Visitor Information		Patient Information
Directions to KRMC		Your Room
Kalispell Area Hotels & Restaurants		Meals & Food Services
KRMC Cafeteria, Gift Shop, & Coffee Shop		Spiritual Care & Other Services
ATM's & Vending Machines		Managing Pain
Patient Rights & Organizational Ethics		Medications
KRMC & Northwest Healthcare		Preventing Infections
Billing Addresses & Contacts		Safety & Preventing Falls
		Your Learning Needs
		Going Home

 

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DIRECTIONS TO KRMC

Sunnyview Lane runs east-west off US Highway 93, north of downtown Kalispell.  Turn onto Sunnyview Lane 0.9 miles north of the intersection of US 93 & US 2 (Idaho Street), or 1.8 miles south of the intersection of US 93 and West Reserve Drive. 

Use Sunnyview Lane to reach the main visitor parking lot, visitor entrance, and patient registration.  The Emergency Room entrance is located on Conway Drive, one block south of Sunnyview.  Visitors note:  between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., only the Emergency Room (Conway Drive) entrance is open for general access.  (OB patients may at all hours use the secure entrance to the OB Department on Sunnyview Lane.)

For maps and more detailed driving directions to KRMC from your location, click here.

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KALISPELL AREA HOTELS & RESTAURANTS

Hotels: The following is a short list of hotels near the hospital.  Be sure to ask if your hotel can offer you a discounted rate when you are in Kalispell for medical reasons.

Restaurants: There are several small restaurants and coffeeshops just a block or two from the hospital in the Buffalo Hills area.  A wider variety of restaurants, fast-food chains, and stores are located 0.9 miles south of the hospital on Idaho Street (both to the right and left), or 1.8 miles north of the hospital in the shopping center near West Reserve Drive.

For more information on the area, contact the Flathead Convention & Visitor Bureau or the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.

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KRMC CAFETERIA, GIFT SHOP, & COFFEESHOP

Sunnyview Café
Our cafeteria offers a complete grill and deli service, with scenic views of Kalispell from the dining room. Located between the hospital and Brendan House (elevator access is available). Meals are available daily.

Solid Grounds
A barista-style coffee bar on the main floor features espresso drinks and deli sandwiches, soup, and salads.

Simply Yours Gift Shop
Our Volunteers manage the gift shop on the main floor offers flowers, greeting cards, candy, mylar balloons, and many other items. Call extension 2471 from any room phone to check hours.

Room Service
Visitors may order a meal from our "Cuisine on Call" room service program while visiting a patient. Our hostess will collect payment for each visitor meal at the time of delivery.

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ATM'S & VENDING MACHINES

ATM (Cash Machine) - located in the main visitor lobby. Branches of Glacier Bank and Parkside Credit Union are nearby.

Vending Machines - several locations throughout the hospital:  just inside the visitor entrance, between OB and Inpatient Rehab near the cashier's desk, and in the Emergency Room entrance.   Drinks, candy, and snacks.

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YOUR ROOM

Please make yourself comfortable in your room. Let us know if you need assistance adjusting your bed or arranging your personal items where you can reach them. For your own safety, keep your call button near your bed or chair at all times.

Our housekeeping staff will visit every day to tidy and mop your room. If other cleaning needs arise during your stay, an on-call housekeeper can be paged. Bed linens are changed regularly or at your request.

We cannot be responsible for lost items. If you have reading glasses, a hearing aid, or dentures, please ask the nurse to record these during your initial assessment, and use a labeled container for their storage. The hospital maintains a safe for valuables if you cannot leave them at home.

For your health, we ask visitors to use the public restrooms instead of the ones in patient rooms, and to please wash their hands prior to visiting.

Contact our Customer Relations Specialist with any concerns by dialing 5434 from any room phone.

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MEALS & FOOD SERVICES

 

Eat what you want, when you want it - that's our "Cuisine On Call" Room Service program. Freshly cooked meals that you order from a customized menu are an innovation in patient nutrition - such an important part of your health care plan. To access Room Service, just dial "7" from your room phone.

Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate diet for you during your stay. You simply refer to the menu in your room, select your meals, and place your order by phone.

You may order a complete meal or just a light snack whenever you choose. Delivery will take just 30-45 minutes.

If you have diabetes and must take insulin before eating, please tell your nurse when you have ordered your meal.

Hours of full (hot meal) service are from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. At other times, your nurse will assist you in ordering from a limited after-hours menu.

