Planning Your Visit

If You Are Being Admitted for Medical (Non-Surgical) Treatment

If your hospitalization was scheduled in advance, your physician will notify you of your admission date and time to arrive at the medical center. Upon arrival, please proceed to the admissions office on the ground floor to prepare your room/bed reservation and to specify class of admission based on your financial coverage. Depending on your financial coverage, the admitting office may need to obtain approval from your insurance company or public guarantor before admitting you to the room. An admitting coordinator will assist and review your insurance/financial benefits and will let you know if any payment is due at the time of your admission. In some cases, a deposit is required to be paid prior to admission which will be automatically be deducted from the your bill upon discharge.

Some of the personal items you will need during your stay might include: sleepwear, undergarments, towels, toothbrush, hairbrush, and shaving tools. In addition to your personal items, please note that you will be required to bring the following documents on the day of admission:

• Your health card from Labib Medical Center, which includes your ID number (if you were provided one during a prior visit)

• Your personal identification card

• The admission form, completed and signed by your physician

• Your health insurance card or approval from your insurer that ensures you are covered for the needed services (does not apply to those paying out of pocket)

We advise that you refrain from bringing any valuable items to the hospital (expensive jewelry, excess cash). The hospital is not responsible for any lost or stolen personal items.

If You Are Being Admitted for Surgery

If your doctor determines that you need to have surgery at LMC, he/she will refer you to the pre-admission coordinator who will coordinate the process leading up to your surgery. This includes obtaining the necessary approval from your insurance provider/guarantor, ensuring financial clearance is obtained, and ensuring that the necessary supplies and materials needed for your surgery have been secured. Your pre-admission coordinator will then direct you through the pre-op process and will obtain medical clearance for surgery.

For your pre-op visit (which normally takes 3-4hrs), we ask that you come to the hospital to complete any medical examination needed and to consult with your anesthesiologist and cardiologist at least one day before the date of your admission. You will be scheduled for an appointment at our pre-op clinic to ensure your readiness for surgery and anesthesia. These appointments are scheduled from 7:30-13:00, Monday through Saturday. We ask that you arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment to begin the registration process at the admissions office, located in the lobby on the ground floor of LMC.

During your pre-op assessment, we create a personalized plan for a smooth surgery and recovery, and you be assessed by a physician and/or nurse prior to the day of surgery. The nurse will review your medical history and provide you with instructions on how to manage your medications and to get prepared for your operation the next day. If your surgeon requests that laboratory or other diagnostic tests be performed prior to surgery, the required tests should be done and seen during your appointment by specialized physicians (cardiologist, anesthesiologist, internal medicine physician, etc.). If you have any concerns about the process, it's important that you raise them with your anesthesiologist during this visit.

For Emergency Cases

Our emergency department ensures services around the clock and is headed by ER physicians. When you arrive, you will be greeted by our medical professionals who will determine the severity of your illness or injury. This is called the “triage area”. The purpose of triage is to prioritize incoming patients and to identify those who cannot wait to be seen. The triage nurse performs a brief, focused assessment and assigns the patient a triage acuity level, which is a proxy measure of how long an individual patient can safely wait for a medical screening examination and treatment. At LMC, we strive to get every patient taken care of as quickly as possible. However, there are times when those with more serious emergencies must be cared for first. If you are required to wait, please rest assured that we are doing everything possible to get you to a patient care area and evaluated by a physician as quickly as possible.

Please note that the expected waiting time at the Emergency department is around 2-3 hours. If admission is necessitated, a family member is asked to head to the admission office and complete the admission paperwork, providing any needed documentation mentioned above.  When being admitted to the hospital through the emergency department, you can place your valuable belongings in the safety box that is located on each floor.

If you were not completely satisfied with the quality of care you received in the ER, please feel free to submit a written/oral complaint to our quality department about your concerns, complaints and issues through our contact page. We are here to assist patients and families to ensure that their experience with LMC is a positive one.

During Your Stay at LMC

Patient Rooms

LMC has both private and semi-private rooms. Room assignments are based on your financial coverage. The room types include the following:

• A suite that includes a private room, sitting area and personal bathroom

• A private room with a personal bathroom

• A double room with two beds and a dedicated bathroom inside

The rooms are prepared to meet the needs for comfort of the patients, their families, and visitors. All rooms come equipped with the following:

• Cooling/heating systems and a television

• A telephone line. To make an external call, dial 0

• Wifi service upon request

It is important to know that all external call fees and Wifi fees will be charged and to be paid upon discharge. Additionally, if you would like a family member to stay in your room overnight, they are permitted to do so upon giving notice to the head nurse.

