Your Care-Giving Team

Your primary doctor will oversee your care during your Hospital stay, but many other Caregivers will help you each day. All Hospital Caregivers wear identification badges. Some of the people you will meet include:

Medical Residents, Interns and House Officers

As a teaching Hospital, St. Vincent Charity Hospital helps to train new doctors. These house officers may work under the supervision and in direct consultation with your primary doctor to help care for you during your stay.

Nursing Staff

Professional registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and patient care assistants form a nursing team to handle your care on a 24-hour basis. A registered nurse is responsible for your primary care during each shift, coordinating your medications, any tests, treatments and therapies. Other LPN and STNA nurses may handle other tasks for you.

Nurse Manager

A nurse manager directs and coordinates patient care on each unit. Your nurses are happy to answer your questions or address your concerns during your stay.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists use activities to help patients make the most of their abilities when they have physical or psychological problems. This includes helping patients practice life skills, recognize problems and learn how to improve their performances. Occupational therapists provide acute or transitional services daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and provide outpatient care Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. They work through the Rehabilitation Services Department, 216.363.2643.

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists treat and prevent physical problems caused by injury or disease. Physical therapists use the patient’s diagnosis to make individualized programs that help the patient function as well as possible for work, at home and during recreational activities. Physical therapists provide acute care and transitional services daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. They also provide outpatient services Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and can be contacted through the Rehabilitation Services Department at 216.363.2643.

Speech Language Pathologists

Speech language pathologists help patients who have a wide variety of communication problems, including speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders. They provide care in the Hospital and on an outpatient basis on Monday through Friday. For an evaluation, please contact the Rehabilitation Services Department at 216.363.2643.

Case Managers

Case managers can provide you and your family with counseling and discharge planning as well as support and crisis help. They can help you receive available community resources. If you were admitted for medical or surgical reasons, you may ask someone on your unit about seeing a Case Manager or call extension 32586 on your Hospital room phone. If you were admitted to the psychiatric floor and wish to see a Case Manager, please ask a Caregiver in the unit for assistance. If you are participating in a Rosary Hall program, a counselor can assist you.

Patient Relations/Patient Representative

A patient representative acts as a liaison between you and your family and the Hospital. This Caregiver helps to resolve concerns, provides information, and responds to special needs and requests during your Hospital stay. If you have any questions while you are hospitalized or after you have been discharged, please call the Patient Relations Department at 216.363.2604 or at extension 32604 on your Hospital room phone.

Chaplains

Hospital Chaplains are available 24 hours each day as part of your healthcare team. The Hospital has four full-time Chaplains, as well as up to 10 chaplain residents/interns who are serving as part of the Clinical Pastoral Education program. In addition, Eucharistic ministers are available to serve the needs of patients in the Hospital. If you or your family requires pastoral care services, prayers, or spiritual or emotional support, please ask your nurse to page a Chaplain.

Environmental Services

Members of this department work to make the Hospital safe and clean for patients, staff and visitors.

Volunteers

Our dedicated Volunteer Caregivers deliver mail and gifts, help at the information desks and provide other assistance to Caregivers and patients alike.