Staying at the Hospital

What to Expect When Staying at the Hospital:

• Preparing for your stay
• What to do when you arrive
• Support and amenities during your stay
• Leaving the hospital

Bringing Personal Belongings to the Hospital

Our goal is to provide the essential items our patients need while in our hospital. During visitation hours personal belongings may be brought in by care partners/visitor. All belongings need to be in a container (like a bag or backpack).

If items are brought in loose, they will need to be put into a large clear plastic zip-top bag which will be provided at the entrances. Please reasonably limit items to keep our patients’ rooms neat, safe and clean for all.

Baystate Health will not be responsible for lost or stolen personal items.

Delivering Patient Items

• Monday – Friday, staff at the Daly and Wesson lobbies (or unit staff) will assist in delivering belongings to the patient’s care units.
• Saturday and Sunday: Lobby staff will call the care unit and a staff member from the unit will pick up the belongings in the lobby.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Office of Patient Relations at (413) 794-5456.

Preparing for your Stay

What to Bring with You

Bring any paperwork that the doctor's office has given you and the name and dosage of any medications you take. Don’t forget to let us know if you have any allergies during the admission process.

Please do not bring small children with you to your appointment as there will be no one to supervise them while your procedure is underway.

What to Wear

Before leaving home, be sure to bathe and remove all jewelry, contact lenses, make-up and nail polish. You may keep glasses and hearing aids on until the very last minute. Wear loose and comfortable clothing to make changing into a hospital gown easy.

When You Arrive

All visitors will be screened and must be free of any COVID-19 symptoms. Upon arrival, you must check in at the front desk and wear a mask, complete a temperature screening and sanitize hands. We will provide a mask if needed. Learn more about our visitor policy.

When you arrive at the department where you are to receive care, nurses may take your temperature, listen to your heart and lungs, weigh you, and ask questions. If you are an inpatient, they will then take you to your room; if you are an outpatient, they will take you to the waiting room for outpatient procedures.

Baystate Wing Hospital: When you arrive for appointments, tests and prescription pickup, we ask that you take a numbered ticket at the front desk. This system shortens the wait in line and also increases patient privacy in the registration area.  After taking a ticket, please wait in the lobby and your number will be announced and displayed over the location of the available receptionist.

Support During Your Stay

Your care will be managed by a hospitalist, a specialized physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who will take care of you around the clock during your stay at the hospital. Your hospitalist communicates often with your primary care physician about your care, acting as your doctor's eyes and ears. You or your family may contact the hospitalist through your nurse.

Safety & Security

We have a fully trained security staff available 24 hours a day to manage all aspects of campus security.

Dining Services

We have many dining options available throughout our health system for you and your family. Our staff is available to assist you with your meal order, or with any other special dietary or cultural needs you may have. For more specific information on all of our food services options, please visit each hospital location.

Cafeterias

Every hospital within our health system has a full-service cafeteria which is open to patients and visitors and features daily specials and diet related menu choices.

Patient Meals

Our guest ambassadors can help you with your menu selection. Room service is provided for patients on specific hospital floors.

Guest Meals

Guest meals are available and can be purchased at the same time as you order your patient meals.

Smoke-free Facility

Smoking is not permitted in any of our buildings, offices or at any event sponsored or presented by us. We also do not permit the possession or consumption of marijuana on Baystate Health premises.

Baystate is Cashless

Please be aware, beginning October 1, 2023, Baystate Health is going cashless and will no longer accept cash. We will accept all forms of credit cards, debit cards, and personal checks.

Cash-to-card kiosks are available at our Baystate Health hospitals for those with cash to convert cash into a physical prepaid card for use. 

Television

We offer free cable television service to all of our patients, including all local commercial stations, general health information programming, closed caption service on ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS channels, and Spanish-language programming.

Phones & Electronic Devices

During your stay, a bedside telephone is available for your use and you may receive incoming calls directly to your bedside telephone. Local and toll-free calls are free. You may be asked to not use some electronic devices since they may interfere with medical equipment. Please refrain from taking photos and videos while in the hospital. Telephone devices are available for patients who are deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired (TTY/TDD).

WiFi

We offer free wireless internet access to patients and visitors at all of our locations.

Leaving The Hospital

Discharge Times: Most patients leave the hospital before 11 am.

Bridging care from hospital to home: Some patients who leave the hospital may require additional care before returning to their homes. Your physician, nurses, and case management staff members can help you identify what setting will be best for you.