In order to admit you for inpatient treatment we require some personal information about you. Patient admissions is located in the administration building, near the information desk. You may either register yourself, or someone else may complete your registration with your written authorization. Admissions is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Wednesdays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Surgical Center II patients may use the center's in-house admissions office. It is located in the entrance hall and is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Thursdays until 12:00 p.m., and on Fridays until 11:00 a.m. Outside these hours please contact the central admissions office in the administration building.

If you will be treated at the West German Heart Center Essen, you may also register there in the entrance hall. The round desk is staffed all day long.

Should you arrive at the hospital outside regular hours, for example on a weekend or holiday, please register directly in your ward.

No pets are allowed on the University Hospital grounds.

There is an ATM at the main entrance to the administration building, near the information desk. You may use any EC debit card to obtain cash from your account there.

Bank branches outside the hospital grounds are located near the main entrance on Hufelandstraße and on Gemarkenplatz.

You may ask for change from the cashier next to the admissions office in the administration building if you need it for vending or phone card machines.

Machines dispensing hot and cold beverages are located in the administration building, the Radiation and Tumor Clinic, the Eye Clinic, Surgical Centers I and II (OZ I and II), the Institute of Pathology, the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, the Women's Clinic and the General Medical Clinic. These machines are intended for both visitors and patients.

In the wards, patients are served water, tea, and coffee free of charge.

You may donate blood at our Institute of Transfusion Medicine. The institute is located on the University Hospital grounds-inside Surgical Center II, near the information desk in the entrance hall.

Prior to your first donation you will be examined by our physicians. This allows them to determine whether there are any health reasons preventing you from donating blood, and whether your blood will be fit for later use. This is necessary so that we may protect you from health risks. Also, we want to make sure that we will actually be able to use your donated blood to save other people's lives, and not to find out later that this is impossible due to health reasons.

These medical pre-examinations are conducted on Tuesdays between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., on Wednesdays between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., and on Fridays at individually scheduled times. Four weeks after your exam you will be able to donate blood for the first time. For registration and information call 0201-723-1560.

Thrombocyte (Platelet)-Donation

Own Blood Donation

There is a cafeteria inside the entrance hall of Surgical Center II. It is a popular meeting spot and provides both patients and visitors with some relief from hospital life. On warmer days, outdoor seating is available as well. The cafeteria is open Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. In addition to breakfast, hot and cold dishes, salads, vegetarian dishes, and pastries are offered. There are also many beverages from which to choose.

Restaurant

The use of cell phones (mobile phones) is generally allowed on hospital grounds. However, all phones must be switched off when entering clinics and institutes, as their radio waves may interfere with sensitive medical devices.

Your opinion matters to us! We will listen to your concerns, complaints, praise, ideas, and suggestions of any kind. Our patient relations team will follow-up, evaluate all of your concerns, and report back to you quickly. Every complaint and every suggestion will be treated individually and confidentially.

If you would like to speak with us in person, you will find a contact person on the third floor of the administration building, who will take time to talk with you (room numbers 2.31, 2.32, 2.39). You will also find a mail box there in which you can drop us a note. Please include your name and phone number, so our employees can contact you as soon as possible.

The central complaint unit can also be reached by phone at 0201-723-85399.

Essen University Hospital will use your suggestions to develop and improve our performance continuously.

• Pajamas or nightgown
• Underwear
• Socks
• Slippers
• Bathrobe
• Towels and washcloths
• Comfortable clothing (track suit, light sweater)
• Toiletry kit (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, denture dish, comb, hairbrush, hairbands, nail scissors, nail file, cosmetics, nail polish remover)
• Shaving supplies
• Hair dryer
• Earplugs
• Hearing aid
• Glasses
• Walking cane
• Change, coins
• Reading material
• Stationery and pen
• Personal phone numbers
• Regular medication
• Health insurance card(s) and possibly a reimbursement statement from your insurance

If applicable

• Medical reports (e.g., x-rays, reports)
• Allergy ID / diabetes documentation
• Advance health care directive 

For pregnant women, additionally

• Family register
• Maternity record
• Physician´s referral

For outpatient deliveries

• Car seat suitable for newborns with adequate head support
• Warm newborn clothes including a hat for the ride home

What should I leave at home?

• Favorite jewelry and larger sums of money
• Large bags
• For longer stays, it is advisable that you ask friends or family regularly to exchange your clothes for fresh ones.

If your physician prescribes it, we offer dietary and nutrition consulting services. These will be arranged in advance by the nursing staff. Consultants can be found in room 108, on the second floor of the gastronomy building, Mondays through Fridays, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If necessary, they will be happy to see you by your bedside.

Once your treatment has been completed, your attending physician will discuss your discharge with you. On the day of discharge, please remember to take with you all your personal belongings, including any valuables you may have deposited in the ward or with the administrators.

Also, please remember at this time to pay the copayment for which you are legally responsible. Please see "Finances and Formal Procedures" for more information regarding these payments.

