Patients and visitors are responsible for all personal belongings. Memorial Health is not responsible for replacing lost or misplaced items, so we recommend you bring only essential items to the hospital and offer the following tips to help keep your personal items secure:
Clothing: Storage space in patient rooms is limited. We have hospital gowns and non-skid socks for patients to wear during their stay. We suggest that clothing worn to the hospital be sent home with family/friends and that appropriate clothing be brought to the hospital shortly before patient discharge.
Toiletries: Most toiletries can be provided upon request. Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, etc.
Denture Care: A member of your care team will provide a denture cup for patients who use dentures or bridges to store them in when not in use. The cup will be labeled with the patient’s name. Please avoid placing dentures on a meal tray, under a pillow, on the sheets, or in any concealed place where they may be lost or accidentally thrown away.
Hearing Aids: Hearing aids should be kept in the original case provided upon purchase. If the original case is not available, nursing staff will provide a container labeled with patient name in which to store the aids when not in use. Do not leave aids unprotected on the bedside or on over-bed tables.
Eyeglasses: Glasses are best secured in a case, marked with the patient name, when not in use. To prevent loss or damage to eyeglasses during hospitalization, patients are asked not to leave them unprotected on the bedside table, in a gown pocket, or on the bed.
Wheelchairs, Walkers, Canes: Please put your name on all necessary items that are brought to the hospital including wheelchairs, walkers and canes.
Medications: Bring a current list of medications the patient is taking to the hospital. This includes herbal and over the counter medications as well as prescription medications. If a list is not available, bring in the medication containers for the pharmacist to view. Afterwards, the containers can be taken home by a family member or friend or stored by the pharmacy for retrieval prior to discharge. Medications brought in from home are not to be stored at the bedside.
Valuables: Please leave all valuables at home or send them home with a family member or friend upon admission to the hospital. This includes jewelry and watches, cash and credit cards, wallets and purses, all electronics (cameras, cell phones, laptops, chargers and tablets), and any other item that would be considered a loss if misplaced.
If family members are not present, valuable items should be given to the nursing staff to be secured in a valuables envelope and locked in a safe. They are not to be kept at the bedside. A receipt will be provided for collection of the items upon discharge. If you plan to bring any of these items, please label them, as we are not responsible for items kept at the bedside.
Lost Items: If you lose something during your hospital stay, please notify your nurse right away, and we will make every effort to find it. While Memorial Health is not responsible for patient and visitor personal belongings, we try to return lost items to their owners. Memorial Health does not replace lost, stolen or damaged items. Unclaimed belongings and valuables will be kept for 30 days.
To report a lost item, please contact:
Decatur Memorial Hospital 217-876-2007
Lincoln Memorial Hospital 217-305-5053
Springfield Memorial Hospital 217-757-7435
Taylorville Memorial Hospital 217-825-9914