Please let us know if you have any special dietary preferences or restrictions, or if you have questions for our nutritionists about how to follow your diet when you return home.

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GOING HOME

Business & Financial Services
Your bill represents the charges for services you received during your hospital stay. The daily rate includes bed occupancy, meals, and nursing care. You will also see charges for laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging (x-ray), medications, use of the operating room, and any other tests, procedures, or supplies your doctors have ordered. Professional fees for your physicians' services, with some exceptions, are billed separately.

Our in-house financial counselor can help you estimate your potential financial responsibility (after insurance) for hospital services. We may request a down payment of this estimated amount. If requested, please visit our Cashier's Desk or contact an account representative prior to going home. We appreciate your cooperation.

For more information about making financial arrangements for your bill, please look in the "Your Hospital Bill" section of this directory.

Medical Records
We keep a record of the services we provide for you. At your request, your doctor can contact our Health Information Management department directly for information about your stay. We cannot disclose your record to anyone else (including family members) unless we are authorized by law or directly by you to do so. This is a federal regulation.

If you need your medical record, please discuss your needs with our staff. "Release of Medical Information" forms may be picked up in the Health Information Management office.

Case Management
A member of our staff, called a Case Manager, will assist you in making the arrangements for your discharge home or your transfer to another facility. This may include in-home nursing or other supportive care that is part of your doctor's follow-up plan as well as home medical equipment (such as walkers or oxygen) that you need. You may select the agency of your choice, several of which are part of the Northwest Healthcare family. See the "Index to Services" section for more information.

Discharge Home
We ask that your family be notified to pick you up prior to 11:00 a.m. on the day your physician discharges you. If a friend or family member is not available to take you home, your Case Manager will help you arrange transportation.

Valuables
Please let your nurse know if any of your valuables were stored in our safe.

Prescriptions
We do not have a retail pharmacy here at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, but we will assist you in getting information about discharge medications to the pharmacy of your choice.

Patient Satisfaction Survey
Each week, a number of patients are selected at random to be mailed a survey on the quality of our care. If you receive a survey, we encourage you to answer each question as honestly as you can. Anytime you have comments to share, you are welcome to call or write our Customer Relations staff.

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SPIRITUAL CARE & OTHER SERVICES

Spiritual Care
Kalispell Regional Medical Center offers patients access to Spiritual Care providers seven days a week. A visit from a staff chaplain or from your own minister or spiritual care provider can contribute to your healing in many ways, and can include prayer and sacraments at your request. When you check in with Admitting, please update your "religious preference" information as needed. The hospital uses this information to arrange visits for patients with local ministers of each denomination. You can choose not to be contacted.

When the KRMC in-house chaplains visit, you can expect a caring, attentive listener, and respect for your spirituality, faith beliefs, and cultural background. If you would like a visit, please ask your nurse to contact the Spiritual Care Department.

Hospital Chapel
This place for quiet prayer and meditation is located on the first floor and is open to all patients and visitors.

Insurance Contacts
Our Case Managers can help you interact with your insurance company regarding your hospitalization. Any staff member can help refer you to Case Management.

Customer Relations
"Are We Taking Good Care of You Today?" Your opinions are important. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your concerns.

Volunteers
Our Kalispell Regional Medical Center volunteers visit patients daily to water flowers, offer reading material, deliver mail and newspapers, even shampoo and style hair (ask your nurse if you are interested). They greet visitors at our information desk and in our waiting rooms, and contribute thousands of hours of service to the hospital every year. Please contact the Volunteer Office at 752-1781 if you would like to join this great group of people.

Gift Shop
In the main lobby you will find "Simply Yours," our Volunteers' Gift Shop, a great place to purchase flowers, mylar balloons, and other items. Gift Shop proceeds support special hospital projects.

Notary Public
For your convenience there are several notary publics on staff. If you have a document that requires notarization, please contact your nurse.

Social Services
Our social workers are trained in helping patients deal with the social and emotional challenges of a hospital admission and discharge. They offer a wide range of services, including counseling, information and forms for advance medical directives, and even suggestions for overnight accommodations for out-of-town visitors.

Social Service staff will assist you in making the arrangements for your discharge home or your transfer to another facility. This may include in-home nursing or other supportive care that is part of your doctor's follow-up plan as well as home medical equipment (such as walkers or oxygen) that you need. Please contact your nurse to get in touch with a Social Service staff member, or if you have concerns about what you might need after you go home.