Flowers add color, freshness and a friendly atmosphere to a patient's room. Due to space constraints and in consideration of fellow patients we recommend bringing fresh flowers only after checking with the nurses. Patients who are particularly susceptible to infections are kindly asked not to take fresh flowers into their rooms. For reasons of hygiene, potted plants are not allowed.

The cashier is located next to the admissions office in the administration building. Here you will be able to pay the legally required copayment of €10 per day for your stay of up to 28 days. The cashier is open Mondays through Fridays between 7:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and again between 1:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Alternatively, you may deposit or transfer the amount owed to one of the following bank accounts:

Postbank Essen

Account number 35 26 432

Routing number 360 100 43

Sparkasse Essen

Account number 49 00 700

Routing number 360 501 05

Any amounts overpaid due to a shorter stay than planned will be reimbursed upon discharge. Please keep the receipt for your records. Should you require another hospitalization within the same calendar year, it will serve as proof of payment. Should you stay at the hospital longer than anticipated, please pay the outstanding balance after your discharge either at the cashier or wire or transfer it to one of the bank accounts listed above.

No copayments are required if you are under 18 years of age, if you are admitted to the maternity ward, if your medical condition requires partial inpatient treatment, or if your inpatient treatment is covered by workers´ compensation insurance.

If you are paying for treatment from your own funds, you are required to pay for all services rendered. Please remit payment at the cashier in the amount of the anticipated costs on the day of your admission to Essen University Hospital. A preliminary estimate of this amount will be provided by your attending physician or an administrative officer.

You may choose from three different menus daily. Your personal and religion-based dietary habits will be taken into consideration, and alternatives will be offered. If you are required to follow a certain diet, or if you have food intolerances, we will plan your meals in cooperation with your attending physician.

Mondays through Fridays between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays between 7:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. a meal planner will see you in your room to discuss your choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the following day.

Restaurant

In the guest house there is a communal kitchen in which you may prepare your meals. Also, the University Hospital restaurant offers a wide variety of food and drink.

In the entrance hall of West German Heart Center Essen there is a hair salon catering to both men and women. Services offered include cutting, shampooing, dyeing, and styling. The salon´s team is available Mondays and Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. If being a patient prevents you from visiting the salon, a hairdresser will gladly see you in the ward. To make an in-ward appointment, please call extension 4879. For cancer and tumor patients, the salon offers consultations regarding wigs - both at the salon and in the ward.

Do you have trouble communicating in German? University Hospital employees will be happy to help. Our offerings range from well-known languages such as Spanish, French, and Italian, to rarer languages such as Fullani, spoken in West Africa, and the Indian language of Malayalam. Some of our employees are also trained in (German) sign language. Should you require such assistance, please let the nursing staff know.

The volunteers of the ecumenical hospital services will run small errands for you and are available to talk. They visit the wards twice a week. The volunteers (both men and women) can be reached by phone at extension 2626.

Our lost and found office is located on the second floor of the administration building in room 1.14. It is staffed by Regina Claas, and you may call her at extension 3429. Another place to inquire about lost items is the information desk located directly at the main entrance on Hufelandstrasse.

There is postal service for patients at the University Hospital. Please deliver your outgoing stamped mail to the nursing staff. The nearest public mail box is located off the hospital grounds on Hufelandstrasse, in front of the administration building. Stamps are sold in the vending area of Surgical Center II. In order for your incoming mail to reach you as soon as possible, please ask that it be addressed with the clinic, your ward, and your room number in addition to your name.

An example:

Jane Doe

Universitaetsklinikum Essen

Unfallchirurgie Station UC 3 (ward)

Zimmer 121 (room number)

D-45122 Essen

For packages, please use postal code 45147.

There are several places offering overnight accommodations for friends and families of patients on and near the University Hospital grounds. Special arrangements can be made for parents of children receiving inpatient treatments at the University Hospital.

The accommodation service will gladly help you make arrangements. It is located in room no. 1.14 of the administration building and staffed by Regina Claas, at extension 3429, and Peter Zeitzmann, at extension 2702.

You may request optional benefits. These include direct treatment by chief physicians/medical superintendent, accommodations in a room with only one or two beds, and accommodations for an accompanying person. Please make arrangements in writing for such optional benefits on the day of your arrival either at the admissions office or in your ward, if that is where you are being admitted.

Individual clinics offer different comfort features. These may include a private toilet and shower, a safe, and a balcony or porch attached to your room.

Essen University Hospital operates two parking garages. The entrance to the Hufelandstraße garage is located next to the University Hospital's main entrance. The second garage is located on Virchowstrasse. Both garages are open every day, around the clock. Current parking fees are posted in the garage or you may call 0201-723-2617 directly from the gate to inquire about rates. Patients and visitors may also purchase lower rate weekly tickets at the gate. Monthly passes must be pre-ordered.

Blood and platelet donors for the Institute for Transfusion Medicine may use the parking garage free of charge.

On weekdays, Protestant clergy can be reached at extension 2626, and Catholic clergy at 2627; on weekends and holidays you may contact them through the nursing staff. If you prefer, clergy will visit you in the ward. They are also available for individuals of non-Christian religious traditions.

