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
• What to Bring
• What Not to Bring
• Admission
• While You Are Here
• Meals
• Patient Care Team
• VIDEOS of Services during your stay

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

Patients should bring any personal items, such as a robe, slippers, toiletries, and reading glasses that will make their stay more comfortable. A small amount of cash on hand is recommended for incidentals. Please bring with you any medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking, along with a list of each medication, including the names as well as the amount you take. However, you should be prepared to send the medicines home after you are admitted. If you have an Advanced Directive or Health Care Proxy, be sure to bring a copy with you.

For safety reasons, please leave electrical appliances and valuables at home. Cell phones may be used in designated areas of the hospital, including the lobby, the cafeteria, and the elevator lobbies on each floor, but not on inpatient units.

Insurance coverage (medical insurance information, including policy number and card, Blue Cross insurance card, red, white, and blue Medicare card or your current month Medicaid eligibility card) and some form of identification (driver's license, Social Security card, etc.) will be used during the Admittance process. We ask that any patient with secondary health insurance bring this information as well.

What Not To Bring

Firearms and weapons of any kind are not allowed. Smoking is not allowed in the hospital so please leave your cigarettes, cigars, and pipes at home.

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.
• Volunteers - More than 400 dedicated volunteers contribute nearly 50,000 hours of service to the hospital. They are specially trained to assist in a variety of services from greeting patients & guests to delivering flowers & mail. Volunteers are easily identified by their identification cards or their uniforms - pink smocks for woman, tan jackets for men and male junior volunteers, and candy-stripped uniforms for female junior volunteers.
• Auxilians - The Auxiliary manages the gift shop, patient television service and the only hospital authorized baby portrait service.