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YOUR LEARNING NEEDS

An Environment for Healing
You and your visitors are invited to enjoy the colors and artwork of the Kalispell Regional Medical Center facility. These paintings, photographs, other artwork and decorative touches have been selected specifically to create an environment that supports wellness and healing.

Exhibits and installations can be found in almost any hallway or lobby area, and include works by professional local artists, children, art students, even by some of our own employees, families, and friends. A frequently changing exhibit of artwork can be found in the hallway leading to the cafeteria and Brendan House.

The art displays express KRMC's philosophy that the entire environment plays an important part in the healing process. This environment coordinates all the people who work here to serve you with advanced medical equipment, architecture planned for your safety, decorative colors and textures to bring you pleasure and positive energy, pleasant music, delicious foods prepared for your specific needs, and artwork to stimulate as well as to give you peace.

For further information about the art or artists at KRMC, or for educational references on healing and color theory, please contact Administration.

We believe that meeting your educational needs is as important as meeting your physical needs. Before you leave the hospital, your caregivers will help you understand your medical condition and related treatments, procedures, medications, diet, and equipment. You may receive other information to take home and review.

If you have questions, be sure and let the clinical staff know. They will be glad to provide additional teaching or recommend an accessible educational resources.

A great deal of health information is available on the internet. The websites below are recommended by our Medical Librarian.  Additional resources can be viewed on the KRMC Medical Library's Consumer Health Information page.

medlineplus.gov		cancer.gov
familydoctor.org		health.nih.gov
labtestsonline.org		nlm.nih.gov
caphis.mlanet.org		mlanet.org

You may also choose to contact staff at any of the following locations:

• KRMC Cancer Center Patient Resource Library
• KRMC Medical Library
• North Valley Hospital Community Health Library
• Flathead City-County Health Department
• Flathead County Library
• Flathead High School Library
• Flathead Valley Community College Library

Inpatient & Outpatient Therapies
Your doctor may write orders for you to receive specialty services from physical, occupational, or speech therapists to respond to mobility, self-care, communication, or swallowing problems you may have. Staff will provide treatment and help you understand what is happening and what to expect during the course of therapy.

Hospice and Home Care staff can provide additional support during a patient's recovery, and families benefit from learning how to cope with a patient's serious, prolonged, or terminal illness. Please ask your doctor for more information.

Our social workers have additional information on dedicated resources and support groups throughout the community on diabetes, ostomy, cancer, head trauma, stroke, and other health concerns. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions.

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MEDICATIONS

Your Medication Schedule
Every person is unique, so each patient's medical regimen must be custom-designed for his or her needs. Our Pharmacy Department faces unique challenges when helping medical practitioners determine which medications and dosages are best for you, specifically. Your age, weight, and general health are just a few of the important factors to be considered.

You may be familiar with taking your regular medications at a particular time each day. During your hospital stay, this schedule may be adjusted because of surgery, tests, or because your doctor is changing a medication in your care plan. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have questions.

We understand that patients often feel anxious about starting new medications or changing familiar ones. Patient safety is a primary concern of ours, and teaching you about your medications plays an important part in this. Your nurse can even arrange for a pharmacist to spend time with you.

Food & Drug Interactions
Your doctor may advise you to avoid eating certain foods while taking your medications, or to avoid taking other types of drugs, vitamins, or minerals. If you have any questions about what to avoid or why, contact your doctor, pharmacist, or registered nutritionist.

Medications You take at Home
Many patients are aware of the importance of mentioning which prescription medications they take to their nurse, pharmacist, or doctor. However, you should also let us know what other non-prescription (over the counter) medications you take.

IMPORTANT: for your own safety, consult with your doctor or nurse before using any of your at-home medications or remedies while in the hospital.

Cough syrups, allergy remedies - even some creams contain active ingredients that can interact with your medications. For example, pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen can prolong bleeding time and delay wound healing in those patients who are taking prescription blood thinners.

Herbs, Vitamins, Tobacco or Alcohol
Please tell us about any herbal or natural products you may use regularly, such as gingko biloba, saw palmetto, wild yam cream, or St. John's Wort. These can also interact with traditional medications you may be prescribed. And equally important, do not hesitate to report to your doctor or nurse any other types of stimulants, supplements, occasional-use, or other drugs you take on a regular basis - including oral contraceptives, Viagra, diet pills, alcohol, or tobacco.

