FAMILY & FRIENDS
Important Points to Consider
Transport Services
Use the My Workbook section to write down the
answers to the questions below:
• Do I know the phone number to the patient’s
room?
• Do I know how to contact the nurses’ station?
– Who may call to get information regarding
the patient?
– Will I need a code to get information on the
patient when I call?
• Do I know the plan of care for the patient?
• Is there any important information that I need
to share with the health care team on behalf of
the patient?
Our transport department is here to assist our
patients and guests with transportation needs
within the hospital. Your care team will help arrange
patient transport between patient care departments.
If a family member needs assistance, dial *55 to
have our Guest Services department arrange
transport services.
Guest Services
• Appoint a family representative
Please choose one person to be our point
of contact in the patient’s care who can also
then communicate information to other family
and friends. Our care team may give the
representative a passcode to protect the patient’s
privacy and security.
UAB Medicine Guest Services is here to make
your visit as comfortable as possible and to provide
exceptional service. Contact us on any hospital
phone by dialing *55. You may also reach Guest
Services from outside the hospital by dialing
(205) 934-CARE (2273).
We’re here to help with:
• Concerns & comments • Pastoral care
• Hotel recommendations • Housekeeping
• Patient advocacy • Language interpretation
• Maintenance assistance • Notary public
• Directions • Wheelchair services
Welcome Desks
Guest Services representatives at our welcome
desks are happy to provide information including
directions, patient room numbers, area hotel
accommodations, points of interest, and/or help
facilitate making your stay more comfortable. Desks
are located throughout the hospital and The Kirklin
Clinic of UAB Hospital. The North Pavilion 2nd floor
desk and Women & Infants Center 1st floor desk
are open 24 hours a day, including holidays and
weekends.
Finding Your Way – Parking & Maps
UAB Medicine offers a variety of parking locations
and options for visitors. Pricing for parking varies
depending on locations and length of stay. A list of
parking options is available in the Reference section.
Please see a Guest Services representative at any
welcome desk or dial *55 from any in-house phone
for additional parking information.
14
Your Family’s Role
Loving and caring attention from family and friends
provides an important role in the well-being and
speedy recovery of our patients. At UAB Medicine,
we encourage patients’ families and friends to:
• Spend as much time with the patient as possible
We offer open visitation 24 hours a day for most
areas of the hospital and encourage someone to
stay with the patient at all times. Visitation may be
limited in certain ICUs or when it interferes with
the patients’ safety or the rights of others. Please
ask your care team if there are any restrictions or
precautions for visiting your loved one.
– If you are not spending the night, please wrap
up all visits by 10:30 pm.
– If you are staying the night, we offer coffee
throughout the night in the North Pavilion
2nd floor atrium.
– If privacy is needed, or if the care team feels
that the patient is too sick to have someone
with them at all times, you may be asked to
leave the room.
Be there for doctor and nurse visits –
and ask questions!
The most important members of the care team are
patients and their families. We encourage you to ask
questions, become involved, and speak up on speak
up on your or your loved one’s behalf.
It is our belief that the support of a patient’s family and friends is invaluable. Their presence and
involvement in the healing process can have a positive impact on delivering care more safely through
enhanced communication with the health care team, a better understanding of the patient’s condition,
and improved patient and staff satisfaction. We do not restrict or deny visitation privileges on the basis
of age, race, gender, culture, religion, language, disabilities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation,
or gender identity and expression. We make every effort to ensure that all visitors enjoy full and equal
visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences.
uabmedicine.org
15