As a patient, you are a part of our team. We think it is important for you to know what to expect before, during and after your surgery. We believe that when you know what to expect you will not worry as much, and you will recover better from your surgery.
Nurse Call Light
The nurse call light is usually answered by a secretary during the day and evening shift and by a nursing staff person during the night shift. It is helpful to let the staff know what you need so they can respond appropriately. If you are not able to speak, or if the people at the nurses' desk cannot hear you, a member of the nursing staff will be sent to your room. Please give your nurse a few minutes to respond to your call. If you do not get a response within a reasonable amount of time, use your call light again.
Television
Basic television service is offered to patients free of charge which includes channel 2 (a public broadcasting channel), channel 4 (CBS), channel 9 (a Spanish language channel), channel 10 (PAX TV), and channel 29 (the patient education channel). For an extended selection of cable stations, a daily rental fee of $5.00 is required. To order this service, call 6-8888 and leave your name, room number and the name of your building. Television representatives visit the patient care units every afternoon and evening and request payment in advance by cash or check.
Meals
You will receive a menu in the morning to order your meals for the next day. Please fill in the menu and have it completed by the end of breakfast. You will need to order everything for your meals including condiments. If you want extras, please order them as we do not always stock items on the floor.
Serving times are:
- Breakfast: 8:00 am to 9:00 am
- Lunch: Noon to 1:30 pm
- Dinner: 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
The kitchen on the floor closes after meals are served. When the kitchen is closed, the secretary at the nurses' station can call the main food service for snacks. If your family would like to bring in food for you, they should check with your nurse to make certain that the food is allowed on your diet. Mark the container with your name and room number. There is a refrigerator behind the nurses' station where food can be stored.
Bedside Telephone Dialing Instructions
- Local call (within 617 area code): dial 9, 617 and the 7 digit telephone number
- Long distance call: dial 9, then 0, then the area code and the 7 digit telephone number
- Long distance using own carrier: dial 9, then your long distance company phone number
- International call or cablegram: dial 0 and the Mass General Hospital operator will assist
There is no charge for calling within the hospital. Simply drop the "72" at the beginning of the telephone number and dial the remaining five digit extension. TDD equipment is available on loan for the hearing impaired. Please ask your primary nurse.
After 10:30 pm, calls coming in to patients are automatically diverted to the unit's nursing station and will not ring through to you. To stop incoming calls during the day, ask your primary nurse to unplug your phone.
Location and Parking
The hospital address is 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114. Parking can be found at the Fruit Street and Parkman Street garages that are located outside of the main entrance to Mass General Hospital. There is a patient and visitor rate available. To get this rate, the parking ticket must be validated at the kiosk located on the first floor of the White Lobby as you are leaving the hospital.
Valet parking is located at the entrance to the White Building (main entrance) on Fruit Street.
Chapel
The hospital chapel is located on the first floor of the Ellison Building. Our chaplains represent all religions and can offer you spiritual support and counseling. Let your nurse know if you would like this service, or call 617-726-2220.
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