Preparing For Your Care

A representative from our Admitting Department contacts each of our patients either the evening before the scheduled visit or that very day with the time of admittance and any additional information that needs to be provided. Every effort is made to ensure a smooth admittance process. If you have any questions, please call the Admitting Department at (631) 444-2590.

Before Your Stay

All patients should consult with their health insurance plan administrator or employer for information about second opinions, pre-certifications, and prior authorizations. This will help prevent delays or loss of benefits.


What To Bring/What Not To Bring

Our goal is to help you get settled and feel comfortable as quickly as possible. On the day you arrive at Stony Brook, you will be greeted by an Admissions and Registration receptionist. You will be asked for the following:

  • A list of your current medications, including over the counter medications and vitamins/ herbal supplements
  • Insurance Cards
  • Photo ID
  • If you have a health care proxy or living will, be sure to bring a copy with you to be placed in your medical record.

You will be given a hospital identification bracelet. Please check to see that the information on it is correct. Do not take the bracelet off until you have been discharged from the hospital. If the bracelet comes off for any reason, notify your nurse and ask for a new one.

Please note that contraband including drugs, alcohol and firearms or other weapons are not permitted on Hospital property. Stony Brook is a proud to be a smoke free campus – please leave tobacco products at home.

Patients and visitors are responsible for all personal belongings. Stony Brook University Hospital is not responsible for replacing lost or misplaced items, so we recommend that you bring only essential items to the hospital and we offer the following tips to help keep your personal items secure:

Denture Care – Patients are asked if they wear dentures or bridges and, if so, a staff member will provide a denture cup to store them in when not in use. The cup will be labeled with the patient’s name. Please avoid placing dentures on meal trays, under a pillow, on the sheets or in any concealed place where they may be lost or accidentally discarded.

Eyeglasses – Glasses are best secured in a case with the patient’s name on it when not in use. To prevent damage or loss to eyeglasses patients are asked not to leave them unprotected on the bedside table or on the bed.

Wheelchairs, Walkers, Canes – Please put your name on all necessary items that are brought into the hospital.

Valuables - Please leave all valuables at home or sent them home with a family member or friend upon admission to the hospital. This includes jewelry, watch, cash, credit card, purse, wallet, cell phone, laptop, or any other item that would be considered a loss if it were misplaced. Patients move about during a hospital stay for procedures and treatments or from one unit to another due to medical condition. If family members are not present, valuable items should be given to nursing staff to be secured in a valuables envelope and locked in the safe. They are not to be kept at the bedside. A receipt will be provided for collection of the items upon discharge.

Medications – Bring a current list of medications currently being taken. If a list is not available, bring in the medication containers for the pharmacist to review. The containers can then be taken home by a family member or friend. Medications brought from home should not be stored at the bedside.

Lost Items – While Stony Brook University Hospital is not responsible for patient and visitor’s personal belongings, we certainly try to return lost items to their owners. To file a lost items report, please contact the Patient and Guest Relations Department at (631) 444-2880.


Admission

Upon arrival, all patients should come to the Admitting Department, located off the Main Lobby, for an interview by one of our Admitting Registrars. The information gathered at this time is strictly confidential and will help us prepare your medical and insurance records. The registrar will ask each patient to sign a standard form of agreement to pay for any services provided that are not covered by insurance.


While You Are Here

It is very important not to open your windows during your stay. The air is cleaner and better managed with the windows closed. Since smoking is not permitted in the hospital, please plan to speak with your doctor about how to assist you to not smoke while you are a patient. Exposure to second-hand smoke for our patients, staff and visitors is preventable. Thank you for your cooperation in advance. Smoking against medical advice may lead to an early discharge.

Because we are concerned about your safety as a patient, you will be asked very frequently to verify your name and date of birth during your stay, especially before all tests or procedures, and before your medications are administered. Please be sure that you ARE asked. We also require that everyone who provides care to you wash their hands before administering care; please feel free to ask if you are unsure that they have done so. We want you to participate as a partner in your care as much as possible to ensure your safety.

All children under the age of 14 must have prior permission from the Nurse Manager or Clinician and be accompanied by an adult.


Distinguished Dining for Patients

Welcome to Stony Brook University Hospital's Distinguished Dining: Excellence in Service in Cuisine.

Distinguished Dining has been developed to help provide the patient with the finest nutritional care.

Our commitment in the Food and Nutrition Department is to provide patients at Stony Brook University Hospital with sound nutritional guidance and education, the freshest and finest restaurant quality foods and healthy meal choices prepared by culinary trained professionals. Our "Room Service" style of food service enables the patient to choose from a restaurant style menu tailored to their physician ordered diet. The menu offers a wide variety of choices at any given time during the hours of operation.

Breakfast is offered 6:45 am - 10:30 am and Lunch and Dinner is offered 11:00 am - 8:30 pm.

Orders are placed to the call center at 4-2900. The operator will guide the patient in making their menu selections.

Sound nutrition and good eating habits directly affect patients" health and speed of recovery and this is why we, at Distinguished Dining, pay careful attention to preparing the finest quality ingredients to the patient specifications. The patients' selections will be delivered fresh within 45 minutes from the time of order.

Visit the Food and Nutrition Department (Dietary) web page.

VIDEO - Patient Meals (2:11)
Patient meals at Stony Brook Hospital always receive high ratings from patients. This video shows how to order meals.


Patient Care Team

The patient care team at Stony Brook University Hospital consists of many professional and volunteer individuals.

  • Nurses - A registered nurse (RN) directs all care givers in the care team. Unit teams include registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), hospital clinical assistants (HCAs) and nursing station clerks.
  • Physicians - Attending and resident physicians will be part of your care team.
  • Healthcare professionals and support staff - Our healthcare team, which consists of therapists, technologists, social workers, nutritionists, counselors, phlebotomists and other support staff, are dedicated to your health and well-being.
  • Volunteers - More than 400 dedicated volunteers contribute over 75,000 hours of service to the hospital. They are specially trained to assist in a variety of services from greeting patients and guests to delivering flowers and mail. Volunteers are easily identified by their identification cards or their uniforms - pink smocks for woman, tan jackets for men.
  • Auxilians - The Auxiliary manages the gift shop, patient television service and the only hospital authorized baby portrait service.