Fast Facts for Your Stay

Accommodations

Your doctor will arrange for your accommodations. The hospital offers air conditioned private and semiprivate rooms. Every effort is made to have your preferred room available on the scheduled date of admission. However, alternate arrangements may be necessary due to high occupancy, emergency admissions or doctor’s orders.

The hospital will honor your doctor’s request for transfer when your preferred accommodation becomes available. There is an additional charge for private rooms, not usually covered by insurance. All elective admissions are made in the order of the date of receipt of a bed reservation from your doctor. Maternity beds are assigned by the labor and delivery staff on the basis of availability at the time of admission.

Cafeteria

Andrus Pavilion

The Hudson Views Café, located on S-2, is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., where you can enjoy homemade meals at reasonable prices. For a quick snack, there are vending machines located on the following floors: 4, 6, Emergency Department and Surgical Waiting Room on the second floor.

Dobbs Ferry Pavilion

The Riverside Café located on the Lower Level is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., where you can enjoy homemade meals at reasonable prices. For a quick snack, there are vending machines located outside the Emergency Department and a coffee machine is located in the Lobby.

Call Bells

St. John’s Riverside Hospital’s nursing staff provides hourly rounding to meet the needs of our patients. If you require additional assistance, the call bells are at each bedside and in each bathroom.

Coffee Shop

Andrus Pavilion

The Odyssey Cafe is located off the main lobby. The coffee shop is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Homemade specials and soups, in addition to an extensive menu ranging from a quick snack to a full meal, are available for sit-down service, takeout and delivery. Cash or credit cards are accepted. An ATM is located inside.

Dobbs Ferry Pavilion

The Coffee Shop is located on the lower level. Hours are posted. When the Coffee Shop is closed, vending machines are available on the ground and first floors.

Fire Safety

Fire and safety drills are conducted regularly by the hospital to comply with safety and fire codes. Patients do not participate and are requested to remain in their rooms during drills. Visitors are asked to stay in patient rooms or in solariums. Elevators will not be in use. You will be advised by the staff in the event of an actual emergency.

Gift Shop

The Gift Shop at the Andrus Pavilion, open Monday through Saturday, features an assortment of books, cards, candy and toiletry items.

The gift shop at the ParkCare Pavilion, located in the main lobby, is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hearing Impaired

Sign language or oral interpreters, Tele-Typewriter and other auxiliary aids and services are available to people who are hearing impaired. Please make arrangements prior to admission, if possible.

Hospital Bed

Your bed has been designed for safety and comfort. Please follow the directions of your doctor and nursing staff when getting out of bed and using the side rails, which are there for your protection. The nursing staff will explain the simple operation of the bed controls.

Interpreters

If English is not your primary language or you are hearing impaired, additional resources for communication are available. Through an international interpretation service, which can interpret over 150 languages/dialects, support is available 24 hours a day for pertinent medical information. The use of this service requires a special phone with a dual handset telephonic device (one for the nurse or doctor and one for the patient and/or family member). Interpreter phones are available in patient care areas within the hospital.

Leave Your Valuables at Home

You are strongly urged to leave valuables at home or send them home with a loved one. If this is not possible, you may arrange with the Security Department to have your valuables placed in the hospital safe until discharge. The hospital does not assume responsibility for the loss of money, jewelry or other personal property kept in your room. Safety regulations prohibit the use of electrical appliances.

Mail and Flowers

Mail is delivered to you daily. Telegrams and special delivery letters are delivered to you immediately. Flowers are delivered as soon as possible.

Medicines From Home

Please do not bring medicines from home. Your doctor will prescribe the medicine you need during your stay from the hospital pharmacy. Anything you have taken before may not be okay to take with the medicines and treatments your doctor has prescribed while you are here. You are encouraged to ask questions and get answers about your medicines before any medicines are given to you while you are in the hospital. Be sure to tell the doctor and nurse if you have any allergies or unusual reactions to any drugs or anesthesia.

