Obstetrics

Medication is an important part of your getting well. While medications can effectively treat disease and improve the quality of life, they may also cause unwanted side effects or problems. You can avoid these kinds of problems by freely talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about how well your medications are working, and let them know about any problems caused by your medications.

At the hospital and clinic:
Share with your doctor a list of your current medicines, vitamins, herbs and supplements.
Make sure the doctor or nurse checks your wristband and asks your name before giving you medicine.
Ask your doctor or nurse how a new medicine will help. Ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names.
Ask your doctor or nurse about the possible side effects of your medicines.
Don’t be afraid to tell the nurse or the doctor if you think you are about to get the wrong medicine.
Know what time you normally get a medicine. If you don’t get it then, tell your nurse or doctor.
Tell your nurse or doctor if you don’t feel well after receiving a medicine. If you think you are having a reaction or experiencing side effects, ask for help immediately.
If you're not feeling well enough to ask questions about your medicines, ask a relative or friend to ask questions for you and to help make sure you get and take the right medicines.
If you receive intravenous (IV) fluids, read the contents on the bags of IV fluids. If you’re not well enough to do this, ask a relative or friend to do it.
If you are given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for the liquid to run out. Tell the nurse if it seems to be dripping too fast or too slow.
Ask for a copy of your medication administration record. This lists all of the drugs you should be taking. Check it for accuracy. If you're not well enough to do this, ask a friend or relative to help.
Before you leave the hospital or clinic, make sure that you understand all of the instructions for the medicines you will need to keep taking, and ask any questions you may have about any of your medicines.

1. Clean your hands.
Use soap and warm water. Rub your hands vigorously for at least 15 seconds.
Or, if your hands do not look dirty, clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, especially under your nails and between your
fingers, until your hands are dry.
Clean your hands before touching or eating food. Clean them after you use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, handle money or play with a pet.
Doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare providers come into contact with lots of bacteria and viruses. So before they treat you, ask them if they’ve cleaned their hands.
2. Cover your mouth and nose.
Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs. When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel three feet or more! Controlling a cough if you are sick can help prevent
the spread of infection to others.
Use a tissue! Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket. Be sure to throw away used tissues and then clean your hands.
If you don’t have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow or hands. If you use your hands, wash your hands right away.
3. Avoid close contact.
If you are sick with a fever or other symptoms of a contagious illness, stay away from other people and stay home. Call work or school and tell them you are sick.
When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there’s anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the
waiting room.

These steps can help prevent the spread of infection from colds, influenza (“the flu”)*, and diseases like:
Pneumonia*
Whooping cough*
SARS
Chicken pox *
Tuberculosis
Strep throat
Mumps, measles, and rubella* (also known as German measles)
Remember to get a shot to prevent this disease or infection.

Patient Rights Information
Click here to download Mat-Su Regional's Patient Rights Policy.

Social Services
Click here to access Mat-Su Regional's social services web page.

Medical Records
861-6607
The medical records department is responsible for the maintenance and storage of the final copy of the medical record of any care you received within Mat-Su Regional
Medical Center. As a patient, you may need to obtain a copy of this record for yourself or to send to a referring physician or facility. Please provide written
authorization for the release of your record at least 48 hours in advance of your need. In the case of an emergency need, we will make every effort to prepare your record as quickly as possible.

Mail Service
Mail, flowers and gifts are delivered to the main nurse’s station. The nursing staff will then distribute these items to your room. The address at Mat-Su Regional is 2500 S. Woodworth Loop, Palmer, AK 99645. Addresses that include your room number will help speed the sorting and distribution of mail.

Notary Public
861-6691
If you need a Notary, the nursing staff can request appropriate assistance from Social Services or the Financial Counselor.
Patient Education Services
861-6624
Education is provided by our nursing staff as well as therapists, and other professional staff in all the hospital departments. Written materials are available on most conditions and medications; videotapes are available on some topics and can be viewed in your room.

The Diabetes Education Department provides special education by certified educators about self-management of this disease. Physician referral is required and insurance coverage varies. Some financial assistance is available. For more information, ask your nurse or physician, or call our office at 861-8624.

Social Services
861-6693
Medical social workers are available to help you with the problems that frequently accompany an illness such as stress, financial difficulty, or need for follow-up care. They can also help you with Advance Directives (Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney). Social workers will assist you in making decisions about healthcare, give you information regarding community resources and agencies, and if necessary, help you locate home care services, or convalescent or skilled nursing facilities. You
may ask your nurse to refer you or contact the Services Department directly at 861-6691 or 861-6693.

Gift Shop
861-6500
Located in the main lobby of Mat-Su Regional, our gift shop is entirely staffed and supported by volunteers. Proceeds support Volunteer Services projects at Mat-Su Regional.
The gift shop features Alaska art, including hand-knit quviut scarves, smokerings, and Judie Gumm Designs jewelry. The gift shop offers hundreds of unique gifts and useful
items from near and far:
Huggable stuffed animals
Ross sugar-free chocolates
Clothing
New baby gifts
Home decorator items
Jewelry
Greeting cards
And much, much more!
Open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
We accept cash, checks, Visa/MasterCard and Mat-Su Regional employee payroll deduction.


Food Service
Click here to download Mat-Su Regional's food service program information.