Your Healthcare Team

Attending Physician and Medical Team

Our medical team is very well known in the quality service it provides. The team consists of a group of experienced and competent physicians which includes: your attending physician or surgeon, anesthesiologists, medical laboratory doctors, radiologists, internal medicine physicians and hospitalists. Your attending physician is ultimately in charge of your care and is responsible for all decisions taken in your management. Based on your condition, your attending physician may consult other physicians to be involved in your care. Your condition, recovery and length of stay all play a role in determining who your attending physician will be.

Nursing Team

The nursing team is composed of qualified nurses who have been recruited based on high set of standards and qualifications and complete periodic trainings throughout the year. This team consists of:

• Nurse manager responsible for the nurses in that given department

• Registered nurses: a team of highly educated and trained nurses who are always prepared to provide quality healthcare. This team is dedicated daily to take care of you and follow up on the status of your health and ensuring you are receiving your medications at the necessary time. Nurses play a vital and key role connecting the patient with the entire healthcare team. They are responsible for communicating your progress to the physicians and simultaneously explaining to the patient what the treatment process consists of while carrying out the actual care

• Nursing assistants: dedicated to making sure the patient is comfortable and satisfied by taking care of the patient's personal hygiene, recording vitals, serving meals and all other areas related to your comfort

Nutrition/Dietary Team

A team of dieticians and the food services department work together to ensure you are provided with healthy and well-portioned meals that are most suitable for your health needs. You can ask our clinical dieticians for advice and tips on what foods are most appropriate for your condition.

Meals are served at:

• Breakfast: 7:30 am

• Lunch: 12:30 pm

• Dinner: 05:30 pm

If the patient is required to be fasting in order to complete a test or an image, their meal will be served immediately after they are permitted to eat.

Other Team Members

Depending on your condition, you may interact with a wide range of healthcare workers who are dedicated to your health care. From radiologists to pharmacists to physiotherapists to general services staff (maintenance, housekeepers, laundry); every staff member you encounter makes a caring contribution to your hospital experience. Please note that all hospital staff must wear an identification badge that includes their name, picture and department.

Visitors Policy

Visitors are welcome at LMC, but are asked to keep visits brief. Visiting hours generally are between 08:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 08:00 pm, but may be more limited in critical care units. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted in patient areas. Friends and family who have coughs, colds, or visible symptoms of contagious illnesses should not visit until they are well. We also ask that visitors help us create a quiet, peaceful environment by setting your cell phone to vibrate.

Our Smoke-Free Environment

LMC is a smoke-free building. Our knowledge about the hazards of smoking has led us to set the highest standard in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our patients and employees. As a result, LMC has dedicated designated outdoor smoking areas adjacent to the parking for people who wish to smoke.

Cafeteria

The cafeteria is located on the ground floor of the building and offers light-fair food and hot/cold beverages. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am - 7:00 pm and from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm on Sundays.

Parking

Our parking lot is located in front of the medical center and is open for patients and visitors from 7:00 am - 9:00 pm. We ask that you park in our convenient visitors parking and not in the middle of the street.  Please ensure that your vehicle is locked and secured once you have parked. LMC is not responsible for any lost or stolen items from your vehicle.

For Your Health and Safety

In order to protect the health and safety of all, we ask that all patients, visitors and employees be mindful of the following:

• Not to use cellular mobiles in the intensive care units and procedure rooms because they may cause a disruption in the functionality of the electronic devices used to monitor patients

• Avoid using any devices that require an electric outlet as they pose a threat to the health and safety of all by causing a fire

Security personnel can be found at the entrances and exits of the hospital in order to ensure your safety. Please cooperate with them if they ask to search your belongings

Discharge Policies and Procedures

Upon Discharge from LMC

Your physician should inform you of the date of your discharge one day prior to your discharge. Complete and thorough instructions will be given to you prior to discharge, but please don't hesitate to ask for any clarifications, especially if related to the following:

• Precautions to take at home

• Medications and treatments needed

• Follow-up visits needed or other health concerns

After the physician decides that you are ready to be discharged, your medical file will be closed and sent to the patient billing office. After your medical bill is ready, any family member or delegate can settle at the cashier’s office. The hospital accepts cash payments, credit/debit cards and/or bank certified checks.

The discharge process can take some time due to the meticulous nature of reviewing medical records, which is done to ensure that there are no mistakes on your bill. To avoid delays in your discharge, it is advisable to check with the billing office to prepare for the discharge process in advance.

Patients are asked to check out of the hospital before 12:00 pm in order to accommodate other patients who are waiting to be admitted. For additional information related to the discharge procedure, feel free to talk to the floor secretary available on every unit.

Transportation

As you are being discharged, your physician will specify whether you need an ambulance to take you home or if a personal vehicle is sufficient. If you require an ambulance, the secretary will contact either the Lebanese Red Cross or Civil Defense to escort you home.

Requesting Your Medical Records

As a patient, you have the right to request a copy of your medical records. If you wish to do so, please inform your physician on or prior to the date of your discharge from LMC to get written approval for the release of your medical records. If you have further questions regarding medical records, please contact us.