The ecumenical chapel is located near the parking garage at the main entrance. It is open during the day, and service times are listed in the information sheet on your side table. The services are broadcast via TV on channel 16.

Payphones can be found on the hospital grounds for patient and visitor use. A fax machine that can be operated with a phone card is located in the administration building, right next to the main entrance in the lower level. Other card-operated payphones are located in the ENT Clinic, the Eye Clinic, and in the entrance hall of Surgical Center II (OZ II). Phone cards are available for purchase in the vending area of OZ II. Coin-operated payphones are located, e.g., in the Children´s Clinic, the Radiation and Tumor Clinic, the General Medical Clinic, the Neurological Clinic, and Surgical Center II.

Cellphone

Phone

We require some of your personal information when admitting you to the University Hospital for inpatient or partial inpatient treatment. This will be entered into a computerized system so it can be retrieved at any time during your treatment as necessary.

The privacy of all information regarding your person and your health status is protected not only by our physicians? duty to maintain confidentiality, but also by state regulations. The only people with access to your personal information are the physicians and nurses involved in your care.

Your personal information will be shared with others only with your permission, e.g., for purposes of automated meal planning, for archiving it on microfiches, and for remote data maintenance activities.

All patient rooms are equipped with a TV set. Radios are mounted on the media panel of the side table. A total of 25 TV and 8 radio stations are available free of charge. Instructions for use of the TV and radio devices are displayed on the side table.

In rooms with more than one bed, TV and radio sound is available only via headphones, so both you and your neighbors can enjoy your shows. The sockets will accept standard headphone connectors. Headphones are available from hospital vending machines. Just like the phone card vending machines, they are located in all major hospital buildings: Administration building (lower level); Surgical Center I (ground floor); ENT Clinic (lower level); General Medical Clinic (ground floor); Radiation and Tumor Clinic (ground floor); Women´s Clinic (entrance hall); Surgical Center II (ground floor); Heart Center (ground floor); Children´s Clinic (ground floor).

We regret that is not possible to use your own TV set.

The University Hospital restaurant is open to all visitors Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. On Sundays and holidays the restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 pm. The restaurant is located on the upper level of the kitchen building next to the Heart Center. Breakfast is served buffet style. You have a choice of pastry, snacks, salads, and a wide variety of drinks. Four different meals are served for lunch, including one vegetarian dish.

Rooms are equipped with one side table, one wardrobe, one call system with integrated lighting, one phone, and one radio each per bed. The instructions for use of the TV set, the radio, and the telephone are available in your room. We recommend that you carry only small amounts of cash.

Should you want to leave your ward for a walk on the hospital grounds, kindly inform the nursing staff. Letting them know about your intentions will prevent you from missing important examinations! If you are sharing a room with one or more patients, please be considerate of each other´s needs.

The "Ruhrlandschule - Schule für Kranke" is a public school. In case of a chronic condition or longer lasting inpatient treatment, your child will be taught by teachers from all types and levels of German public schools. The attending physician is consulted, so classes can be tailored to fit the health status and current needs of your child. There are both individual and group classes, held either in the school building, in clinics classrooms, or directly by the bedside. The school's office will provide you with detailed information. Phone: 0201-705023.

Internet: www.ruhrlandschule.uni-essen.de (Information in German only).

Smoking is not allowed in any of the buildings at Essen University Hospital.

Social Services complements nursing and medical care, offers social consultations and care, and helps in preparing for discharge. Social Services cares for all hospital patients for whom no other, specialized psychological or social consulting services are available. The clinic providing your care will give you more detailed information. Social Services can be reached at extension 2623 on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to make an appointment. Social Services employees are based in the administration building in rooms 01.20, 01.21, and 01.22.

In patient rooms, you will be provided with a personal phone at your request. You can use this phone to receive and make calls without the help of an operator. Phone calls to all University Hospital extensions are free of charge. In order to use the phone, you will need a card that can be purchased at the card vending machines located throughout the hospital grounds (see Radio and TV for locations). The €10 deposit required for the card will be refunded once you return the card. At a cash machine next to the phone card vending machine you can add to your phone account using €5, €10, and €20 bills.

You will receive more detailed information regarding the use of these phones at the time of admission or in your ward. Please remember to cancel your phone at the time of discharge or when transferring to another ward.

For the duration of your hospital stay you may deposit your valuables at the central admissions office in a deposit box. You may also deposit valuables with the staff in your ward.

We recommend that you carry only small amounts of cash.

Please remember to take your personal belongings with you at discharge time. Also remember valuables that you may have deposited in your ward or with the administrative office.

The vending area is located across from the information desk in the entrance hall of Surgical Center II. It offers newspapers and magazines, fruit, drinks, candy, stamps, phone cards for payphones, toiletry items, toys, and many other items. If you are unable to find something that you need, please ask the sales staff?they welcome your suggestions for expanding the selection.

Hours of Operation:

Mondays through Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays between 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Daily visiting hours end - with possible exceptions - at 8:30 p.m. so you and your fellow patients will be able to get enough sleep. We ask for your understanding that the number of visitors is limited to three.