Patient Guide

About Us

Learn more about North Mississippi Health Services, including our Mission and Vision, as well as our Values.

Patient Experience

Our approach to patient care is about connecting with every patient, every time, and making a difference in every life we touch. 

After your stay, you may receive a survey asking about your visit. Please be honest. Your feedback will help us make improvements where needed and give praise where deserved.

Patient Safety

Your safety is our top priority. We are on a continuous journey to improve safety for our patients and staff with a goal of zero preventable harm. Your safety is a collaborative effort, and we want you to be an active participant in your care. 

If you have any concerns during your hospital stay, please notify us through one of these methods:

• Ask to speak to the charge nurse or nurse manager
• Call our Care Line at (662) 377-CARE (2273)
• Complete a patient feedback form  

Thank a Team Member

Share your story of what your nurse or other caregiver has meant to you. Ask for a DAISY Award (for nurses) or BEE Award (for other caregivers) nomination form. Nomination forms are available throughout NMMC or at www.nmhs.net/bee-award. For more information, call (662) 377-6341 or email BEEAwards@nmhs.net.

Patient Rights

We recognize our obligations and responsibility to provide each patient with the care most conducive to your comfort and well-being. We also respect the rights of the patient (and legal guardian) as an individual with unique health care needs. 

Rapid Response Team

Rapid Response Team members work together to prevent emergencies and provide help when needed. 

Call for help if you notice: 

• You feel that something is “just not right,” even if you can’t explain it.
• You notice a sudden or worrying change in the patient’s condition.
• You observe any of the warning signs listed below that are not normal or currently being treated for the patient:
  • Heart rate is less than 40 or greater than 130
  • Respiratory rate is less than 12 or greater than 28
  • Systolic blood pressure is less than 90 or greater than 170
  • O2 saturation is less than 90% on supplemental oxygen
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Acute chest pain or dysrhythmia
  • Acute change in mental status
  • Temperature is less than 96.8 F or greater than 100.4 F in combination with any of the above

At NMMC-Tupelo, call the Rapid Response Team at (662) 377-3678. At all other NMMC hospitals, please contact the patient’s nurse or charge nurse. 

Advance Directive

An advance directive helps your loved ones make decisions for your care when you can't.

Leaving the Hospital

Reduce your chances of complications and increase your chances for a healthy recovery. For a successful transition from the hospital, talk with your nurse about:

• your discharge summary and discharge plan
• your complete medicine list and instructions
• your upcoming appointments
• what to do if you don’t feel well

Other follow-up instructions could include:

• Help and resources when you leave the hospital
• Food or activities to avoid
• How to care for incisions or use equipment
• Warning signs to watch for
• Daily living adjustments (like how to get into bed)
• Who to call with questions

Taking Medicines at Home

After you leave the hospital, you may have to change how often you take current medicines or new ones. It’s important to fill any new prescriptions right away and take all your medicines exactly as your doctor recommends.

If you don’t, your health condition may get worse, and you could end up back in the hospital. Remember these tips:

• Connect doses with daily activities—like when you eat a meal or go to bed.
• Put medicines where you’ll see them—for example, on the dinner table if you need to take them with food, or by your toothbrush if you need to take them in the morning.
• Use daily dosing containers—to sort your medicines for the week.
• Keep a written or electronic schedule—so you know which medicine to take next.
• Refill your prescription—and set reminders on your phone or calendar for the next refill.

myConnection Patient Portal

After your hospital stay, you will be able to review the discharge summary through our myConnection patient portal. 

Visitation Policy

NMHS' Visitation Policy helps provide for the care of our patients, staff and other visitors. 

Virtual Care

Virtual Care is a service offered at select NMHS facilities. This innovative approach use technology to provide remote nursing care, enhancing patient support and improving health care delivery. Services include:

• Admission Assistance: Registered Nurses assist patients with the admission process.
• Discharge Education: Registered Nurses provide information and guidance for patients being discharged.
• Safety Rounding: Nurses conduct regular virtual check-ins to ensure patient safety.
• Diagnosis-Based Education: Nurses educate patients about their specific diagnoses.
• Medication Education: Nursing or Pharmacy staff provide education on new and chronic medications.
• Procedure and Process Education: Nurses explain medical procedures and processes to patients.
• Safety Sitter Monitoring: Nursing Assistants utilize remote monitoring to ensure patient safety.
• Physician Consultation: Specialty-specific consultations provided to select community hospitals.
• Privacy and Security: Your privacy is of utmost importance. Virtual nurses will always alert you before “entering” your room, and the cameras they use do not record video or audio.

Aggressive/Violent Behavior

NMHS does not tolerate violent or aggressive behavior toward others. Individuals exhibiting violent or aggressive behavior can be banned from our facilities.

Recording

No NMHS employees should be recorded without appropriate written consent.