Patient Safety

During your stay at Adventist Health and Rideout, we recommend sending personal valuables, such as jewelry or other items, home with a family member to prevent loss, or misplacement. If needed, valuables can be placed in safekeeping upon request.

We are dedicated to the health and well-being of our patients, visitors, physicians, and staff. To support this commitment, all Adventist Health and Rideout campuses are smoke-free. If needed, our staff can coordinate with your physician to provide tobacco replacement therapy or connect you with resources to support smoking cessation.

Your safety is our priority at Adventist Health and Rideout, especially when it comes to your medications. Your doctor may prescribe medications as part of your treatment, which will be dispensed by the hospital pharmacy, and administered by your nurse. Your nurse will explain each medication, including its name, purpose, dosage, and schedule, ensuring you understand what you are receiving.

Falls can pose serious risks, especially during a hospital stay when mobility or strength may be affected. By taking simple precautions and working together, we can significantly reduce the risk of falls and keep you safe. Whether it is ensuring your environment is free from hazards or providing the support you need to move safely, our goal is to protect you while you heal.

While you are visiting with the patient, please help us by ensuring that there are no fall risks present:

• While you visit and before you go, leave a light on in the bathroom, and make sure the floor is free from clutter.
• Before you leave, place necessary items within the patient’s reach. These may include phone, tissue, water, and the call button.
• Companionship may lower the risk of a fall. Ask the healthcare team when your loved one may find your company most comforting.

Our rapid response team is here to ensure immediate attention when a patient’s condition changes or concerns arise about their care. You or your family members can request urgent assistance if your condition is worsening, or you feel your concerns are not being addressed. To activate the rapid response team, dial 7500 from any hospital phone. The operator will ask for your name and room number, or location before dispatching our rapid response team to assist you.

We welcome patients and visitors with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in most areas of our facilities. Service animals are permitted in hospitals, outpatient areas, and clinics, except in restricted areas such as the operating room, labor and delivery, nursery, and isolation rooms, where safety and infection control are critical. Service animals must be under the handler’s control at all times and on a leash or similar device.

We offer a 24-hour safety and security department to help ensure your safety. Security officers are available around the clock to escort patients and visitors to parking lots. To contact a public safety officer, call 530-749-4640 at Adventist Health and Rideout.

Our hospital has a safe and effective fire safety program, and we are required to frequently perform fire drills. If you hear a fire alarm, do not panic. If a concern arises over your safety, hospital staff will evacuate you to a safe place. We have posted fire escape routes on the walls of our facilities to help with evacuation when necessary. These are located near elevators. Please remain calm in the event of an emergency and listen for directions from hospital staff.