What to Bring
We want you to be comfortable while you are in the hospital. If you wish, you may bring your most comfortable bed clothes and essential personal care items.
We also ask that you bring the following information:
• A list of the medications, dosage and days/times you are currently taking
• Your medical insurance card
• A copy of your healthcare proxy and
• Medical records from other health providers/institutions
What to Leave at Home
Quincy Medical Center is not responsible for your personal belongs. Please do NOT bring items such as:
• Jewelry
• Credit cards
• Cash
• Checkbooks
Please note that the use of cellular telephones and two-way pagers is limited to non-patient care areas. Also please note that during your hospital stay, you are responsible for safeguarding your glasses, dentures, hearing aids, and other adaptive devices. Additionally, our fire and safety policy prohibits the use of personal, small electrical appliances such as laptop computers, televisions, radios, curling irons and electric shavers.
Your Medication
While you are in the hospital, your doctors and nurses will work with Quincy Medical Center
pharmacists to handle all of your medication needs. Please do not take any medications that you brought from home. If you are allergic or hypersensitive to any medications, please tell your nurse immediately. Quincy Medical Center encourages our patients to become more informed about their medication history and to keep a current and detailed list of any medications being taken. If you need assistance with this, please ask a member of your healthcare team.
Your Patient Room
All patient rooms at Quincy Medical Center are private. Each room features its own bathroom and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment. Many patient rooms feature scenic views of the
Boston skyline, scenic Blue Hills, or Quincy Bay. Local phone service and basic cable television are provided free of charge.
When You Need Assistance
The call button attached to the cord next to your bed is connected directly to the nurses’ station. Call your nurse when you need assistance.
Fire, Safety and Security Procedures
Quincy Medical Center is compliant with all state and local safety regulations. Our safety and security policies are designed to protect patients, visitors and staff. In the event that we conduct a required fire or disaster drill while you are in the hospital, our staff will keep you informed about what is happening.
No Smoking Policy
For the health and safety of patients, visitors, and employees, smoking is not permitted anywhere in the hospital or on hospital grounds.
Visiting Hours
Visiting hours at Quincy Medical Center are flexible to meet the needs of the patient. Your nurse will help you to support the presence of your family and visitors while also allowing you enough time to rest and heal. For our patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), please call 617-376-3135 so that the nursing team can help to coordinate access to this unit.
Healthy Eating
You will receive a menu with your breakfast from which you can choose your meals for the next day. Your menu choices will be picked up by a member of the dietary staff later in the morning. Please tell the person who picks up your menu if you have personal food preferences or any food allergies. Your physician will write a diet order to meet your nutritional and medical needs while in the hospital. Specific care is taken to ensure that your food preferences are honored, within the scope of the physician’s diet order. If you wish to discuss your food preferences or to learn more about the menu choices available for your visitors and/or family members, please contact our dietary office at ext. 5555 or 617-376-5555 from an outside line.
Your meals will be served on the schedule below. Please note that tests or procedures for which you are scheduled may make it necessary to delay your meal. If your doctor has recommended a special diet, your menu will reflect his/her recommendations.
Breakfast: 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.; Lunch: 11:25 a.m.–1 p.m.; and Dinner: 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Additional beverages and snacks are available 24 hours a day from vending machines located throughout the medical center.
Meals for Visitors
If a friend or family member would like to eat with you, they may pre-order a meal for a small price from our Food and Nutrition Department at 617-376-5555. They are also welcome to visit our cafeteria – Cross Roads Cafe – on the first floor. The Café is open to the public, Monday through Friday and hours are posted outside the door. The menu includes reasonably priced hot meals, sandwiches, a full salad bar,
snacks, and beverages including sodas, juices, and coffee. Additional snacks and beverages are available 24 hours a day from vending machines throughout the medical center.
Senior dinners are served in the cafeteria every Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. For a discounted price of $4.50 seniors can enjoy a hot entree, two side dishes and a dessert.
Television and Telephone Services
Basic television service is available free of charge in every patient room. Quincy Medical Center also subscribes to the Chinese channel, the New Tang Dynasty Satellite Television, accessed via Channel 14.
Local (Boston, Dorchester, Milton, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Randolph) telephone service is provided at no cost. Long distance calls can be made with a calling card or by charging the call to your home phone (depending on your telephone service carrier). Instructions on telephone use are located on your bedside table and on page 16 of this guide. Please note that the use of cellular phones is restricted in some areas of the hospital. Please check with your nurse before using your cell phone. TTY and amplifier devices are available for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients through the hospital operator, by dialing “0”.
Newspapers, Magazines and Newsletters
If you would like to purchase a newspaper, a representative from the volunteer office can bring it to your room. Call the volunteer office at extension 5505. Newspapers also are available in the vending machines on the first floor. For the latest news about Quincy Medical Center, you may also request a copy of our community newsletter by calling extension 4020 or 617-376-4020.
Mail Flowers, Gifts and Balloons
If you are on a regular medical or surgical unit, mail, flowers, gifts and mylar balloons addressed to you will be delivered directly to your room. For your safety and the safety of others, latex balloons are not permitted in the hospital.
The Comfort Cart
The Comfort Cart program is staffed by specially trained volunteers who visit patients in the hospital who are experiencing pain, loneliness or anxiety, and who would benefit from some company. In addition to spending time with a patient, the Comfort Cart volunteer may also offer a variety of items from the cart that would bring comfort to the patient, such as a shawl, lavender eye pillow or crossword puzzle. If you would like a Comfort Cart visit, please let your nurse know and he or she will arrange it.
Free Parking
For your convenience, QMC offers free parking.
Courtesy Shuttle Service
The medical center provides courtesy shuttle service between the Quincy Center MBTA station and QMC throughout the day. The shuttle picks up passengers at the medical center in front of the blue awning at the rear entrance. At the MBTA station, the shuttle picks up passengers at the rear entrance (Burgin Parkway). For the latest schedule, call extension 4175 or 617-376-4175, or visit the concierge desk in the lobby. Shuttle service is available Monday through Friday. It does not run on weekends or holidays.
Concierge Service
If you need directions, special accommodations such as a wheelchair, or have a general inquiry, contact the concierge. Concierge staff are stationed in the main lobby, inside the rear entrance near the blue awning, and in the emergency department. Concierge staff can be reached by dialing 617-376-4003.