Patients and Visitors

UnityPoint Health - Marshalltown Hospital

People are amazing — we help keep them that way.

In Marshalltown, we offer so much more than exceptional healthcare. We also provide patients and visitors with the comforts of home, the convenience you need and helpful, compassionate service.

With those things in mind, we’ve put together some useful information to help support and care for our patients, their family members and visitors. If you don't find the information you're looking for here, our hospital volunteers or staff members will be glad to help you.

General Guidelines
  • Visitors must be dressed appropriately and must wear shirt and shoes
  • Visitors should maintain a quiet environment and avoid unnecessary noise
  • People with colds, sore throats or any contagious disease should not visit patients
  • Visits should be kept short
  • Visitors may be asked to leave the room during tests or treatments or when the physician or nurse needs to see the patient
Visiting Hours

Visitors can be good medicine for patients, and family members and friends are welcome to visit. However, a patient's care and well-being are our primary concerns at Marshalltown Hospital.

To enhance the quality of care, specific hours have been established. Visiting hours for most hospital units are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

Children
Children may visit patients on most floors and special units. However, we ask that children who are younger than 14 be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for the child's behavior. We ask that children stay in a patient's room or lounge throughout their visit.
Waiting Areas

There are specially designated lounge areas for visitors on each patient floor, including the emergency department and main lobby.

A volunteer is on duty in the main lobby during regular business hours Monday through Friday. These volunteers are available to assist families waiting in the lobby area during their family member's surgery.

The volunteer on duty keeps family members informed about the progress of the surgery and the patient's condition.

Hospital Amenities & Services

Cafeteria
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The hospital's cafeteria is typically open for visitors and staff dining, and it's located on the main level, between the emergency department and the main entrance.

Hours:

Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (6-7 p.m. badge access for employees only)

  • Breakfast: 7 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
    • Traditional breakfast items, made-to-order omelets, oatmeal, etc.
  • Lunch: 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
    • Deli station with specialty sandwiches
    • Grill station with made-to-order items
    • Grab-n-go with fresh-made salads, sandwiches, heat-and-eat meals and more
    • Salad bar – self-serve with fresh ingredients, plus seasonal salads such as potato salad, pasta salad, etc.
  • Beverages, snacks, desserts
  • Breaks: 9:45-10:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Monday – Sunday (Dinner)

  • Guests and employees are welcome to use our Room Service menu. To order, dial the seven-digit number 104-1600. Meals are typically delivered within 30-45 minutes.

Weekends and Holidays (Lunch)

  • Lunch: 11:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Self-Serve Bistro & Vending Services
Vending machines and a self-service bistro, located in the main lobby, are available 24 hours a day.
Free Wireless Internet

Connect to the "UnityPoint Guest" network (if you have issues, make sure "DHCP" is enabled), then open your web browser.

Enjoy – with no passwords, fees or limits!

Your Stay

Your Room

Your room in our new, state-of-the-art hospital is designed with your comforts in mind. Each room has a spacious bathroom, a television and telephone.

A handheld nurse call light is located at your bedside and in each restroom. When pushed, your call is acknowledged, and your nurse is notified. You may also control your room lighting and television from your bed. Ask your nurse to show you how to use the controls.

Showers are available, your nurse will assist you when medically able to go to the shower. Nurses will offer a comfort bath to all patients daily.

Your bed is electrically operated and can be controlled from the buttons on the side rails.

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Identification Bands
When admitted, you received an identification band to wear around your wrist. Please wear it at all times. You may receive multiple bands. They are for your safety and allow hospital personnel to identify you and your individual care needs.
Hospital Gown
If you would like to wear your own sleepwear instead of a hospital gown, that's OK in most instances. However, please wear a hospital gown for all tests, examinations or procedures. Large-sized gowns are available.
Your Meals

Choose your daily meals from a menu distributed on your breakfast tray. If you have special dietary needs, one of our dietitians may visit during your stay to assist with nutritional care.

