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Patient Affairs
Advance Directives
Advance directives are instruments that allow you to provide guidance about the type of care you would like to receive if you are unable to communicate your choices personally. The terms "living will" and "durable power of attorney for health care" refer to types of directives.
Through an advance directive, you may provide special instructions about your care. You may also designate another person to make health care decisions in your place.
When you are admitted, your nurse will ask if you have an advance directive. If you do, please provide copies to your doctor and nurse to place in your medical record. Religion-sensitive directives and living wills are available from the chaplain's office. We will be happy to help you complete an advance directive at any time during your stay. If you do not have one, your nurse or social worker can assist you with information and provide you with the necessary sample documents.
Ethics Committee
The Ethics Committee at Sinai supports patients and their loved ones who may be experiencing troubling ethical problems during a hospital stay. The Ethics Committee includes doctors, nurses, social workers, other health care providers, clergy and community members.
The committee can assist in the discussion of medical treatment choices. The committee can also provide guidance and support for decisions by patients, families and health care providers. Anyone may request the services of the Ethics Committee by calling the Social Work office at extension 5578, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by paging the hospital operations coordinator at extension 5901 after 5 p.m. on weekdays, weekends and holidays.
Patient Concerns
If you have a concern or problem with any aspect of your care, please inform your nurse or the nursing director. If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact the coordinator of Customer Service at extension 5985. If you have a question or concern during evening or weekend hours, please have the hospital operations coordinator paged at extension 5901.
Access to Medical Records
As a patient, you have the right to review your medical records.
If you are currently hospitalized, please make the request to review your medical records to your doctor or nurse. The nurse will tell your doctor and document the request in your medical records. You are then entitled to review the records in the presence of your physician or designee. Sinai staff will document in your medical records the date and time of review, as well as the name(s) of the individual(s) with whom you have reviewed your records. You and your designee(s) will then sign the note.
If you are under psychiatric care, you need the authorization of your psychiatrist or designee for release of your medical records. If your request is denied, a summary from your psychiatrist may be obtained by written request.
Once you are discharged from Sinai, you may make a written request to our Health Information Management department to have a copy of your medical records released. Please indicate your name and address, date of birth, date of treatment, the information you would like released, and where you want the information sent. Please sign and date the letter. You may make your request in person or by mail. If you make the request by mail, please send it to:
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
Health Information Management Department
2401 West Belvedere Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-5271
Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Services
Meeting spiritual needs is an important part of the healing process. To this end, Sinai accommodates the spiritual needs of individuals of all faiths. Requests for visits from clergy may be made with the Office of Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Services at extension 9680. During evenings and weekends, please contact the hospital operations coordinator by calling extension 5901.
The non-denominational, Jill Fox Meditation Room is located on the first floor. It is open at all times with Bibles and devotional materials available. There is also a Chapel/Meditation Room in the Emergency Center.
A Jewish chapel, located in the first floor corridor between the Weinberg Pavilion and the Blaustein Building, is used for weekday (Monday through Thursday) Mincha services. It is open at all times for prayer and meditation.
