We strive to provide the best experience for patients during their hospital stay, and will make every effort to ensure that you are comfortable and well-cared throughout your stay.
What to bring
For your comfort, you may want to bring a few personal items such as slippers, a nightgown or pajamas, a bathrobe, and personal toilet articles. Frisbie Memorial Hospital is not responsible for items that are not secured in the hospital’s safe, such as cash, jewelry, electronic devices or other valuables.
When you arrive
Except in an emergency situation, your admission to the hospital will be scheduled by your personal physician. Please enter the at the main hospital entrance on the ground level and ask for Patient Access, which is located in the lobby on the First Floor.
A Patient Access representative will ask for certain information required for your patient record. Please be assured that this information will be kept in the strictest confidence and will be carefully preserved as part of your medical record. In order to avoid delays, we ask that you bring your insurance card, a photo ID, and any other information relating to your health insurance.
Patient rights and responsibilities
As a Frisbie Memorial Hospital patient, you have the right to expect considerate and respectful care. This care will be administered to the very best of our ability. In providing this care, we, in turn, expect reasonable and responsible behavior on the parts of patients, their relatives and friends. Please visit the Patient Rights and Responsibilities page for more information.
Advance care planning
You have a right to make decisions regarding the medical treatment you receive while in the hospital. However, there may be circumstances that prevent you from making these decisions by yourself. For these situations, Advance Directives are available under federal and state laws. It is important to understand and plan your Advance Directive before the day of your surgery. Since it is normal for patients to experience stress before a procedure, it is not our practice to have patients complete Advance Directives the morning of surgery. For more information, visit the Advance Care Planning page.
Wireless internet access and cellular phones
Wireless Internet access is available to patients and visitors. Guest wireless allows patients and visitors to connect a laptop or other device with wireless capability for a designated period of time. Temporary wireless access requires a user name and password, which can be obtained by calling in to a hospital phone extension.
We recognize the value of cellular phones and other wireless devices as important communication tools. For patients, cell phones are allowed in patient rooms. Cell phone use for visitors is permitted in the main entrance lobby on the ground floor and patient waiting areas.
Your room
Patient rooms are designed for privacy and comfort with 80% of patient beds being private to provide more space and comfort for patients and their families.
Assistive services and devices for the deaf and hard of hearing
We are committed to providing meaningful and equal access to medical services and programs by facilitating communication of essential information to all of our patients and/or companions in a language or manner they understand. Every effort will be made to provide an assistive service, aide, or device in a timely manner. These services will be provided on a 24-hour basis and will be provided free of charge. Learn more about available devices and services here.
Smoking policy: smoke-free campus
Frisbie Memorial Hospital maintains a smoke-free campus consistent with federal and state laws. Frisbie recognizes the health and safety risks of smoking and its responsibility to provide leadership and guidance in health promotion and provision of a safe and healthy environment for employees, patients, and visitors.
Smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and chewing tobacco by all employees, patients, and visitors is prohibited in all areas of Frisbie and its medical practices including grounds, parking lots, and walkways.
The patient channel video and print library
As a patient of Frisbie Memorial Hospital, we want you to have the information you need to manage your care. Our goal is to educate our patients, families, and caregivers to promote overall wellness and recovery during your stay with us and at home.
Our patient education library provides easy-to-understand programming on a variety of topics and is available 24 hours a day and on any device with a wireless Internet connection.
Major topic areas include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Diabetes
- Hip and knee replacement
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Health lifestyles
- Medication management and more!
We encourage you to access our patient education library located on the The Patient Channel site (password: 01058).
Inpatient units and visitation
Coronary and intensive care
The Behre Coronary and Intensive Care Unit provides a closely-monitored environment for patients with acute-care needs. The unit includes private rooms, all of which provide high-tech cardiac monitoring and are dialysis capable.
The unit provides comprehensive care for critically ill adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Experienced ICU nurses have undergone advanced training in caring for patients critically ill with cardiac, pulmonary and vascular conditions and from surgery. Nurses have advanced training in interpreting and responding to changes in a patient’s condition. The team of health care professionals plan, direct and continually evaluate the care and progress of every patient.
Visiting hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm.
Special circumstance visitation: Depending upon the special needs of the patient, and as the patient’s condition allows, visitation can be made available for immediate family members 24 hours a day (preferably two persons for five minutes each hour). Generally, children under 12 years of age are not permitted within the ICU.
Spaulding
The 24-bed Spaulding Unit is where patients that are recovering from surgery and are not critically ill receive care. The team of hospitalists, nurses, licensed nursing assistants, and unit coordinators work collaboratively with respiratory care therapists, dietitians, physical and occupational therapists and case managers to provide specialized and individualized care.
Visiting hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm daily.
Women and children’s health
The Gustafson Center for Women and Children’s Health birthing unit is designed for comfort and privacy for new moms and their newborns. Each post partum room is furnished with a double bed, and most with a trundle bed, to accommodate an overnight guest. Each room features a television and private bath.
Visiting hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm.
Geriatric psychiatry
The Geriatric Psychiatry medical team is multidisciplinary and comprised of geriatric psychiatrists, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers specially trained to care for patients age 65 years and older with round-the-clock care for patients diagnosed with mental and behavioral health issues, such as dementia, depression and other forms of mental illness.
Visiting hours: Weekdays from 2pm - 4pm and weekends from 1pm - 8pm. However, depending upon the special needs of patients or their families, exceptions can be made.
Meals
As part of your care and under the direction of the patient’s doctor and registered dietitian, meals are planned and prepared based upon the specific needs of each patient. Meals are delivered to the patient’s room on a set schedule. Please inquire with the nursing staff for scheduled delivery times.
Guest meal trays are available to a visiting family member if they would like to join you.
Cafe
Visitors may dine in the Café during the following hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30am - 7pm and on weekends and holidays, 7:00am - 6:30pm.
Spiritual care
Spiritual Care is available to patients and their families. Ministers and lay clergy routinely visit and are available upon request. To request a visit, please notify a member of the nursing staff.
Resource center
The Resource Center provides to patients and visitors a library of credible information about health conditions and community resources. The Resource Center is open Mon – Fri: 9am - 5pm and on weekends, 9am - 1pm.
Going home
Your physician will write the necessary discharge orders when it is appropriate for you to leave the hospital. A physician or nurse will provide instructions for your recuperation at home and follow-up requirements, if necessary. If you do not fully understand these instructions, please be sure to ask for clarification or for more information.
Filing a patient concern
Patient concerns may be filed in the following ways:
Filing a concern during your hospital stay
you may speak directly with the department manager or designee.
In writing
If you prefer to write a letter, please address it to:
Risk Management Department
11 Whitehall Road
Rochester, NH 03867
Patient Concern Line
You may call Frisbie’s Patient Concern Line at (603) 602-5939. Your call will be answered the next business day. All inpatient messages will be referred to the department manager for follow-up and resolution.
If we are unable to immediately address your concern, we will respond to you in writing within 7 days of receiving the complaint. When resolution cannot be achieved within the 7-day timeframe, you will receive a second letter that addresses your concern. To assure that we have exhausted all reasonable efforts to address your complaint, your file will remain open for an additional 30 days beyond the date of the resolution letter in order to accommodate any further inquiries.
Patient/Family concerns may also be addressed to:
NH Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Program Support
Bureau of Health Facilities Administration
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
(800) 852-3345 x 4592 or (603) 271-4592
TDD Access (800) 735-2964