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Your Care & Safety

Avera cares for the whole person – body, mind and spirit. Whether you are a patient, family member or visitor, your safety and well-being are top concerns for us.

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You can count on your Avera caregivers to stay focused on the quality and safety of your care. It’s our goal to provide the right care at the right time in the right setting. You and your loved ones are important partners in the safe delivery of health care services.

Your Care & Safety

Your safety is top priority at all levels of our organization. Safe care begins with good communication between health care professionals, patients and family members.

  • A patient safety team evaluates any safety concern voiced by staff, patients or family, and takes action as necessary.
  • All physicians and nurses are board licensed and participate in continuing education.
  • Understand your rights and responsibilities as a patient.
  • We recommend you have a family member or friend with you during your health care visits to provide comfort and support but also to ask questions.
  • Ask questions and takes notes.

Speak Up

The "Speak Up" program, sponsored by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, urges patients to get involved in their care. Research shows that patients who take part in decisions about their health care are more likely to have better outcomes.

To help prevent health care errors:

  • S: Speak up if you have questions or concerns.
  • P: Pay attention to the care you get.
  • E: Educate yourself about your illness.
  • A: Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).
  • K: Know what medicines you take and why you take them.
  • U: Use a health care organization that has been carefully checked out.
  • P: Participate in all decisions about your treatment.

Latex Allergy Information

For the safety of our patients, visitors and employees, Avera has developed policies and procedures specific to latex allergy/sensitivity. Because latex products are unavoidable in a hospital environment it can be difficult to completely prevent patient exposure. Yet Avera will take every possible precaution to ensure a latex-safe environment for individuals identified with latex sensitivity.

Please notify your health care providers, including nurses, laboratory, and admitting staff if you know you have a sensitivity or allergy to latex products.

Symptoms of latex allergy can be mild such as itchy, red, watery eyes, sneezing or runny nose, coughing, rash or hives. It can also be very severe with symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath and shock, some of which can be life-threatening. A latex-sensitive person can have a life-threatening allergic reaction with no previous warning or symptoms.

Communicate with your care team about any other allergies you know you have.

Medication Safety

You and your family can lower the risk of medication errors or adverse reactions by being involved and informed.

  • Learn about your medications. Work with your doctor, pharmacist, nurse or other health care providers to get the information you need.
  • Inform your doctor, nurse and other caregivers of all medications you are taking, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, dietary supplements, herbal remedies, eye drops and inhalers.
  • Look at each medicine before taking it. If it does not look like what you usually take, ask why. It might be a generic, or it might be the wrong drug.
  • Know what medicines you are allergic to and what reactions you have had, and share this information with care providers.
  • Be a partner in your own health care and the care of your loved ones. Ensure that you’re getting the right medication at the right dose at the right time, and if you’re not sure, ask.

Visitor Safety

We are concerned for the safety and well-being of all people within an Avera facility, including patients, visitors and staff. Our policies help us live out that concern and involve everyone who comes within our doors.

What to Know as a Visitor

  • In order to foster a caring and healing environment we recommend no more than two visitors at a time; this may vary according to hospital and the type of care being received.
  • Minors and dependent adults must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult.
  • Avera hospitals may restrict visitors, temporarily close buildings and adjust hours to protect the safety of patients and staff.
  • There may be security precautions and check-in procedures for certain areas of the hospital for patient safety, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, newborn nursery, NICU and post-partum areas. Security staff are on site.
  • While in our facilities, stay alert and listen to any announcements given over the intercom system, for example, fire alarms or severe weather.

Aggressive and Threatening Behavior Will Not Be Tolerated

Avera staff is committed to serve by providing a healing and safe environment to all. Unacceptable behavior includes:

  • Physical assault
  • Verbal harassment
  • Abusive language
  • Sexual language
  • Threats of any kind
  • Failure to follow staff instructions
  • Possession or use of alcohol, drugs, or weapons

Telemedicine

Avera’s footprint covers 72,000 square miles with both urban and rural settings. Providing consistent high quality and safe care often means the involvement if health care specialists. Avera extends access to specialty services across the miles through telemedicine. This means you may experience an extra set of eyes and ears through virtual care in these settings:

  • Emergency services
  • Neonatal care
  • Pharmacy
  • Critical care (intensive care)
  • Hospital care (hospitalists)
  • Long-term care

Time is of the essence in the case of severe injury, heart attack, stroke and more. Avera teams are ready to provide immediate backup and consultations via the latest telemedicine technology.

