Welcome to Rhode Island Hospital
Patient Services
Patient Representatives
Our patient representatives are here to help you and your family
during your stay at Rhode Island Hospital. As your advocates,
patient representatives can
- Listen to and follow up on your concerns or complaints
- Answer your questions
- Direct your requests to the appropriate hospital departments
Please call 401-444-5817 if you would like to speak with
your patient representative.
Interpreter Services
Interpreters are available to assist non-English speaking patients
and to provide sign language to patients who are hearing impaired.
We provide a staff of trained interpreters who speak Spanish,
Portuguese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai and Russian. Assistance with
other languages, including American Sign Language, is available.
Please call 401-444-8708 or speak with your nurse.
Telecommunication devices
are available for hearing impaired patients. Please ask your nurse
or call the operator at 401-444-7000.
More
about interpreter services
Pastoral and Spiritual Care
Rhode Island Hospital's Department of Pastoral Care ministers
to the spiritual needs of patients while they are hospitalized.
Chaplains are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and work
with volunteer leaders from other faiths, including a Rabbi, an
Imam and a Spanish Protestant Chaplain.
There are two chapels within the hospital: one near the first-floor
lobby of the main building and another near the upper lobby of
Hasbro Children's Hospital. The chapels are available at all times
to give patients and families a place for quiet and reflection.
Our Catholic chaplains offer communion each day to all Catholic
patients and celebrate Mass on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and on holy
days at noon in the Hasbro Children's Hospital chapel. Chaplains
are on call for confessions and sacramental anointing of the sick.
Phone numbers:
- Catholic chaplain: 401-444-4627 (leave a message)
- Other faiths: 444-4746 (leave a message)
- Urgent needs for any faith: 444-5108 (Call center will
page a chaplain for you. Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic
and Spanish Protestant Chaplains are available.)
More
about pastoral and spiritual care
Notary Services
Notary public services are available to patients and their families,
free of charge. Please ask your nurse to make arrangements for
you.
Social Work Services
Everyday problems often become more difficult to manage when
they are complicated by an illness or injury. In addition to doctors
and nurses, clinical social workers are available to help you
and your family during this difficult time.
As members of your health care team, social workers are licensed
professionals trained to help you and your family with the emotional
and social problems related to your illness. Our social workers
are informed about community services and may refer you to one
of the agencies or resources available.
If you or a member of your family would like to speak with one
of our social workers, please call 401-444-5711. Office
hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More
about social work services
Advance Directives
All patients are asked if they have advance directives. An advance
directive is a legally recognized, written document that states
your wishes concerning medical treatment. If you have advance
directives, it is your responsibility to provide us with a current
copy, which we will file in your medical record. Please be aware
that an advance directive is effective only if your health care
team knows about it.
Our clinical social work department is available to assist you
should you wish to prepare advance directives. Please call 401-444-5711
for more information.
More about
advance directives and patient rights
Ethics Consultation
Our ethics committee can provide guidance when you or your family
are faced with complex choices, such as pursuing certain recommended
treatments, continuing life-sustaining treatment or interpreting
a living will. If you are unable to take part in the decision-making
process, your family or caregiver may find it difficult to make
these decisions on your behalf.
The committee is here to help you, your family, your authorized
representative or your doctor sort out the ethical questions in
these situations. We are here to listen to you and to provide
additional support and direction. It is important to understand
that the committee will not make decisions for you or tell your
doctor what to do. There is no charge for an ethics consultation
and all consultations are confidential. Please call 401-444-6175
to request a consultation.
More
about the ethics committee
Physician Referral
For information about our physicians or help in choosing a Rhode
Island Hospital affiliated physician, call our free physician
referral service at 401-444-4800. The office is open Monday
through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also find
a physician online.
Services for visitors 
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