Know Your Hospital Staff
All UCLA Health employees - doctors, nurses, medical residents and staff - wear their photo identification in a prominently displayed manner. Although we secure the premises, we ask that you first alert a nurse by call light and question anyone unknown to you who walks into your hospital or examination room without a photo identifi cation badge. Because UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center is an academic medical center and a teaching hospital, a team of doctors will take care of you and you may see many doctors.
Throughout your medical care, you will come into contact with many people. All employees, including physicians, are expected to introduce themselves, let you know what role they have in your healthcare, what they are planning to do, when they are going to do it, what effect it will have on you and what to expect next. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Physicians
Your team of doctors is led by an attending physician, who is in charge of your care. The doctors, including the attending physician, may rotate on and off your care. In other words, the residents and your attending physician may change during your stay and may result in your being treated by many doctors. New physicians will introduce themselves as they join the team. Each doctor on your team contributes to your care; and, as a patient, you are contributing to the education and training of future physicians.
Registered nurses provide a critical link between the patient and the healthcare team. In addition to contributing to your care, nurses communicate your needs to your doctors and other team members and inform you about your medications, in-hospital treatment and post-hospital home care. Registered nurses also oversee other healthcare workers, such as care partners, to ensure that your comfort and hygiene needs are met.
Pharmacists
Although you may not meet the hospital pharmacists, they are important members of your healthcare team, meticulously preparing medication, and monitoring drug therapy for effectiveness, potential side eff ects, allergies and possible food and drug interactions.
Spiritual Care (424) 259-8170
Hospitalization can be emotionally and spiritually challenging for patients and their families. Hospital chaplains are available to provide scriptures or holy writings from your specific faith tradition, help you access/receive religious sacraments, contact religious leaders from your faith tradition and/or help with other spiritual needs. If you would like a visit from the interfaith chaplain on your unit, tell your nurse, or call the Department of Spiritual Care. For more information, visit the Spiritual Care website.
Care Coordination (424) 259-9700
Case managers work with you, your family and your healthcare team to coordinate your hospital stay. They are also available to assist with the planning and coordination of your transition from the hospital to home or to other care facilities. Visit the Care Coordination and Clinical Social Workers website.
Case managers work with you, your family and your healthcare team to coordinate your hospital stay. They are also available to assist with the planning and coordination of your transition from the hospital to home or to other care facilities.
Clinical social workers can assist you and your family members with any personal, emotional and/or family problems and difficulties due to your illness or injury. Individual, family and group support for sudden illness, separation from home and job, bereavement, substance abuse, domestic violence and other issues can be arranged, as well as referrals to community resources. Visit the Care Coordination and Clinical Social Workers website.
Discharge planners can help you transfer to a continuing care facility (a rehabilitation center or skilled nursing home) upon your physician's recommendation.
Clinical dieticians (424) 259-9220
Working closely with your healthcare team, clinical dietitians ensure that you are receiving the appropriate balance of nutritional meals throughout your stay. They also may offer nutritional advice as part of your discharge instructions.
Resource case managers (310) 206-2770
Home care liaisons work with you, your family and your doctor to arrange for specific nursing care or other treatments to be continued at home after discharge from the hospital. Your individual needs and continuing care preferences will be carefully evaluated and your insurance coverage will be considered and reviewed.
Rehabilitation staff (424) 259-8555
Physical and/or occupational therapists may work with you to help you regain your strength and function. If required, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to help you meet your specific goals and provide recommendations for post-discharge care. Visit the Rehabilitation Services website at rehab.ucla.edu.
Volunteers (424) 259-8180
Volunteers work throughout the medical center and are available to assist hospital staff and patients.
Visit the Volunteer website at www.uclahealth.org/Volunteer