During Your Stay

Hospitalist Staff 

A growing number of our inpatients are cared for by our hospitalist staff while they are at Norwood. Hospitalists are doctors who focus on in-hospital care of patients – coordinating care, ordering tests and checking in with patients regularly and arranging their discharge. They employ the most recent medical innovations in providing quality care to our patients. The hospitalists will communicate with your primary care physician about your care and any follow-up required after discharge. The hospitalists are available to speak with patients and family members 24 hours a day. Call 781-769-4000 to page the covering hospitalist.

Cell Phones 

Cell phone use is permitted in most public areas of the hospital. Cell phones must be turned off in the following areas: Psychiatry, Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Day Surgery, Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, patient rooms, treatment areas, Radiology, computer room, mechanical rooms.

Meals 

The Food and Nutrition Department offers a variety of choices for our patients. Nutrition Assistants will visit you daily for your menu selections. All our meals are prepared on site, and our recipes are created and prepared by our culinary-trained executive chef. All patients will receive information about their diet with individualized instruction provided by our registered dietitians. We welcome your comments and questions about our meal service.

Cafeteria   Our cafeteria, located in the basement of the Lorusso Building, is open to visitors for lunch and dinner during the week with modified hours on weekends. We serve a variety of foods from our deli bar, salad bar, grill, and homemade hot meal station. After hours, vending machines, located in the cafeteria, are available for beverages, snacks, and healthy sandwich and salad options.

Coffee Shop  The hospital's Auxiliary Coffee Shop, located off the main hall in the Draper Building, is open Monday through Friday for sandwiches, soups, salads, light snacks and beverages.

Telephone and Television 

Televisions and telephones are available in all rooms for a fee of $7.50 per day up to a maximum of 5 days. You can decline service by calling x4433 from your bedside. Charges for the telephone and television will appear on your home phone bill on a separate page and will be labeled HOSP TEL CHG.

There will be no additional charges for calls placed to 16 of our local towns (Canton, Dedham, Dover, Easton, Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood and Wrentham). Calls outside of this area are considered long distance and must be made collect or charged to your credit card.

Please note that these charges are not covered by insurance.

Mail, Flowers and Newspapers 

Our caring and dedicated volunteers visit patients receiving mail and flowers. Newspapers are available in kiosks in front of the Draper Lobby, with Sunday Boston Globe delivery to patients.

Visiting Hours 

Family and friends are welcome to visit during these hours:

General Visitation:   1 pm to 8 pm, daily

Pediatrics:   Parents, 24 hours, daily

Maternity:  Grandparents and siblings, any time during the first 24 hours after birth. Other visitors, 4 pm to 8 pm. Quiet hours: 2 pm to 4 pm. Big brother or big sister must be supervised by an adult at all times and remain in the room. No children after 8 pm. New parents need time to rest and to learn to care for baby; visitors are asked to kindly limit their stay. 

ICU:   Immediate family, over age 13. The patient’s nurse will guide length of visit.

Adult Psychiatry (Units 28 and 36): 4 pm to 8 pm, weekdays; 2:30 pm to 8 pm, weekends

Geropsychiatry (Unit 35): 1 pm to 2 pm and 6 pm to 7:30 pm, daily

 At times, it is appropriate to limit the number of visitors or the length of the visit to ensure all patients’ privacy and rest. We recognize that there are times when, because of a patient’s illness or condition, extending visiting hours is also appropriate. Please speak with a nurse manager if you have any questions.

Parking and Transportation 

Visitor parking is available behind the Lorusso Building 24 hours per day. A courtesy telephone connecting you to a taxi service is located in the main lobby of the hospital.

Norwood Hospital is located along the MBTA’s bus route 34. From the Forest Hills Station, take the “Walpole Center” bus, which follows Washington Street through Norwood Center.  The hospital is just on the edge of the town center.

The MBTA Franklin Line commuter rail also stops near the hospital. Stop at the second Norwood stop, called Norwood Central, and the hospital is located directly across the street.

Please call the MBTA office directly for bus and train schedules.

Cash Machine 

For your convenience, an automatic teller machine (ATM) is located on the main floor of the Draper Building.

Gift Shop 

The hospital's Auxiliary Gift Shop, located on the main floor of the Draper Building, offers a wide variety of items, including magazines, fresh flowers, lotions, candy and beautiful gift items for all ages. Gift shop hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm.

Our Smoking Policy 

As a health care institution, Norwood Hospital is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of disease. Patients, visitors, employees, and physicians are prohibited from smoking within Norwood Hospital.

We know that quitting can be difficult, and your nurse can suggest ways to make the process easier. For further information about smoking cessation classes, please call the Cardiology Department.

Concern, Complaint, or Problem? 

If you have a concern, complaint, or problem, please tell your doctor, nurse, another health care professional, or your patient representative. You may also contact:

Norwood Hospital Quality and Patient Safety Department
781-278-6300

Norwood Hospital Patient Financial Accounts (billing concerns)
508-772-1050

Norwood Hospital Vice President of Medical Affairs
781-278-6006

Advocacy Office/Patient Protection Unit/Division of Health Care Quality
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
99 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111
617-753-8000

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
560 Harrison Avenue, Suite G-4
Boston, MA 02118
617-654-9800

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
800-994-6610
complaint@jcaho.org