Your Hospital Stay

During your stay, many people will be involved in your care — doctors, nurses, technologists, food service professionals, volunteers and many others who work behind the scenes. Our team members make a point of getting to know you, and we encourage you to tell us what’s important to you — big or small. Your comfort is an important part of healing, so talk to your nurse or doctor, or contact the patient experience team at 650-962-5836 or patient_experience@elcaminohealth.org.

• Patient Rights. At El Camino Hospital, we’re dedicated to protecting your rights as a patient.
• Privacy Practices. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.
• Safety Practices. We take pride in the care we provide. To offer you the safest, most effective care possible, we monitor our processes regularly.

Your Care Team

At El Camino Hospital, your care team includes doctors, registered nurses — our nursing care earned us Magnet designation — and nursing assistants. At times, your team could include physical and occupational therapists, social workers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and other specialists related to your individual care needs.

In many instances, your primary care doctor will have a hospitalist — a doctor who specializes in providing care in the hospital setting — manage your care while you’re in the hospital. The hospitalist will work closely with your doctor to coordinate your care and ensure that your primary care doctor or specialist is up to date on your condition.

Care team members at El Camino Hospital do a quick check of our patients’ safety and comfort during most hours of the day — we call it purposeful rounding or visiting. During the visit, a care team member will ask about your pain level (on a scale from 1 to 10) to make sure you’re comfortable and review your general well-being. A team member will also check on you during the night and review your vital signs and any other areas your doctor recommends.

Accommodations and Meals

El Camino Hospital has two-bed and private rooms, both with TVs and storage for a few personal items (visit our admissions and registration information for a list of what to bring to the hospital). We make every effort to give you the room of your choice. Each room has a bedside telephone, and you can receive incoming calls from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. — unless your doctor requests restrictions.

Your diet is prescribed by your doctor and is an important part of your treatment. You'll receive a menu each day to select the next day's meals. We offer a wide choice of nutritious foods. If your diet allows, between-meal snacks are available. You may order guest trays for a fee, or visitors can eat at one of our hospital dining options.

For Your Convenience

We offer a variety of amenities and services to make your stay more pleasant, including:

• TV – Our in-room, interactive TVs offer network and satellite programming, including hospital services information, health education videos, movies and music on demand.
• Free Wi-Fi access – From your wireless device, simply choose "Newguest" wireless account, open a browser window and accept the terms of service.
• Flower and mail service – Our volunteers offer daily mail and flower delivery. Simply give stamped outgoing mail to a nurse or leave it at the nurses’ station. After you leave, flowers and mail will be forwarded to you at home.
• On-site gift shops – Both Mountain View and Los Gatos campuses have gift shops and boutiques that sell daily newspapers, books, cards, flowers, plants and more — including specialty items for new mothers and newborns.
• Complementary services – We offer a variety of services to promote relaxation, relieve stress and care for your emotional health, including spiritual care services, music and art therapy, massage and more.

Because your comfort and well-being are important to us, we welcome your feedback at any point during your care. We’ll take the time to listen to you or your family members and respond with empathy and respect. Call or write the patient experience team at 650-962-5836 or patient_experience@elcaminohealth.org.

Going Home

Many insurance companies have strict guidelines for defining your length of stay, so make sure your doctor is aware of these guidelines to prevent coverage denial and increased financial liability for you.

Discharge time is generally 11 a.m. on the day your doctor says you can go home. To ensure your safety and well-being, you’ll need someone to pick you up. If you don’t have family or friends available, contact our care coordination team to learn about options — including RoadRunners transportation or information about community options.

For more information about what to expect during your hospital stay, visit our frequently asked questions.