Planning Your Visit
At Mount Sinai Brooklyn, we find that planning ahead can help you know what to expect when you get here and how to prepare. Whether you’re getting ready for surgery or discharge – or anything in between – here is some information you may find helpful. If you do not find what you are looking for, you can call us at 718-252-3000.
Preparing for Admission
Before coming to the hospital, you might want to prepare some items to bring along with you. While the hospital supplies hospital gowns, slippers, and other items, you may be more comfortable having your own nightclothes and personal toiletries.
Having Surgery
Mount Sinai Brooklyn is committed to providing you with the safest, highest quality surgical care. We hope you will play an important role in making your care even safer by becoming an informed patient. You are an important source of information for the staff who take care of you. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions that you may have as you are interacting with the staff.
The hospital has put in place multiple practices that help to provide you with the safest surgical care. Prior to entering the operating room, staff will confirm your identity, review your medical record, confirm the operation that is planned, mark the operative site if applicable and review the information you need to know to provide an informed consent. When you enter the operating room, the staff will again confirm your identity, confirm the operation that is planned, confirm the operative site and check all the equipment that is necessary for your operation. Only then, can your surgery begin. During your operative procedure, strict infection control practices are followed to prevent infection and all equipment and supplies are carefully checked and accounted for. Your surgical team will be “checking lists” multiple times. The hospital has adopted strict adherence to these policies
House Physicians & Physician Assistants
House physicians and physician assistants are on the patient floors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They monitor the patients' condition and work with the attending physicians to implement the prescribed course of treatment.
Pain Relief
The nurses caring for patients will assist you with strategies to reduce pain and discomfort. A pain management service, staffed by specially trained physicians and nurses, is available upon request through the patients attending physician.
Room Accommodations
Mount Sinai Brooklyn has private and deluxe rooms available for a supplemental fee in addition to regular semi-private rooms. Deluxe rooms offer maximum privacy and comfort with designer furnishings and special amenities. If you wish to request a transfer to a deluxe or private room, please inform your physician or a member of the nursing staff. We will do everything to accommodate your request, although a private room may not be immediately available.
Services for the Hearing and Visually Impaired
Please call the TV/Telephone Service:
- If you would like closed-captioned TV
- For assistive listening devices such as telephone handset amplifiers, extension telephones (TTY or TTD), and telephone light flashers.
- Video relay services are also available in the Emergency Department and from Nursing Administration
Services for the Visually Impaired
If you have any special needs, please contact your unit nurse or the Patient Representative Department.
Your Hospital Bed
All our hospital beds have side rails for your safety and are equipped with controls to regulate the bed’s height and to raise and lower the head and feet positions. Nurse-call buttons and television controls either will be mounted on the bed railing or be easily accessible. A member of the nursing staff will show you how to operate the features. For your comfort and safety, be sure you understand how to use the controls.
Please do not get out of bed by yourself unless you have your doctor’s permission. If you do have permission, make certain your bed is in the “low” position and the side rails are down. Please be very careful that your footing is secure. Do not hesitate to call your nurse if you need assistance getting in or out of bed.
Managing Pain and Providing Comfort
Mount Sinai Brooklyn gives the highest priority to managing pain and providing access to palliative care. We are committed to recognizing and treating your pain, or managing your other symptoms, using medicines and treatments that will provide the best level of relief. Please remember that communication with our staff about the way you are feeling is the key to successful management.
Pain Management
Always tell your doctor, nurse, or other staff member when you are having pain. Don’t be afraid to ask for pain medicine. Although physicians and nurses will always be careful when prescribing strong opioid drugs, like morphine or oxycodone, they know that these medicines are the most effective treatment for pain and when they are administered in a hospital by trained professionals the risks are very low. Many people are so worried about “getting hooked” or addicted that they don’t talk about their pain or take the medicines that are prescribed. It is valuable to discuss these concerns with your physicians and nurses. Most of the time, addiction is not a concern when pain is being treated in the hospital and medicines can, and should, be taken.
Financial Arrangements
In order to ensure payment of your hospital care, many insurance plans now require you to notify them of your diagnosis and treatment plan before you enter the hospital. If your insurance carrier requests such pre-certification, please be sure to do this before you arrive. If we cannot verify insurance coverage for your hospital admission, you may be responsible for all hospital charges. If you do not have insurance coverage, please contact our social services department.
Discharge Planning
Mount Sinai Brooklyn is committed to providing quality comprehensive health care services to you. As a part of your total care, the team of physicians, nurses, social workers, and others evaluate the kind of care you may need after discharge.
Home Care
If your relative will be discharged with home care, the hospital will work with you to determine a safe and appropriate plan. Insurance coverage and the availability of family, when needed, to oversee and supplement care at home will be evaluated. Though home care may be desired, at times it may not be a safe and appropriate plan. In that event, we will plan with you for alternatives so that your relative can be discharged to an alternative setting.
Home Health Care Services
When you return home, it may be important for you to have a nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy visits in your home for a limited time. When these services are ordered by your doctor, they may or may not be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or other major health insurance plans. You may want to verify insurance coverage prior to initiating any service.
Upon admission you will be provided with a list of local Medicare-certified home care agencies. You may have a preference for, or prior experience with, a specific home care agency and may wish to utilize its services or your insurance company may require you to use an agency they have designated. If you do not have a preference, a member of the Mount Sinai Brooklyn staff will make a referral to an agency that can meet your needs.