About the Pharmacy
The Pharmacy Department at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center is staffed by both baccalaureate and doctoral level pharmacists in addition to support and technical staff. We dispense over 400,000 doses per year while maintaining an exemplary level of accuracy and safety.

We employ the latest technologies and automation to enhance our service to you. We are committed to excellent patient care through patient and family education and high quality, cost-effective medications and pharmaceutical care. Your good health is our priority.

Please let us know how we can help you, so that we may fulfill our mission "to improve the health and comfort of people in Northwest Montana."

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MANAGING PAIN

Your Pain is Unique to You
People feel and react to pain differently. The amount of pain you feel may not be the same as others feel. It may depend on your past experiences and how worried you are about what is causing your pain right now.

Goals for Pain Management
When you are admitted to the hospital your nurse will ask you to rate the pain you are having at that time, and then ask you how much pain you are willing to accept in order to move around in bed, walk, cough, breathe deeply, and sleep. This is called your "goal" for pain management.

EXAMPLE OF A PAIN SCALE USING NUMBERS

Pain Scales
At Kalispell Regional Medical Center, we use a "pain scale" when we talk to you about your pain. The scale will help you explain to a nurse or doctor how you are feeling and the extent of your pain. If you cannot describe your pain to us, we monitor your condition closely for signs that you are uncomfortable.

You use a pain scale to rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10, where a 0 means that you are feeling no pain, and a 10 represents the worst pain you have ever had. You can use any number you think matches how you feel. Your health care team will keep track of how you report your pain to understand if you are doing better or worse.

Understand and Ask Questions
Taking care of your pain is an important part of healing. It is very important for the doctors and nurses to know if the medicine doesn't help or if the pain suddenly changes. Don't worry about being brave or bothering anyone.

Knowing how much pain to expect after a procedure, how long the pain typically lasts, and what kind of medication your doctor is prescribing may help you feel more in control and less afraid. Be sure to ask your doctor or nurse any questions you have.

Pain Control at Home
When it's time for you to leave the hospital, the nurse will talk with you about safe ways to take care of your pain at home. Be sure you understand all of the nurses' instructions before you leave the hospital. Follow the directions, and again, don't be afraid to take the pain medication when you need it. You are welcome to call your doctor, your pharmacists, or the hospital with questions about medication at any time.

The more you take part in your pain management plan, the easier the pain will be to control.

Alternatives to Pain Medication
Along with pain medication, or sometimes in place of medication, there are "complementary therapies" that may be used to treat pain. These therapies include, but are not limited to: massage or touch therapy, application of heat or cold, relaxation techniques, imagery, music distraction, aromatherapy, biofeedback, rest and immobilization.

The nursing staff here at Kalispell Regional Medical Center can help you with some of these therapies, but others may require that you contact a specialist in that area. Please ask your nurse for more information if these therapies interest you.

EXAMPLE OF PAIN SCALE USING PICTURES.

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PREVENTING INFECTIONS

Fight the Flu! This year, ask your doctor if a flu shot (influenza vaccination) is right for you.

Fight the Flu - Prevent Death
Each year over 36,000 people in the US die because of influenza (the "flu") - most are over 65 years old. More people die from the flu than from any other vaccine-preventable disease.

Get a Flu Shot - Prevent Severe Illness
The flu puts about 114,000 people in the hospital each year in the US. Children younger than 2 years old are as likely to be hospitalized as those over 65.
Vaccinate - Protect Other People
People who live with or care for others who are at high risk of serious illness from the flu need a flu shot. They can give the flu to these people if they get the flu themselves.

Prevent the Spread of Infection - What Patients & Visitors Should Know
In a hospital, patients have contact with many health care workers in very close quarters. Health care workers may have contact with people who have an infection and with other people who can become easily infected. Preventing the spread of infections in the hospital is important to help all patients recover quickly and stay as healthy as possible.

Who can get an infection?
Anyone can get an infection, but some people are at a higher risk for infection than others, and some types of procedures or surgeries can increase a patient's risk of infection. In a hospital, it is important to have measures in place to prevent infections to patients, visitors, and hospital staff.

Who is at special risk for infection?

