Campus guide
Welcome to Owatonna Hospital. It's our privilege to provide you with exceptional patient care during your hospital stay.
We understand that being a hospital patient can be a stressful time for patients and family members. Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality medical care and make your stay as comfortable as possible.
We encourage you to ask questions of your physicians and our staff members. Please let us know what we can do for you.
This information directory provides general information about being a patient here. We invite your comments both when we have met your expectations and when we have failed to meet them. Thank you for choosing Owatonna Hospital and entrusting us with your care.
Your room
Your room assignment at Owatonna Hospital is based on your admitting diagnosis and the bed availability on the day of your admission.
Calling your nurse
A button to call your nurse is located on the bed rail as well as a hand held remote control. When you press the button, the nurses' station is alerted that you need assistance, and a light flashes by your door. A staff member will respond to your signal as soon as possible.
Your bed
Hospital beds are electrically operated, and your nurse will show you how to work your bed properly. Your hospital bed is probably higher and narrower than your bed at home. Bed rails are for your protection. They may be raised at night or during the day if you're resting, recovering from surgery or taking certain medications. Call your nurse for assistance before trying to get out of bed when the bed rails are raised.
Telephones
All inpatient rooms are equipped with a telephone. You can receive calls directly to your room from outside the hospital. Family members can call the hospital at 507-451-3850 and ask to be transferred to your room. Or, you can provide your family member with your room telephone number, which is 507-977 + the four-digit number on your room telephone.
Local calls – Dial 9 + seven-digit number.
Long distance calls – If you need to make a long distance call you will need to use a long distance calling card.
Cellular phones
Cellular phones may be used inside the hospital for your convenience with some restrictions.
When in either the ready/standby or talking mode, cellular telephones transmit signals that may cause electromagnetic interference with medical equipment. Cellular telephones should never be used within three feet of any medical equipment. And all cellular telephones must be completely turned off when in a restricted area.
Television, DVDs and patient education
Televisions with local and cable stations, as well as DVDs are provided free of charge in each inpatient, same day surgery and Emergency Department treatment room. Speak to your nurse regarding in-room patient education. Movies are also available for your convenience; ask your nurse to assist you.
Tobacco-free campus
In keeping with the Owatonna Hospital purpose of promoting health and healing, tobacco usage is not permitted on the campus. The Tobacco-Free Policy includes all parking areas, hospital entrances and the building itself.
Healing Arts Program
The Healing Arts Program at Owatonna Hospital seeks to enhance the patient experience by using the arts as positive distractions to reduce pain, anxiety and stress often associated within a health care environment. This visual arts program is collaboration between Owatonna Hospital and the Owatonna Arts Center. The visual arts, music, natural light, images and elements of nature, and healing interior design have shown to contribute to the comfort, safety, privacy, and wellness of every individual involved in the healing process. Our goal is to engage viewers momentarily in reflective and transformative experiences that contribute to lessening anxiety, stress and worries and promote healing.
Wireless high-speed internet access
Free wi-fi/wireless high-speed internet access is available for patients and visitors in all areas of the hospital, including patient rooms and waiting areas.
To use GuestNet, call ext. 23300 from an Owatonna Hospital phone for this month's username/password.
- GuestNet works with most wi-fi (802.11b) devices such as laptop computers, with Internet Explorer 4.x or above.
- To access the system, visitors must configure the 802.11b radio on their wireless device.
- Laptops are not available for rental at Owatonna Hospital.
- GuestNet connects via your internet icon. From the log-in screen, use the username and password to access www.Allina.com. Then link to the Internet.
- Please keep the volume muted or use headphones.
- Access to certain websites is blocked within Owatonna Hospital.
- Owatonna Hospital is not responsible for stolen devices.
- As with most public wireless hot spots, Owatonna Hospital's wireless connection is not secure. Any information being sent or received could potentially be intercepted by another wireless user.
