Safety and security at the hospital

During your time at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, your health and safety are our main priority. Review policies in place to protect our patients, their visitors, and our staff, and actions you can take to keep yourself and others safe.

Safety tips for your hospital stay

Your health condition, treatments, or being in an unfamiliar environment may increase your risk of injury. While you're in the hospital, take these steps to keep yourself safe:

• Ask your care team whether your medication can cause side effects like sleepiness, weakness, or dizziness
• Be careful not to trip on wires, tubes, or other medical equipment
• Call your nurse using the nurse call bell whenever you need help
• Do not bring medications from home or take medications without your care team's knowledge
• Hold grab bars while getting in and out of the shower or tub
• Keep items you need within easy reach
• Use handrails on stairways and in hallways
• Use your hospital bed controls to lower your bed before getting in or out

Personal electrical equipment notice

For your protection, you cannot use personal electronics that need to be plugged into an outlet. You may use battery-operated devices. Learn more about what to bring to the hospital and what to leave at home.

Hospital security

Security staff are available 24/7. If you notice any unusual or suspicious activity, tell your nurse or the Security team. You can contact Security through the hospital operator by dialing "0" (zero) on your room phone.

If you lose something during your stay, immediately tell your nurse, who will contact Security.

Fire response plan

If the fire alarm sounds, staff will close your hospital room door. Remain in your room with the door closed until staff gives you further instructions.

Earthquake safety

During an earthquake, stay in your room. If possible, move away from windows and shelves. After the earthquake, staff will provide instructions.

Preventing infections

Feel peace of mind during your stay knowing that we follow universal precautions established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This approach prevents the spread of germs and safeguards you and healthcare workers. Expect your care team to avoid coming into contact with blood or bodily fluids by:

• Practicing frequent handwashing
• Using protective clothing (gloves, aprons or gowns, masks, and eyewear) when needed

Antibiotic-resistant infections

Rest assured we work diligently to prevent the spread of super bugs like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within the hospital — and have protocols in place to quickly identify and treat these types of infections in patients who seek our care.

Hand hygiene program

Frequent handwashing is our first line of defense against the spread of serious infections and germs. Our hand hygiene program is designed to keep clean hands top of mind for our medical caregivers, patients, and their visitors. During your stay, we encourage you to:

• Wash your hands frequently
• Ask your caregivers and visitors when they arrive in your room if they recently washed their hands
• Take advantage of hand sanitization dispensers in every patient room and bottles throughout the hospital

Count on Montage Health to continuously monitor our caregivers, staff, and volunteers for proper hand hygiene and always work toward excellent hygiene compliance.

Hazardous materials notice

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 requires proper warning of the discharge or release of chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Though we substitute them with less hazardous agents whenever possible, Community Hospital uses the following chemicals:

• Chemotherapeutic drugs
• Chloroform
• Formaldehyde
• Ortho-aminoazotoluene