• Newborn babies
• People being treated for cancer
• People on dialysis for acute renal failure
• People who cannot fight infections
• People who have not had vaccinations
• People with diabetes
• People with open sores or cuts
• People with tubes for fluids or medications, like catheters or IV's
• Surgery or organ transplant patients

How does a person get an infection?
Germs don't always cause disease in every person they contact. To cause an infection, the germ (bacteria, virus, fungus, or parasite) must come in contact with a person who is at risk, perhaps because of poor health or other factors. Germs can spread to others in several ways:

• By direct physical contact with another person
• By touching a dirty object (used tissue, faucet, doorknob), and then touching the eyes or nose
• Through the air, from a cough or sneeze
• By eating or drinking foods contaminated with germs

How can you keep from getting an infection or giving an infection to someone else?
Cleanliness, especially keeping your hands clean, is the key to infection prevention and control. Hands have a great many germs on them, and are a major way to pass germs to others. KRMC follows guidelines on hand hygiene from the Centers for Disease Control:

• If hands are visibly soiled, soap and water is used to wash hands thoroughly
• If hands are not visibly soiled, a waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is used
  The best way to prevent the spread of infection is through good hand hygiene.
  

Please use the soap and hand sanitizers that have been placed in convenient locations
throughout the hospital for everyone's use.

What else do KRMC staff do to prevent the spread of infections?
Staff wear gloves to handle all body fluids, and may wear gowns and masks depending on the task or procedure being done. These precautions don't always mean a patient has an infectious disease. In some cases, the patient may be placed in a room that has air exhausted to the outside, and all visitors and family will be asked to wear a special mask. If you see any signage on a patient door, please check with the nurse before visiting.

What else can you do to prevent the spread of infections in a hospital?

• Dispose of used tissues immediately.
• Don't share glassware, silverware, towels, or cosmetics with a patient.
• Sanitize your hands before and after visiting a patient.
• Don't visit the hospital if you are ill.
• Learn the early signs of infection (redness, swelling, fever) and be alert for them.
  

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SAFETY & PREVENTING FALLS

During your stay, please help us maintain a safe environment for you and your visitors by taking note of the following safety guidelines. Report any safety concerns you notice to our staff. Here are some general guidelines:

Cell Phones
To avoid any risk of cell phones causing problems with medical equipment (pumps, monitors, etc.), we ask that all visitors' cell phones be turned off inside the hospital and only used outside the building.

Smoking
Smoking is not allowed on the hospital campus. If you must smoke, please stay at least 50 feet from the building to prevent smoke from entering through doorways.

Balloons (Latex)
The material used to make ordinary balloons can cause serious health problems for some people. Therefore, we do not allow latex (rubber) balloons to be brought to patients. Mylar balloons are considered a safer alternative.

Staff Identification Badges
Our policies require all staff to wear a photo ID badge identifying their name and position. Please do not hesitate to ask any staff member for their identification.

Patient Identification Wristbands
Your wristband helps staff know to whom they are giving medications or treatment. This is an important part of patient safety. Please do not take off your wristband or be offended if staff ask to look at it.

Speak Up! Campaign
Kalispell Regional Medical Center urges patients to take a role in their health care. Research shows that patients who take part in decisions about their health care are more likely to have better outcomes. The "Speak Up!" campaign involves both patient safety and patient education. At Kalispell Regional Medical Center, we encourage you to "Speak Up" if you have questions or concerns about your diagnosis, hospital care, medications, tests, and treatments. If you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know. Consider asking a trusted family member or friend to help you if you are uncomfortable asking for information or voicing concerns. Remember, you are the center of your health care team. Participate in all decisions about your treatment.

Fall Prevention Guidelines for Patients & Families
Accidental falls may occur in the hospital. The KRMC staff is committed to working with patients and family to reduce the risk of falls. Please speak with a staff member about the guidelines below or about specific safety concerns you may have.

By following certain safety guidelines, you, your family, and friends can help reduce the risk of falling. Our health care team of nurses, doctors, physical therapists, and assistants are here to assist you in a safe and speedy recovery. Your participation and cooperation with this program is an important part of patient safety.

Why Falls Happen
Falls may occur in the hospital because:

• You may become dizzy and disoriented from medications (sleeping tablets, pain relievers, blood pressure pills or diuretics).
• You may become weak and unsteady from your illness, enemas, laxatives, long periods without food, or tests your physician has ordered.
• The hospital may seem foreign and unfamiliar to you, especially when you wake up at night.

