Welcome to Clay County Medical Center
Whether you are a patient or visitor we want to make your time here as pleasant and rewarding as possible.
Admission representatives will help you complete the forms we need, answer your questions, and make sure you are directed to the proper location. You will be asked to sign some papers giving us permission to care for you. They are perfectly routine. Clay County Medical Center personnel are required to respect your privacy and maintain confidentiality. Information in your patient record is limited to the staff providing your care. Please bring medical insurance cards or insurance coverage information. If you have a Living Will or a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions bring a copy if you are not sure that it is already on file at the hospital.
Flowers, Plants and Gifts are delivered on a daily basis by area floral shops to the nurses’ station, then on to the patient’s room. To allow room to care for patients in our Intensive Care Unit, no flowers or plants are taken in. These are kept at the nurses’ station until the patient is moved into a regular room.
Health and Safety are our primary concerns. As our patient, we ask that you:
- Ask your nurse for assistance with walking or transfers. Medications, bodily weakness, or simply the change in environment, especially at night, may cause confusion, dizziness, or unsteadiness.
- Use your call light when you need something – we’re here to assist you.
- Remember that bed rails are necessary to protect you from falls and to help hospital staff with moving and transfers.
- Listen to the instructions your nurse gives you for weather related or emergency situations.
Interpreter AND TDD Services are available if you or a family member have special communication needs such as interpreter services, TDD services, or telephone amplifiers. Lost belongings are held in administratiion. Please contact them with questions.
Medications lists with dosages are important. For your safety, the hospital pharmacy will provide all the medications your physician prescribes.
Notary Services are available at no charge. Please notify your nurse if this service is needed.
Personal items such as a comb, hair brush, deodorant, shaving articles, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, powder, and soap may be brought from home. Sleeping apparel, slippers, robe and supportive shoes for walking are recommended. Because patients with IV’s, feeding or drainage tubes and monitoring devices could be at an increased risk of injury by electrical shock, we ask that you get safety approval before using electric razors, curling irons or other devices in your patient room.
Smoking is not allowed. Please inform your nurse if you desire nicotine replacement to ease withdrawal symptoms. Possession and consumption of alcohol and non-prescribed drugs is prohibited on hospital grounds. Anyone under the influence of non-prescribed drugs or alcohol will be removed from hospital premises.
Valuables, including jewelry and cash should be left at home. If this is not possible, you will be asked to place them in a sealed envelope, which will be kept in a safe at the time of your admission. Clay County Medical Center is not liable for the loss of valuables.
Support Person Policy
Hospital Inpatient Support Person
Hospital patients requesting a Support Person may have one (1) designated person.
- The support person can be with the patient at all times, as needed. Except in extenuating circumstances (terminal care, etc.) the support person will be the only one allowed to visit the patient.
- Support Person must have a blue wrist band, use hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving patient room, and wear a mask at all times.
- Support Person will not be allowed to wander the halls or visit any other patients in the hospital.
- Support Person will not be allowed to come and go throughout the day.
- Support Person must sign in and out at the nurse’s station or front lobby each visit.
Clay Center Family Physicians/ER/Specialty Clinics/Therapy/Surgery/Lab/Radiology Designated Support Person
All other patient care departments will be allowed one (1) designated person to accompany the patient during their time of services at the hospital or clinic, for patients who are not under investigation for Covid.
- The Support Person will be screened and will not be allowed to visit if they have a fever or are determined to be high risk for COVID.
- Support Person must use hand sanitizer upon entering and wear a mask at all times.
Screening Support Person on Weekends or After Main Entrance Is Closed:
- Support Person will enter through the main entrance.
- Support Person will ring bell for access.
- Support Person will provide access code authorizing them to see the patient.
- A member of the hospital nursing team will come to main entrance, screen the Support Person, and escort the Support Person to the patient’s room.
- Support Person will be provided a written document with the guidelines. Nursing team will go over the Support Person guidelines with the Support Person.
Patients Under Investigation or Positive COVID Patients:.
- Support Person will only be allowed in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the physician or provider in charge of their care.
Patient's Rights
The patient’s rights include all those listed, as well as any other rights for which notice is required under State or Federal law or regulations for hospital patients.
Patients at Clay County Medical Center have the right to:
1. Access emergency healthcare services.
2. Be informed of his/her rights in a language or by a method he/she can understand.
3. Participate in the planning and delivery of his/her care.
4. Be informed of his/her health status and make informed decisions regarding his/her care, including the right to refuse treatment.
5. Complete advance directives and have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives in accordance with Federal Rules and Regulations.
6. Have a family member or representative of his/her admission to the hospital.
7. Have his/her own Medical Provider notified of his/her admission to the hospital.
8. Personal privacy.
9. Receive care in a safe environment.
10. Be free from abuse, neglect, or harassment from staff, other patients, and visitors.
11. The confidentiality of his/her clinical records.
12. Access information contained in his or her clinical records within a reasonable time frame.
13. Be free from any physical or chemical restraints imposed for the purposes of discipline or convenience and not required to treat medical symptoms.
14. Be represented by parents, guardians, family members, or other conservators when he/she is unable to participate in treatment decisions.
15. Considerate, respectful, nondiscriminatory care from all members of the health care team at all times and under all circumstances.
16. A fair and prompt process for resolving concerns.
17. Consent to receive the visitors whom he/she designates and withdraw or deny such consent at any time, unless clinically contraindicated.