Parking

Andrus Pavilion

A visitor parking lot is located to the right of the Andrus Pavilion entrance for a fee. Pay-for-parking machines are located at the main entrance of the hospital. Handicapped parking is available by the main entrance of the hospital. Valet parking is available from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dobbs Ferry Pavilion

A visitor parking lot is located in front of the hospital. There is no parking fee. Valet parking is available from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Patient Education

Our patient education program is designed to acquaint you with diagnostic tests and procedures you may have during your hospital stay, to prepare you for surgery, and to prepare you for your continuing health care after your discharge. Included in this program are informational handouts, pamphlets and books, as well as informal classes. Ask your nurse for more information. The library of the Cochran School of Nursing is another resource for our patients, their families and the public.

Patient Meals

Our Food & Nutrition Services departments at each of our facilities make every effort to ensure your meals are appetizing and attractively served based on the diet prescribed by your doctor or health care provider. At the Andrus and Dobbs Ferry Pavilions, a Nutrition Ambassador is assigned to your unit and will be your liaison with the kitchen. They will deliver all of your meals, provide you with a menu and will do their very best to enhance your dining experience. Meals are generally served at 7:30 a.m.,11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Registered dietitians are available to assess your overall nutritional status, make recommendations to the health care team and provide diet/nutrition education. Kosher meals also are available. 

Guest Meals

At the Andrus and Dobbs Ferry Pavilions, a guest tray may be ordered in advance for a member of your family. There is a fee for this service, which will be charged to your account. Please contact your unit secretary to place an order.

Quiet Time

Quiet time promotes healing. Each day we announce quiet time during the afternoon then again at night. For one hour at each Quiet Time interval, we dim the lights, offer to close doors and offer ear plugs to each of the patients. All departments are aware of this time and work to minimize the noise level for the comfort of the patient.

Smoking

The New York State Health Code forbids smoking in the hospital. Smoking is not permitted in any area of the hospital or within 25 feet of any entrance to the building.

Spiritual Care

As spiritual care is an integral part of the healing process, visits by members of the clergy may be arranged by asking one of your caregivers. Patients or family members can contact the Spiritual Care Department at 964-4368.

Meditation Room

At Andrus Pavilion, a non-sectarian Meditation Room, is located off the main lobby and is used by outpatients, families and friends for quiet thought and prayer. The Meditation Room also serves as a base of operations for visiting clergy.

Sunlight Pharmacy

Located in the Andrus Pavilion. Call 914-999-3199 for information.

Meds-to-Beds

Meds-to-Beds is a service at St. John’s Riverside Hospital to offer patients the convenience of having medication delivered to their bedside at discharge. This program was created with our patients’ health and convenience in mind, eliminating the need for patients and families to stop at a pharmacy on their way home. In addition to preparing prescriptions, the pharmacist will discuss medications with patients prior to discharge.

Telephone

Individual telephone service is available. A daily fee is charged to cover all daily calls. Outgoing calls may be placed anytime. Incoming calls may be received from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Please notify your family and friends of your direct telephone number located on your telephone. Payment for telephone service is made directly to the telephone rental company.

For local, immediate area calls: Dial 9, wait for a dial tone and dial the number. To make long-distance/toll calls at Andrus Pavilion: Dial 8, wait for the dial tone, then dial 0 for operator. All toll calls should be charged to your home phone. If you have any questions about your phone service, please call ext. 4471. To make long-distance/toll calls at Dobbs Ferry Pavilion: Long-distance calls require the use of a calling card or a credit card.

TV

Color television service is available to all patients for a small daily fee. If you would like TV service or if the TV is not working properly, please notify a member of the staff. Patients at Andrus Pavilion can also call ext. 4471 for assistance. Patients at Dobbs Ferry Pavilion can call the Nursing Station at ext. 1057. Payment for television service is made directly to the TV rental company.

Waiting Rooms

At Andrus Pavilion, a Surgical Waiting Room, located on the second floor, is available for family members of patients undergoing surgery. They will be called to see the surgeon when you are out of the operating room.

At Dobbs Ferry Pavilion, family members waiting for patients undergoing surgery may wait in the lobby or in the Surgical Waiting Room located on the second floor of the patient unit. They will be called to see the surgeon when you are out of the operating room.