A Special Note for Family and Friends
For some patients, constant companionship can lower the risk of a fall. However, since staff cannot remain at one patient's bedside, arrangements may be made for a family member, private-duty nurse, or sitter to stay nearby. Ask the nursing staff if there are specific times (for example: at sundown, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.) when the patient might find your companionship most comforting.

Safety Guidelines for Preventing Falls

• Always follow your physician's orders and the nurses' instructions regarding whether you must stay in bed or require assistance to go to the bathroom.
• Use your call light to ask for assistance. Ask for help if you feel dizzy or weak getting out of bed or out of the bathroom.
• Remain lying or seated while waiting for assistance. Please be patient. Someone will respond as promptly as possible.
• If you must get up without waiting for help, sit for a moment before standing. Then rise carefully and walk slowly.
• Wear rubber-soled or crepe-sole slippers or shoes whenever you walk in the hospital.
• Do not lean or support yourself on your bedside table or IV poles, as they may roll.
• Side rails and alarms are used as a reminder to stay in bed and are designed to ensure your safety. Do not tamper with alarms or reminder devices.

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PATIENT RIGHTS & ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS

Patient Bill of Rights & Responsibilities
During the admission process, patients are given a copy of the "KRMC Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities" along with other admission papers. This document presents a condensed listing of patient rights and responsibilities from Administrative Policy A401, Patient Rights & Responsibilities. It is very important that you understand this information. Please ask if you have any questions or need any part of the information explained to you.  To review a complete and current copy of this policy, contact Quality Management Services, (406) 752-1774.

At Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the patient's rights include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Considerate and respectful care.
2. Spiritual care sensitive to patient's and family's religious and cultural traditions and values.
3. Confidentiality and access to the patient's medical record.
4. Privacy and safety.
5. The hospital's reasonable response to their request/need for care. The right to refuse treatment.
6. Collaborate with their physician to make informed decisions regarding their plan of care.
7. Implementation of an advanced directive, or to have the next of kin, guardian, or legal designee to exercise these rights within legal limits if the patient is unable to do so.
8. Information on any medical research being done at KRMC that might affect his/her treatment.
9. An environment free of restraints or seclusion except when absolutely medically necessary.
10. Access to protective services.
11. Appropriate assessment and management of pain.
12. Additional information regarding patient rights policies and the complaint/grievance mechanism, including information on how to contact government regulatory agencies directly. For current addresses and phone numbers of JCAHO, the Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation, or Medicare, please contact Customer Relations at (406) 751-5434. For this and other issues regarding the Organizational Code of Ethics, Billing Regulations, and Government Regulatory Agencies, you may also contact the Compliance Office at (406) 752-1774.

Patient responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the responsibility for:

1. Following the institution's rules and regulations.
2. Providing accurate and complete information regarding identity, complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, unexpected changes in condition, etc. to the treating practitioner.
3. Making it known whether they clearly understand the contemplated course of action and what is expected of them.
4. Following the plan of care recommended by the practitioner. This includes following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel.
5. Consequences if they refuse treatment or do not follow the practitioner's instructions.
6. Keeping appointments, and when unable to do so, notifying the responsible practitioner or health care facility.
7. Being considerate of the rights of others, including health care personnel.
8. Assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors in the room.
9. Being respectful of the property of other persons and of the health care facility.
10. Providing a copy of Advance Directives if applicable.
    

Organizational Ethics
Northwest Healthcare has established this organizational code of ethics in recognition of our ethical responsibility to patients, families, staff, physicians, and the community we serve. Reflective of our mission and values, this code provides the ethical foundation for all policies, procedures, and activities within the organization.