- Owatonna Hospital and Allina Hospitals & Clinics assume no responsibility, and shall not be liable for any loss of data to, damages to, or viruses that may infect your computer equipment or other property on account of your access to, use of, or browsing of any website, or downloading of any materials from websites.
- Owatonna Hospital and Allina Hospitals & Clinics cannot guarantee that your hardware will work with the hospital's wireless connection.
- If you have problems accessing the internet over the wi-fi connection, Owatonna Hospital staff cannot assist in making changes to the user's network settings or perform any troubleshooting on your device.
Food and nutrition
Patient meals are served at the following times:
Breakfast 7:30 to 8 a.m.
Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Dinner 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Select menus are available for patients on some diets. We encourage you to fill out a menu if one is sent to you. After hours meals are available on individual units. Please ask your nurse for details.
If your physician requests, a modified diet will be planned for you by our registered dietitian and you will be given instructions for use at home. A dietitian is available for questions regarding your nutrition.
Prairie Meadows Café
The hospital cafeteria, located on the first floor of the hospital, serves a continental breakfast daily from 7 to 10 a.m.; lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Family and relatives are welcome to eat in the cafeteria.
Vending machines
Vending machines for snacks and beverages are available 24 hours a day and located to the right of the emergency department entrance behind an alcove wall.
Food and beverage gifts for patients
Visitors should check with the nurse before bringing gifts of food or drink to patients.
Pink Pantry Coffee & Gift Shoppe
The Pink Pantry Coffee & Gift Shoppe is located on the first floor of the hospital and is staffed by Owatonna Hospital Auxiliary volunteers. The shop offers gift items, jewelry, books, greeting cards, candy, snacks, gourmet coffees, cappuccino and soft drinks. In addition, it offers fresh baked cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls and other baked items. Hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are available on all nursing units, but getting in and out of them without assistance may be hazardous. Please ask for help from a member of the hospital staff.
Oxygen
Special regulations are in effect in areas where patients are receiving oxygen. Electrically-operated equipment and aerosol products are not permitted in these areas.
Medications
All medications you take while in the hospital are prescribed by your doctor, dispensed by the hospital pharmacy and administered by a nurse. Patients are not permitted to administer their own drugs or keep personal medications at their bedsides.
However, if you are an outpatient observation patient, you are permitted to use your own supply of medication. You may ask a family member or friend to bring in your medication for your use. For your safety, the hospital pharmacist will check the medication you bring from home to ensure it is the same medication your doctor intends for you to take during your observation stay.
Visiting hours
It is important for you to rest during your hospital stay, but it is also important for you to have the encouragement you receive when friends and relatives come to visit. We ask that your visitors follow our hospital procedures, which are designed for the comfort and well-being of all of our patients.
Visiting hours are at the discretion of the patient and your health care team.
For the health and safety of patients, Allina Hospitals & Clinics has placed limits on visitation to birth centers and pediatrics units.
Effective immediately, these limitations are:
- The Birth Center is closed between 1 and 3 p.m. to allow for quiet time for babies and mothers.
- Visitors must sign in and be screened for influenza-like illness.
Visitors are asked to follow hand-hygiene procedures by washing hands or using the antibacterial foam provided throughout the hospital.
The main entry hours are:
- 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- If a visitor plans to stay past 8 p.m., please check in at the nurse's station and receive a visitor badge and coordinate any accommodations you may require.
If you are a patient in the special care unit:
- Visitors need to contact the nurse in charge of the unit. Hours are arranged individually, depending on the condition of each patient. We ask that visitors are limited to two at a time.
Visiting hours for the Birth Center
- The Birth Center is closed between 1 and 3 p.m. to allow for quiet time for babies and mothers.
Visiting hours on the mental health unit are limited to allow for patients to participate in the many treatment activities going on in the unit. The visiting hours are:
- Weekdays: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; 1 to 2 p.m.; 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.
- Weekends: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 8 p.m.
Visiting guidelines
Following are general guidelines for visitors:
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