To order from your menu, simply circle the items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please remember these selections are for the following day. You may leave your completed menu on your tray, or a member of the dietary staff will stop by and collect it in the afternoon. Please note your menu selections may be changed due to diet restrictions ordered by your physicians.

If you desire menu choices not offered on the selective menu, we'd be happy to offer you our "Or You May Prefer" menu, which contains a variety of traditional favorites available every day. Ask a member of the food service team for a copy of this menu.

Guest Meals

Your family members or friends may wish to dine with you bedside. A daily menu is offered at a nominal cost. Check with your nurse to make an order.

Medication

Do not keep medications at your bedside, including over-the-counter products. (There may be exceptions to this, ask your nurse for clarification). For safety, we encourage you to send any medications home with your family. If this is not possible, your nurse will store your medications, prescribed and otherwise, in a locked container outside your room. When you are released from the hospital, your nurse will review discharge instructions for medications with you.

Make sure your doctors know about every medicine you are taking (including herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications). Inform hospital staff of any allergies and adverse reactions you have to medicines. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand before you receive them. Also, ask your nurse immediately if you have questions about the medications you're given.

Free Wireless Internet

Connect to the "UnityPoint Guest" network (if you have issues, make sure "DHCP" is enabled), then open your web browser.

Enjoy – with no passwords, fees or limits!

Your Safety

Fall Prevention Program

In Marshalltown, our goal is to make your hospital stay as safe and pleasant as possible. To meet this goal, we have developed a fall prevention program that includes identification of patients at risk for falls and steps to prevent falls.

Patients who have certain illnesses, physical limitations, weaknesses or other medical conditions that increase the risk of falls will be identified. This alerts the staff involved in your care throughout the hospital that you are at risk to fall.

  • We need your help to safeguard you and your family member against falls. Please follow these guidelines while you are in the hospital.
  • Ask the nurse or physical therapist if you can be out of bed up to the bathroom alone and follow their instructions.
  • Ask for help before getting out of bed if you feel dizzy, weak or if you need help managing your IV poles or other equipment.
  • Tell the doctor or nursing staff if you have a history of falls.
  • Wear non-skid slippers when getting out of bed, if you do not have any, ask the nursing staff to get a pair for you.
  • Keep your bedside free of clutter and items on the floor.
  • Use the call light in the bathroom if you need assistance getting back to bed.
  • Notify nursing staff if a spill occurs on the floor.
  • Ask to have objects such as bedside tables, phone and call lights within easy reach if you are not able to be up.
  • If you require glasses or wear hearing aides, please use them.

We are here to help you in all aspects of your care, including your personal care needs. Please call us if you need help with anything.

Our staff is committed to making the patient care environment safe and as pleasant as possible for our patients. Be sure to ask the staff questions if you have them. Asking questions and speaking up makes patient care safer for everyone.

Patient Safety & Infection Control

A patient's safety is a priority at UnityPoint Health – Marshalltown. Physicians, nurses, therapists, other caregivers and volunteers will work to provide safe care while you are here and to protect you against accidental injury. We encourage all patients and families to help create a safe environment and offer suggestions that could protect patients.

The single most important way you can help is to be an active member of your health care team. Our patients and families are encouraged to SPEAK UP if there are questions or concerns.

  • Notice the medications you are given and ask for information about them
  • Ask all healthcare workers who have contact with you if they have washed their hands or used a hand disinfectant
  • Find out why tests and treatments are needed – and what the results are
  • Follow the instructions given to you by caregivers
  • There is no smoking within the hospital
  • No matches or lighters are allowed in your room
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The DAISY Award

The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day.

Please say thank you by sharing your story of how a nurse made a difference you will never forget!

Nominate an extraordinary nurse
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ROSE Award

The ROSE Award rewards our Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) for their consistent demonstration of excellence through clinical expertise, extraordinary service and compassionate care.
Nominate a Deserving Patient Care Technician
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SUNSHINE Award

The SUNSHINE Award recognizes those non-nursing team members who rise above expectations to brighten the day of our patients or team members through their brilliant, exemplary service.
Nominate an extraordinary non-nursing team member