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Bath VA Medical Center Admissions
Your Stay in the Medical Center
If you have questions or concerns any time during your stay at the Medical Center, ask a member of your health care team. Your health care team consists of your licensed provider (physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner), nurse, social worker, dietitian, pharmacist and ward clerk. Health care teams may include other health professionals depending on the setting, such as addiction, vocational rehabilitation, recreation and physical therapists. Your health care team will help you find the health care professional who can best address your needs. Tell the nurse if you have a living will or health care proxy. These documents wil
Co-Payments
A VA co-payment is charged to veterans in certain priority groups. A national co-payment amount is calculated each year with the new amount taking effect on January 1. Contact the Veterans Service Center for current information about co-payment charges and priority groups. Additional information can be found in your Health Benefits Handbook.
Insurance
The VA is required to bill your private health insurance company for medical treatment provided for non-service connected conditions. Veterans will have all payments received from their insurance company applied to their VA co-payment first. They will then be responsible for any VA co-payment balance that may remain after their insurance company has made its payments.
Medications
Please, do not bring medications from home. Instead, make a list and tell the staff about all medications and over the counter drugs that you are taking. Medications brought to the Medical Center will be sent home with your family. Otherwise, the medications can not be returned to you. Your doctor will order the medications you will need during your hospital stay and upon your discharge.
Exception: If you are taking part in a research project and are on special research medication, please bring them to the hospital and tell your health care team.
Pain Management
We are committed to helping you get the best pain relief. Only you can describe your pain. You will be asked to rate the amount of pain you have on a "0 to 10" scale. Zero means no pain. Ten describes the worst pain you could imagine having.\
Blood Donor Program—Providing Your Own Blood for Planned Surgery
If you are having (planned) surgery at one of the VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York medical centers, you may be able to donate your own blood for the procedure. If you have questions or concerns about blood donations, discuss them with your health care team.
Mail
Mail will be delivered to you on your ward. All mail received after you are discharged will be forwarded to your home address. Please be sure that we have your current address. Mail you wish to receive while you are a patient should be addressed as follows:
Your Full Name
VA Medical Center
Ward or Section
Bath, New York 14810
Domiciliary patients will receive mail in their sections. Mailboxes are available for each domiciliary patient. There is a self-service postage stamp machine located in the hallway in front of the main dining hall in Bldg 24 and stamps may also be purchased through the Canteen Retail Store.
Clothing
All medical patients are expected to wear pajamas, robe, and slippers or shoes. A robe is provided in case you need to leave your room. Medical patients are asked to keep one set of clothing and footwear for use at discharge. Patients in the Community Living Center are encouraged to wear their personal clothing. Domiciliary patients wear their own clothes and are responsible for personal laundry needs. Washing machines and dryers are available in each section.
Additionally, you should bring the following personal items with you when you check in: toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving kit, deodorant, toiletries, glasses, dentures, and canes. We encourage you to label your personal belongings.
Telephones
Please ask staff about the telephones in your area. Most areas are serviced with pay phones. Outside callers may call the switchboard operator and ask for you by name and ward. You can call longdistance by calling collect or using a calling card.
Identification (ID) Wrist Bands
Upon admission, you will be given an ID wristband. Please wear your ID wristband at all times. Lost ID wristbands must be reported to your health care team. Domiciliary patients will be provided with a photo ID upon admission to the domiciliary.
Off-Ward Notification
As a reminder, please tell a member of your health care team before you leave the ward. Domiciliary patients will need to carry their photo ID and display it when requesting services or assistance.
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