A Guide for Patients and Families - In Hospital, at Home and in the Community

Everyone at Waypoint is committed to ensuring a safe and healing environment for our patients. We invite you, your family, your friends and community to get involved in enhancing patient care.

Be Involved in Your Health Care

* Have your photograph taken upon admission and update it regularly
* Make decisions with your treatment team
* Ask questions and seek clarification
* Be sure your patient identification is clear and legible  
* Discuss your preferences, desired goals, values, strengths
   and concerns
* Share your experiences
* Do not hesitate to inform the team when you are distressed
   or feeling unwell
* If you need an interpreter, ask for one
* Tell your treatment team if you have a family member or
   friend who would be helpful in your treatment and recovery
* Let us know if you wish to see an Aboriginal Healer,
   Multi-faith Chaplain or attend worship services. We are committed to making your identified religious
   practices and supports available to you
* Requests for outside assessments can be made by the patient or family, please contact the Psychiatrist-in-
   Chief's office for further information

Learn About Your Medication

* Your medication(s) is an important part of your overall treatment at Waypoint
* Learn all you can about your medication, how it works, when to take
   it, how best to take it and how to store it
* Different medications work better for different people, know what to
   expect from your medication(s), talk to your treatment team if you
   feel the medication isn't working correctly or you experience
   unexpected side effects
* Inform the treatment team of any past allergies or symptoms you've
   experienced with either food or medications (which include any
   vitamins or herbal products or products you can buy over the
   counter)
* The Pharmacist works closely with the treatment team to assist you
   with any drug related questions you may have - please ask if you
   would like more information

Protect Yourself from Infection

* Clean your hands with soap and water if they look dirty
* Hand sanitizer stops germs from spreading and is available throughout Waypoint
* Clean hands often, especially before you eat or drink, and after using the bathroom
* Do not share food or drinks
* Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or into a tissue, clean hands after coughing or sneezing
* Get the flu shot every year
 

* Review information about scabies
* Review information about bed bugs

Fire Safety and Smoking

* Waypoint is a smoke-free and vape-free environment.
* Please do not smoke anywhere inside or outside of Waypoint.
* Ask your care team about our smoking cessation program or options to support
   you if you do not wish to quit smoking. 
* If there is a fire, listen to evacuation instructions.
* Participate in regular fire drills.
* Remember these fire safety tips are also important at home.

Personal Safety

Call immediately for staff if you find yourself in an unsafe situation or if someone approaches you in a manner that makes you uncomfortable

* Identify situations that make you sad, anxious, angry or frightened, and
   discuss with your program staff

* Discuss patient safety issues and share safety tips with other patients
   and staff
* Help others be safe
* Tell us about your food allergies
* Tell us if you have trouble swallowing
* Waypoint uses video surveillance equipment to enhance the safety and
   security of everyone
* While video cameras are not located in places like bedrooms or washrooms, they may be located in
   seclusion rooms and step down rooms where available. If you are in a seclusion room, you will be
   informed if video monitoring is being used

Protect Your Valuables

* It is recommended that valuables, personal possessions and funds are sent home
* Waypoint staff will list and sign for all valuables
* The hospital is only responsible for funds logged and deposited with the
   PIN Money Cashier
* Secure all other perosnal belongings in the area given to you on your program

Prevent Falls

* Wear proper footwear for the conditions
* No bare feet
* Use grab bars and assistive devices
* Tell your treatment team about previous falls, medical problems,
   seizures and/or substance abuse
* Tell your treatment team if you have dizziness, blurred vision or feel
   light-headed
* Inform staff immediately of spills or foreign objects on the floor

Living in the Community

 
Prior to discharge, you and your treatment team will develop:
* A community living transition plan
* Relapse prevention strategies
* A crisis plan

When you are ready to return home, please ensure you understand what you need to know to keep you well:
* Inform your family doctor that you are home and make
   an appointment
* Know what your medications are and how to access them
* Know when your follow-up appointment is and how to get there

Maintain Body Health

* Get plenty of rest and exercise 

* Get a regular check-up
* Brush and floss your teeth regularly
* Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water
* Practice safe sex
* Wear sun screen
* Ask about support for quitting smoking

Safety and your Mental Health

* Safety in relationship to your own mental health is important.
* Recognize your own risks and talk with your team at Waypoint. This might include:
      * feelings of self harm or harm to others
      * diminished capacity for coping with the challenges of day to day living
* By recognizing the signs and symptoms of your own mental health and addiction challenges we can
   develop a plan to manage these risks and ensure the help that is needed is there for you.


Learn how to cope with negative thoughts: Negative thoughts can be insistent and loud: don't let them take over. Distract yourself or comfort yourself if you can't solve a problem right away. Try seeing the issue from all sides rather than from just one point of view.

'Collect' positive emotional moments: Make a point of thinking about the times when you've felt pleasure, comfort, tenderness, confidence or other positive emotions.

Enjoy hobbies: A hobby helps bring balance to your life. You're doing something because you want to, not because you have to. There's no pressure. It's a form of mental stimulation too.

Quoted from: Everyday tips for keeping mentally healthy http://mentalhealthweek.cmha.ca/your-mental-health/maintaining-mental-health

Be Active and Safe

How to make a complaint

When issues or concerns arise about care or services at this hospital...we want to help

Anyone has the right to comment, question and/or complain about care and treatment services at Waypoint.

Please use the chart below for information about where to start and who can provide support.

   

Ask Questions