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Spiritual Care

Avera’s sponsors, the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters, encourage all members of the Avera community to understand their work as a healing ministry and to demonstrate God's love for all people. As a Catholic health care organization, Avera is committed to promoting and defending human dignity, caring for the whole person, and giving special attention to the needs of the poor and marginalized. We’re dedicated to maintaining the health and well-being of the rural communities of our region.

Avera Chaplains

Avera Chaplaincy staff is an ecumenical team of priests, Sisters, ministers, deacons and trained laity who regularly visit patients and families. Our Chaplaincy staff seeks to respect the religious and spiritual beliefs and traditions of all the patients and families we serve. We work in collaboration with the pastors and religious leaders of our patients and will gladly contact your pastor or religious community upon request.

Chaplaincy Care

Chaplaincy staff and mission teams are available 24 hours a day for spiritual, religious and pastoral needs. Ask your nurse or a hospital staff member for assistance in calling Chaplaincy. Avera chaplains are available to:

  • Listen with empathy
  • Pray for and with patients and their families
  • Suggest devotional materials
  • Rejoice with those who are experiencing the miracle of life
  • Offer encouragement and emotional support
  • Discuss end-of-life issues
  • Mourn with those who are sorrowful and experiencing loss
  • Facilitate communication between patients, caregivers and family

For Catholic Patients
While in the hospital, you can request chaplains deliver religious rituals including communion, confession, anointing or blessings. If you are having a planned surgical procedure please contact your home parish priest to be anointed prior to admission the hospital. Priests’ hours vary and may not be available for anointing.

Religious Services
Mass and religious services are offered at numerous Avera sites, and devotional group sessions are held on various patient care units. Check with your nurse or care team regarding times and locations.

Social Work Services

Avera social workers help ensure patients have needed services while in the hospital and then help them access available resources in the community. Social workers focus on assisting patients and families with the stresses associated with illnesses and their impact on everyday life. To get connected to social work services at your facility, ask your doctor, nurse or care team.

How Social Workers Assist You

  • Advocate for patient and families
  • Provide information on community resources
  • Connect patients and their families with options for lodging and transportation
  • Counsel patients and families to assist them with emotional and psychological distress
  • Deliver psychosocial evaluation and assessment
  • Provide information about Advance Directives
  • Arrange for post-hospital placements and services
  • Address issues of family violence and abuse
  • Assist with questions concerning finances

Discharge Planning

Discharge planning is an ongoing process that may involve connection to services such as home health care, home medical equipment, hospice, assisted living or long-term care. Social workers assist with making a safe transition from hospital to home or other care environments.

Financial Matters

Social workers lend their expertise regarding available resources, specific eligibility requirements and application procedures to help individuals and families bear the burden of health care expense. Social workers can link individuals and families to available resources in the community and government programs.

Protective Services

Social workers intervene on behalf of individuals who may be in danger of harm from others or who are unable to take care of their own physical needs.

Support Groups

For patients and their families who feel the impact of an illness or injury, there’s nothing quite like the understanding offered by someone who has traveled a similar journey. Support groups allow people to connect with others in similar circumstances, find common ground and realize they are not alone. Support groups are an ideal setting to share stories of joys and struggles, and celebrations of key milestones. Support groups also offer practical advice and education.

Support groups take different forms, for example, an open group that anyone can join at any time, or a structured program. The benefits are emotional, spiritual and even physical, because support groups can relieve stress that contributes to physical symptoms, or encourage you to stay engaged in your own health care and treatment plan – even when it’s difficult.

Find Support Groups Near You

Avera facilities offer a wide variety of support groups for patients and family members who have experienced cancer, Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, transplant, addiction, grief and loss, and more. To find out about support groups that are meeting in your community or area, check out classes & events at Avera, or ask your local physician, nurse or hospital social worker.

Connect With Your Care Team

You can search for an Avera location that’s near you, or message your care team on the AveraChart patient portal.

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