Patient Information

Make the most of your visit to Rochelle Community Hospital by being prepared for your appointment. Listed are steps to consider prior, during and after your visit.

Prior to your visit

• Make a list of questions and concerns. Be sure to list your most important questions first to ensure they get answered.
• Make a list of all the medications you are currently taking. This includes drugs (prescription and non-prescription), vitamins and natural remedies.
• Ask a friend or family member to accompany you to your appointment. This individual will be an extra set of ears and can offer support.

During your visit

• Discuss any recent health changes, symptoms and list of current medications. Communicate to the nurse or doctor how you feel when the symptoms arise and if you have experienced any recent health changes.
• Ask questions. Be sure to ask your most important questions first.
• Take notes. This will help you remember everything the doctor says. Be sure to take note of all of the doctor’s suggestions.
• Be honest. When answering the doctor’s questions, do not leave anything out in terms of diet, sexual activity or substance use because you’re embarrassed; your nurse or doctor has probably heard it before.
• Schedule a follow-up appointment if necessary.

After your visit

• Follow the doctor’s advice.
• Report any problems with medication.
• Contact the doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
• Keep your follow-up appointment.

For more information on preparing for surgery and anesthesia, click here.

At Rochelle Community Hospital, we encourage you to be fully informed about your health. The best way to do this is by asking questions during your appointment. Though you may find it difficult to speak up or are afraid of asking questions, it is important to initiate a two-way dialogue between you and your healthcare provider. Below is a list of questions that our healthcare providers are more than happy to answer during your next visit.

• What exactly is my condition, and what caused it?
• What tests will I need to get done, if any?
• What are my treatment options?
• How will I know that my treatment is working?
• What is the timeline for the treatment plan?

If you are prescribed medication, you should consider asking the following questions:

• Can I take a generic medicine or is this available over the counter?
• Can you review the instructions with me?
• What are the possible side effects of this medication?
• How does this medication work?
• What are the reasons why I should take this medication?
• Will this have an effect on the other medication I am currently taking?

Medical coverage is an important benefit to you. Our Case Management Department assists all patients who are covered under Medicare, Medicaid or commercial insurance. You can assist us in helping you by:

• Providing your insurance card and information at the time of registration so we can verify benefits under your coverage.
• If applicable, informing us of any secondary insurance coverage.
• Informing us of any name, address or phone number changes that may have occurred since your last visit to our hospital.
• If required, informing us whether you or your physician called for pre-authorization prior to an elective surgery or admission.
• Informing us that pre-certification is necessary for hospital admissions, if not indicated on your insurance card.

Hospital Registration & Admitting

The Registration (Patient Access) Department is located directly inside the Third Street entrance. The department is staffed 24 hours, seven days a week. You are welcome to use the parking lot located to the south of the building near the emergency entrance.

Multi-Specialty Clinic or RCH Convenient Care Registration

If you are receiving services in the Multi-Specialty Clinic or RCH Convenient Care, please use the patient parking lot to the north of the building, just off 10th Avenue. Registration personnel are present at this entrance during clinic business hours to assist you.

Click here for helpful information you may need while staying at Rochelle Community Hospital.
• Room Assignments
• Calling Your Nurse
• Patient Valuables
• Patient Meals
• Vending Machines
• Surgery Waiting Room
• Telephone Instructions
• Internet Access from Within the Hospital

When your physician decides that you are medically stable and ready to leave the hospital, a discharge order will be written. Our Case Management staff can make arrangements for discharge needs prior to your leaving the hospital. This may include: home care, durable medical equipment, skilled nursing services and long-term care placement.

Take-Home Instructions
Your physician and nurse will give you a written copy of instructions to follow at home.

This includes:
• Information about your medication
• Diet recommendations and restrictions
• When to follow up with your physician

It may be necessary for you to be seen by the pharmacist and a representative of the Case Management Department prior to discharge. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your physician or your nurse.

Getting Home
You may need to make arrangements with friends or family to assist you when it’s time to go home. Be sure to collect all of your belongings before leaving.

Right to Review Discharge Process
If you are a Medicare patient and feel you are being discharged from the hospital too soon, you have the right to a review process under the Medicare Program. The review process is explained on your copy of “An Important Message From Medicare” that you signed on admission to the hospital.

Rochelle Community Hospital accepts a variety of health plans to meet your unique healthcare needs, see our Billing & Information page more information.

Patient Rights
While you are a patient in the hospital, your rights include the following:

• You have the right to considerate and respectful care.
• You have the right and are encouraged to obtain from physicians and other direct caregivers any relevant, current and understandable information concerning your illness, possible treatments and likely outcome of your illness. Except in emergencies when the patient lacks decision-making capacity and the need for treatment is urgent, the patient is entitled to the opportunity to discuss and request information related to the specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, as well as the medically reasonable alternatives and their accompanying risks and benefits.
• You have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses and others involved in your care, as well as when those involved are students or other trainees.
• You have the right to make decisions about the plan of care, consent to or refuse a treatment as permitted by law and hospital policy throughout your hospital stay. If you refuse a recommended treatment, you will be informed of the medical consequences of this action and you will receive other needed and available care.
• You have the right to have an advance directive such as a living will, healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare. These documents express your choices about your future care or name someone to decide if you cannot speak for yourself. If you have a written advance directive, you should provide a copy to the hospital, your family and your doctor. The hospital will honor the intent of the directive to the extent permitted by the law.
• You, or your designated representative, have the right to participate in discussions considering ethical issues that arise in your case.
• You have the right to privacy. The hospital, your doctor and others caring for you will protect your privacy.
• You have the right to expect that all communications and treatment records are confidential, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards, when reporting is permitted or required by law. When the hospital releases records to others who are entitled to review this information, the records are kept confidential.
• You have the right to review your records and to have the information explained, except when restricted by law.
• You have the right to expect that the hospital will give you necessary health services to the best of its ability. Treatment, referral or transfer may be recommended. If transfer is recommended or requested, you will be informed of risks, benefits and alternatives. You will not be transferred until the other institution agrees to accept you.
• You have the right to know if the hospital has relationships with outside parties such as educational institutions, other healthcare providers or payers that may influence your treatment or care.
• You have the right to consent or decline to participate in research studies affecting your care and treatment. If you decide not to participate in research, you are entitled to the most effective care that the hospital can otherwise provide.
• The patient has the right to be free from any form of restraints (physical restraint or drug being used as a restraint) that is not medically necessary or is used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
• You have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.

Patient Responsibilities
You have responsibilities as a patient. You are responsible for providing information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays and use of medicine. You are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand information or instructions. If you believe you can’t follow through with your treatment, you are responsible for telling your doctor.

This hospital works to provide care efficiently and fairly to all patients and the community. You and your visitors are responsible for being considerate of the needs of other patients, staff and the hospital. You are responsible for providing information for insurance and for working with the hospital to arrange payment when needed.

Your health depends not just on your hospital care but, in the long term, on the decisions you make in your daily life. You are responsible for recognizing the effect of lifestyle on your personal health.

A hospital serves many purposes. Hospitals work to improve people’s health; treat people with injury and disease; educate doctors, health professionals, patients and community members; and improve understanding of health and disease. In carrying out these activities, this institution works to respect your values and dignity.

Rochelle Community Hospital would like you to know about the Illinois laws involving the rights of hospitalized patients to make decisions regarding medical care.
Learn more about Advance Directive Options.
• Rights of the Patient
• Power of Attorney
• Living Will
• Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders
• Conclusion

Visit our Medical Records page to learn more about:
• How to obtain medical records
• Charges for medical records
• Picking up medical records