• It is the expectation of Northwest Healthcare that all employees, authorized representatives, volunteers and agents of Northwest Healthcare will incorporate this Code of Ethics into their everyday performance. As part of this responsibility, an investigation and appropriate action will be taken on any report of violation of this code.
• We will treat each individual with the basic dignity and respect due all human beings. All persons are entitled to an environment that is free of verbal, physical and sexual harassment.
• We will provide a high quality of care to all persons without discrimination and regardless of ability to pay.
• We will respect and value divergent cultures, backgrounds, religions and heritage.
• Patients will be involved in all decisions regarding their care and informed of therapeutic alternatives and risks associated with care to the extent possible. All admissions, transfers and discharges must be made with this responsibility in mind, provided that they are medically appropriate and legally permissible.
• We will honor the request of staff through following our policy on Managing Staff Requests to not participate in care they consider objectionable.
• We will value the unique experience and perspective of individuals we serve.
• We will provide service congruent with our customers' needs, goals and desires and avoid provision of service, which is unnecessary, ineffective or unwanted.
• We will respond to patients or residents who need protective services and assist in accessing the appropriate intervention.
• We will deal honestly with internal and external clients, suppliers, competitors and financial partners. This obligation includes educational institutions, as well as all other health care providers and payors.
• We will fairly and accurately represent ourselves and our capabilities in our marketing endeavors. Senior management will review the content of all collateral materials, educational materials and media advertising to verify the accuracy of the description of care and services, licensure and accreditation. Care and services include those provided directly by the organization and services provided through agreements with third parties.
• When necessary, legal counsel will be consulted for verification of appropriateness and accuracy.
• We will maintain strict confidentiality regarding all patient information and related issues. Sharing of information among staff will be done in the patient's best interest.
• We will seek to resolve any conflict fairly and objectively and will provide adequate mechanisms for customers to resolve conflicts with us.
• We will obey all relevant laws, regulations and published codes.
• Our staff and physicians will maintain the highest essential qualifications and credentials for their respective professions.
• We will bill for services accurately and only for those services rendered. We will provide our customers with an itemized bill including dates of services. If our customers have a question about a charge, we will make every attempt to review and resolve the issue quickly.
• We will seek to avoid any conflict of interest in our business endeavors within the organizations or between the organization and the community; especially conflicts which may impede patient care. Furthermore, we will provide mechanisms by which to address conflicts of interest, which inadvertently arise.

 

Advance Directives/Living Will
Also known as a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney (DPoA) for Health Care, these documents allow you to choose the medical care you want at the end of life, or designate the person you want to make those choices for you. Talking with your doctor, family, and friends and putting your decisions in writing is important. We can give you or your family members information on advance directives, and help you obtain these documents if you don't already have them. If you already have a Living Will or DPoA, please bring it with you to the hospital and have a copy placed in your record.

Medical Ethics
Health care decisions can be complex, especially when a patient is in critical condition. If you are troubled by any decisions in your medical care or that of a family member, you may talk to a member of our Medical Ethics Committee, which is made up of doctors, chaplains, social workers, nursing staff, and administrators.

Confidentiality
Kalispell Regional Medical Center has always recognized its duty and obligation to provide services to the community in a professional and confidential manner. Even with today's rapid expansion of computerized medical records, KRMC meets the challenge of balancing patients' need to have their information handled confidentially with our health care team's need to give provide efficient, effective care based on accurate information.

KRMC trains staff and volunteers annually on confidentiality and related issues. We request authorization to release confidential medical records for purposes other than your treatment. We provide information to the local media and clergy on a "need to know" basis. We offer families a confidential status option, where no information beyond required releases will be provided to anyone.

KRMC's policies and procedures are compliant with federal privacy regulations. If you have questions about the confidentiality of your medical records, please contact the Privacy Officer in the Health Information Management office.

Our Mission
"To improve the health and comfort of people in Northwest Montana."

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KALISPELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER & NORTHWEST HEALTHCARE

A Brief History
The Sisters of Mercy opened the first Kalispell General Hospital in 1912, and continued ownership and operation until 1973. A new and larger building, called Kalispell Regional Hospital, opened on Buffalo Hill in 1976. Over the years, patient services and outpatient programs of both hospital and parent corporation Northwest Healthcare have continued to expand: ALERT (1975), the Intensive Care Unit (1981), Brendan House (1985), "The New Addition" (1987), Inpatient Rehab (1989), Pathways Treatment Center (1993), The Summit (1996), and Cardiac Surgery (2001). Now called Kalispell Regional Medical Center, we offer a full continuum of services and employ more than 1,300 nurses, technicians, housekeepers, therapists, receptionists, nutritionists, file clerks, coders, and other clinical, maintenance, and administrative staff throughout more than 100 departments and programs. More information on our history and programs can be found by clicking here.

Northwest Healthcare Foundation
Sustaining our commitment to providing excellence in medical and patient care, the Foundation raises funds for the long-term health of our community hospital. Donations can be designated to restricted funds, like heart care, cancer care, or diabetic care, as well as gifts to our general fund, and allow community members to support a medical facility that is always prepared to respond to their health care needs. Please contact our Foundation Office for current information on philanthropy programs.

ALERT
The Advanced Life Support Emergency Rescue Team (ALERT) provides rapid access to medical care via helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft for Northwestern Montana. ALERT is a cooperative venture between a community-based Board of Directors and KRMC. It receives funding through fees, donations, insurance, United Way, and other fundraising.

Big Sky Family Medicine
This is a family practice clinic located in Kalispell. Services include urgent care, family care, sports physicals, and obstetrics.

Birthing Center -The New Addition
Our progressive, modern birthing center offers state-of-the-art maternity care in a home-like setting. Special features include: fully furnished birthing rooms, jetted whirlpool tubs for labor and post-partum use, and a high-risk newborn nursery. The New Addition also offers a variety of childbirth preparation and infant care classes for parents, grandparents, and siblings.

Cardiac Services
Open-heart (bypass) surgery, angiography, and angioplasty are services provided by KRMC in collaboration with the International Heart Institute of Missoula and St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula. Both diagnostic and interventional procedures are performed in our catheterization lab.

Diabetes Self-Management Education
Consultations on managing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, nutritional meal planning, exercise, monitoring blood glucose, emotional adjustments, and the prevention of acute and long-term complications are provided in both group and individual training sessions from our professional staff.

Eureka Prompt Care
Our urgent care clinic in Eureka, provides a full scope of family health care on a daily basis. In addition to being an urgent care clinic, appointments may be made with the providers. Specialty physicians and nurse-midwives rotate through the clinic on an appointment-only basis.

Home Options
Home care teams provide a full range of health care and social services to the patient and his/her family in the familiar and comforting surroundings of home. There are three programs at Home Options: Home Health, Hospice, and Private Care.

Inpatient Rehabilitation
Our program addresses the needs of hospital patients recovering physical, neurological, and functional skills affected by injuries or illnesses. A multi-disciplinary team provides care, therapy (physical, occupational, recreational, and speech), and planning for continued rehabilitation after discharge.

Pathways Treatment Center
We offer an integrated program of emergency, inpatient, and day patient services to adults and adolescents for psychiatric and/or chemical dependency treatment. Educational and preventative behavioral health services are also a feature of our community service focus.

Orthopedic Center of Excellence
In this partnership with the Flathead Valley Orthopedic Clinic, patients undergoing treatments or surgeries (such as a knee replacement) receive advance education on their treatment plan, are cared for by nurses with specialized training, and follow a self-directed pathway during their inpatient stay.

Radiation Oncology
This department provides state-of-the-art treatment for cancer, utilizing both external beam radiation with computerized three-dimensional planning and brachytherapy - placement of radioactive implants or seeds.

Turtle Bay
This partial hospitalization program serves children and adolescents with emotional disturbances from Flathead and Lake Counties, and the Flathead Indian Reservation.

The following programs are offered by Northwest Healthcare, the parent company of Ka1ispell Regional Medical Center. Together our programs cooperate to improve the health and comfort of people in Northwest Montana.

Brendan House
In a home-like setting, Brendan House offers the highest level of skilled nursing and rehabilitative services. A comprehensive team approach is used in dealing with the individual needs of each resident. Comfort Care rooms, adult day care, outpatient bathing, insurance billing, and Patient Trust Accounts are also available.

Kalispell Medical Equipment (KME)
"We Make Homecomings Possible." KME is a respiratory and durable medical equipment supplier. We serve residents of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders Counties, delivering products and services to the home and offering 24-hour emergency service.

Medical Office Management Services (MOMS)
This business provides management and billing services to physician clinics in the Flathead Valley. Services include education, administration, billing, and collection.

Northwest Behavioral Health
Our program offers children and adolescents school-based mental health services in schools throughout Flathead County.

The Summit
"The Community Center for Health Promotion and Fitness"
is an 84,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art wellness facility. Services of Kalispell Regional Medical Center at The Summit include Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab, Occupational Health and Wellness, Outpatient Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapies, and Community Health Education.

And in partnership with the Flathead Outpatient Surgical Center and Northwest Imaging, and community physicians,
we are pleased to offer the services of:

HEALTHCENTER NORTHWEST
At this short-stay surgical and diagnostic imaging center patients can choose to schedule outpatient surgeries, short stay inpatient procedures, and imaging procedures at this facility. The same physicians who have served Flathead Outpatient Surgical Center (FOPSC) and Northwest Imaging are those now serving HealthCenter Northwest. This facility is the product of a collaboration between Flathead Outpatient Surgical Center, Northwest Imaging, and Northwest Healthcare.

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