Advance Directives
Advance directives are instruments that allow you to
provide guidance about the type of care you would like
to receive if you are unable to communicate your
wishes. The terms living will and durable power of
attorney for health care refers to types of directives.
Through an advance directive, you may provide specific
instructions about your care or designate another person
to make health care decisions for you.
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee at Northwest Hospital supports
patients and their loved ones who may be experiencing
troubling ethical dilemmas during a hospital stay. The
Ethics Committee includes doctors, nurses, social
workers, clergy, community members and other health care
providers. The Committee is here to help you with
discussions of medical treatment choices. The Committee
can also provide guidance and support for decisions by
patients, families and health care providers. Anyone may
request the services of the Ethics Committee by
contacting Guest Relations at 410-521-2200, ext. 54447.
During non-business hours contact the operator by
dialing "0" and ask for the Hospital Operations
Coordinator.
Access to Medical Records
Copies of your medical records can be requested
electronically through our online request
tool.
If you have questions or need additional assistance,
please contact:
Northwest Hospital, Health Information Management
5401 Old Court Road
Randallstown, MD 21133
Spiritual Services
Meeting your spiritual needs is an important part of the
healing process. Northwest Hospital accommodates the
spiritual needs of individuals of all faiths. Requests
for visits from LifeBridge Health chaplains may be made
with your nurse or by contacting the Guest Relations
office at x55547. If you have an emergency need for a
chaplain on an evening or weekend, please inform your
nurse.
The chapel is located on the first floor in the main
hospital lobby near the cafeteria. It is open at all
times with bibles and devotional materials available.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
For detailed information regarding patient rights, patient responsibilities, and how to have an issue or concern addressed, please see this page.
Insurance
Each LifeBridge Health facility participates in a wide range of health plans and accepts most major insurance providers. For additional information on insurance plans accepted and other payment options available to you, click here.
Patient Safety and Quality Care
At Northwest Hospital nothing is more important to us than providing quality care to our patients in a safe and nurturing environment. Our standards for clinical quality flow from the evidence-based best practices of medical facilities nationwide. These best-practice guidelines are designed to minimize variation in our clinical processes and improve outcomes for our patients.
Safety Tips and Tools for Patients and Families
As our patient, you are the most important member of the health care system, we all work together to make your care safe. Here is how you can participate:
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Ask questions. Questions help you stay informed.
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Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
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If you don't understand something, ask again. Also, speak up if something doesn't seem right.
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Review instructions with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. You can say, "I want to make sure I know how to care for myself at home."
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Repeat the instructions given to you as you understood them.
Pre-Procedure Checklist
Northwest Hospital Pre-Procedure Checklist is a process to ensure that wrong-person, wrong-procedure, wrong-site surgery never happens at Northwest Hospital. For your safety, you will be asked your name, your date of birth, what procedure you are having, and what site is being operated on multiple times before your surgery or procedure. Then a patient identification bracelet will be placed on your wrist.
Before Your Procedure
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Bring an up-to-date list of all medication you take with you to the hospital. The list should include all over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins and dietary supplements you take.
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Do NOT shave near your surgical site. Shaving can cause irritation, which may contribute to infection.
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Remove all jewelry, including rings and body piercing before you come to the hospital.
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Make sure your surgeon, nurse and anesthesia provider are asking your name, date of birth, what procedure you are having and what site is being operated on. Please speak up if someone forgets to ask you.
Preventing Infections: Handwashing
To protect yourself and your family, especially during cold and flu season, use soap and water or hand sanitizer. Below are the steps you should take when washing your hands with:
Soap:
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Turn on water to a lukewarm temperature.
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Hot water is not recommended as it dries the skin and increases the risk for contact dermatitis.
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Rings, watches and other hand jewelry should be removed.
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Wet hands with running water and apply soap and spread over all surfaces of the hands.
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Hold hands and forearms lower than the elbows during the procedure.
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Wash hands and wrists vigorously for at least 15 or more seconds, paying particular attention to areas between fingers, thumbs and around and under fingernails.
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Rinse hands thoroughly under running water to remove soap.
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Pat dry hands thoroughly with paper towel.
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Use paper towel to turn off faucet to avoid re-contaminating the hands.
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Discard towel in a regular trash can.
Waterless Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer:
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Apply to intact, dry hands that are free of visible debris and/or organic matter.
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Apply sufficient amount into palms to cover all surfaces of hands, fingers and thumb thoroughly.
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Rub hands together, covering the entire surface of the hands and fingers, including nails until dry.
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Allow the alcohol to totally evaporate from the skin to maximize effectiveness and decrease irritation.
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Do not wipe off with a paper towel or rinse off with water or fan the hands to speed drying.
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If there is no running water, remove visible soil with a wipe, then use the alcohol-based hand rub.
Preventing Falls
Northwest Hospital is committed to reducing patient falls and educating patients and their families/caregivers about fall risk reduction strategies. As part of the Northwest Hospital fall prevention program, the nursing staff assesses each patient every day for risk of falling. If you are identified as being at risk, the nurses will implement a variety of interventions to decrease the risk of falling.
These interventions include things like:
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A yellow wristband and yellow slippers. These things remind you, your family and hospital staff that you may need help walking or getting out of bed.
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Using an alarm system that will notify staff if you get out of bed without help.
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Offering you the chance to use the bathroom regularly.
In the hospital, you are in unfamiliar surroundings. Getting around is not the same as it is at home. You may be taking medications that make you sleepy or disoriented. You may be connected to IVs or other medical equipment.
Please take the following precautions to prevent falls during your stay:
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Ask for assistance from the nursing staff as needed.
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Ask a staff member to make sure your call button, telephone and other personal items are near you.
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Ask your nurse to make sure that your bed is in the lowest position.
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Sit at the edge of the bed for a few minutes before getting up to avoid feeling dizzy.
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Wear non-skid footwear.
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Make sure you have adequate light to see.
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Ask a staff member to assist you with, or move, any equipment before you get out of bed.
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Use your hearing aid, glasses, walker or cane.
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Report any spills or objects that are on the floor.
Personal Items and Valuables
We strongly recommend and encourage that a patient’s personal belongings be sent home with family members when possible. The hospital is not responsible for any belongings that you decide to keep in your room including, but not limited to, dentures, eyeglasses, hearing aids or any prosthetic devices. If possible, please send items such as jewelry, cash and credit cards home with loved ones. Should you need a place to put your valuables, please contact your nurse.
Valuables may be placed in the Security department during your stay and will be retrieved at the time of discharge. When not in use, dentures, glasses and hearing aids should be placed in plastic containers that may be obtained on the unit. Please do not wrap these items in tissue paper and do not place them on meal trays or in the bed. Since electronic devices, such as radios and cell phones, have been known to interfere with medical equipment, we ask that you not bring them into the hospital. The hospital will not assume financial responsibility for your belongings.
Notary Services
Notary services are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information contact Guest Relations at 410-701-4447.
Accreditation
Northwest Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that is among the most prominent accrediting bodies in the health care industry.