Health Recognition Platform powered by Wambi: