During Your Stay

Chapel

The interfaith Murray-Heilig Chapel is available for meditation, prayer, and reflection at all times. It is located on the M-level in University Tower at UConn John Dempsey Hospital.

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is also referred to as “spiritual care.” Chaplains care for all people, respecting their diverse cultures, identities, abilities, and religious beliefs. As unique members of the health care team, chaplains offer spiritual and emotional support, prayer, and pastoral counseling for patients and families. They are available to people of all faiths and those not connected to an organized religion. Patients may request a visit by a minister, rabbi, or priest for sacraments or other ministry. Roman Catholic Eucharistic Ministers administer Holy Communion regularly.

Requesting Chaplaincy Services

A hospital chaplain is typically available in the hospital Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hospital staff can call the chaplain directly or contact them through the operators. For help in an emergency or outside regular business hours, please talk to a staff member, and they will make the request through the operators for you.

Chaplain Office: 860-679-3230

Gratuities

We must graciously decline gratuities of any kind. Contributions to the UConn John Dempsey Hospital or UConn Health may be made by contacting the Foundation at 860-679-1122.

Interpreter Services

UConn Health and its affiliates, including UConn John Dempsey Hospital and UConn Medical Group, provide equal access to all persons, including those who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP), those who are deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired or have special communication needs.

To make sure everyone is understood, we provide sign language and oral interpretation, video phones, assisted listening devices, and other auxiliary aids; plus translation of written materials. All services are free of charge to patients and companions who are deaf, LEP, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities. Interpreters are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You have the right to an interpreter. Please tell our staff if you require help, or call 860-679-2626 and we will arrange it for you.

UConn Health does not discriminate on the basis of any protected class including disability, ancestry or national origin. If you would like to file a complaint, please contact the UConn Health ADA Coordinator through the Office of Institutional Equity, 860-679-3563 or email equity@uchc.edu.

Los servicios de asistencia de idiomas.

UConn Health y sus afiliadas, incluyendo UConn John Dempsey Hospital y UConn Medical Group, brindan acceso equitativo a todas las personas, incluyendo a aquellas que tienen dominio limitado de inglés (LEP, por sus siglas en inglés), aquellas con sordera, dificultad para escuchar, discapacidad visual o tienen necesidades especiales de comunicación.

Para asegurarnos de que todos sean entendidos, brindamos el servicio de lenguaje de señas e interpretación oral, teléfonos con video, dispositivos de audición asistida y otros dispositivos auxiliares de ayuda; además de traducción de material escrito. Todos los servicios son gratuitos para los pacientes y acompañantes que tengan discapacidad auditiva, dominio limitado del inglés, dificultad auditiva o tengan discapacidad del habla. Intérpretes disponibles las 24 horas al día, los 7 días de la semana.

Usted tiene derecho a un intérprete. Favor de comunicarse con nuestro personal en caso de necesitar ayuda, o llame al 860-679-2626 y nosotros se lo tramitaremos.

UConn Health no discrimina sobre la base de alguna clase protegida incluyendo discapacidad, descendencia u origen nacional. Si usted desea presentar una queja, sírvase llamar al Coordinador ADA (Ley de Ciudadanos Americanos con Discapacidades) de UConn Health a través de La Oficina de Equidad Institucional al 860-679-3563 o envíe un correo electrónico a equity@uchc.edu.

Mail and Flowers

Volunteers deliver mail and flowers daily. If mail is received after you have been discharged, it will be forwarded to your home. If you have mail to be sent, you can call the Hospital Information Desk and request a volunteer to pick it up. Mailboxes are located directly outside the Main Building and Academic entrances to UConn Health.

Nutrition Services

We are pleased to offer At Your Request-Room Service Dining for our patients. This innovative dining program allows you to select meals from a wide variety of foods designed to enhance your experience as though you were eating at your favorite restaurant. We offer weekly food specials and guest trays for visiting guests and family members. Vouchers are purchased in the cafeteria. The Food & Nutrition department will make every effort to accommodate your religious, ethnic or personal dietary needs.

Patient Education

UConn Health providers have chosen the Elsevier patient education content database as a resource for your reference. It’s accessible online at any time, and information specific to you will be available through the MyChart patient portal, the electronic medical record system at UConn Health. The information you find in Elsevier is available in multiple languages and is regularly reviewed and updated based on the most current evidence-based findings in renowned medical journals throughout the world.

Patient Relations Department

We would like to resolve any concern you might have as soon as possible. Please first discuss it with the staff on the unit; you may also request to speak to the nurse in charge, assistant manager or manager.

The Patient Relations Department helps patients seek solutions to problems, concerns, and unmet needs. A patient representative will assist you whenever possible, to interpret the hospital's philosophy, policies, procedures, and services for you, as well as your family and visitors; and serve as your resource for information regarding patient rights and responsibilities. The patient representative can be reached weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. by calling extension 3176. Should your need arise after 4:30 p.m. or on a weekend or holiday, your nurse will contact the appropriate persons for you.

Complaint: any concern received (verbally or in writing) that can be resolved by the staff present

Grievance: any concern received (verbally or in writing) that cannot be resolved by the staff present

If you would like to provide feedback or have a complaint or grievance that is not urgent, a letter or note is welcomed.

If you file a grievance, please be assured that it is taken seriously. The Department of Patient Relations investigates all grievances received from patients or an acceptable patient designee. Upon receipt of a grievance, a letter is sent to the author acknowledging receipt and that a review is underway. The appropriate managers and staff will be involved in the review. Upon completion of the review, a letter is sent to the author detailing the results of the review.

You may also choose to contact one of the following agencies:

Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone: 860-509-7400
TDD: 860-509-7191

KEPRO
5201 Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 900
Tampa, Florida 33609
Phone: 1-844-455-8708
TTY: 855-843-4776

The Joint Commission
Office of Quality Monitoring
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: 1-800-994-6610
Email: complaint@jointcommission.org
Website: jointcommission.org

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: 1-800-368-1019
TDD: 800-537-7697

Social Work Services

Many patients may experience a normal emotional reaction to being in a hospital environment. For other patients, illness and hospitalization may create or worsen such serious problems as family or marital conflicts, financial needs, substance abuse disorders, need for placement other than home, parenting difficulties, psychological reactions, or work-related issues. Our licensed, master’s prepared social workers are skilled in helping you find solutions to any of these problems, which may interfere with your recovery or your lifestyle.

Special Accommodations

UConn Health is committed to ensuring the full participation of persons with disabilities in programs and activities by providing necessary auxiliary aids and services free of charge.

Wireless Technology

UConn Health provides free guest Wi-Fi service via our wireless network. “UCHC-GUEST” will allow patients and visitors to access the Internet with their own electronic device. If you require assistance connecting, please ask for the one-page instruction sheet to help you log on.