Durham Regional Hospital is committed to meeting the needs of all people. The following services are available to patients and their families during their stay at the hospital.

Your hospital team, helping you get and stay healthy.

Medical Staff

The physician who admits you is generally responsible for directing your care while you are in the hospital. Your physician, as the coordinator for your treatment program, should be consulted if you have questions about your illness.

Hospitalists

During your hospital stay, your community physician may ask that you be cared for by a physician who is a member of our Hospitalist Team. A Hospitalist, part of the Department of Hospital Medicine, is a medical doctor specializing in the care of patients who are in the hospital. Our hospitalists work only in the hospital and do not have an office practice. If you have questions about the hospitalist program, please call (919) 470-8490.

Refer to the sidebar at the right to learn more about the role of a Hospitalist.

Intensivists

If you are a patient in one of our intensive care units, your healthcare team will also include a critical care intensivist. An Intensivist is a doctor specially trained to care for critically ill patients. Their concentrated familiarity and focused expertise allows Intensivitsts to identify and treat patients with complex conditions. Lisa Pickett, MD, and Mark Powers, MD, serve as co-medical directors of the Intensivist Program.

Nursing

Twenty-four hour nursing care is provided by a team of professional registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing care assistants. A registered nurse in the position of clinical operations director is responsible for directing and coordinating nursing care on each unit. Please feel free to contact your nurse or the clinical operations director if you have questions or concerns.

Social Work

Social workers are assigned to each patient care area and are trained to help patients and family members deal with financial, social and emotional problems that relate to illness or hospitalization. Members of the department work with patients and families to help deal with long-term illnesses and rehabilitation and are involved in discharge planning.

Pharmacy

Your physician may include medications as part of your treatment during your stay at the hospital. The central pharmacy is responsible for dispensing and monitoring medications for hospitalized patients. The OR satellite pharmacy provides patient care services to the OR, Intensive Care Units, Anesthesia, Endoscopy, Ambulatory Care Unite and Post-Anesthesia Unit and maintains narcotic control in those areas.

Dietary

The hospital has registered dietitians to meet your dietary needs during your stay. If you have questions about your meals or diet, please call ext. 4-4252.

Chaplaincy

Durham Regional Hospital believes that total patient care demands attention to the spiritual and emotional, as well as the physical needs of each patient. Members of the Chaplaincy Services staff are available to assist you, whatever your religious tradition.

Your priest, minister or rabbi is always welcome to visit you while you are here. The chaplain's office is located on the 3rd level of the hospital near the main entrance. Chaplains are available in the hospital 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. A chaplain is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Chaplains provide both spiritual and emotional support for patients, their families and other support persons. They are also able to contact clergy of a particular faith group at the request of the patient or family member. In addition, chaplains can assist you with advance directives like Living Wills during regular business hours.

A chapel for all faiths is located on the 3rd level just as you come in the main entrance of the hospital. The chapel is available for prayer and meditation any time except when services are being held. A brief Christian worship service is held each Tuesday at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Special worship times for other faiths are held on request. The chapel is also available for weddings and memorial services. Scheduling should be done with the Director of Pastoral Services at 919-470-8313.

Environmental Services

Your room is cleaned daily by a member of the environmental services staff. If your room needs extra attention, please inform your nurse, and it will be taken care of as soon as possible.