If you have any questions, compliments or concerns about your care or safety as a patient of UW Health, we encourage you to talk with your doctors and nurses. If you feel your concerns are not adequately addressed, please contact Patient Relations at patientfeedback@swedishamerican.org or call (779) 696-3898.
Parking and valet services
Parking is available at the State Street and Charles Street entrances
Valet service is available at both locations 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday
For patients needing assistance, we offer cart transportation from both entrances
Getting around the hospital
UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital consists of two main sections. To navigate between the two sections, use the first or second floor. You can enter using any of the four entrances listed below:
Main entrance at 1401 East State Street, 3rd floor
Heart Hospital entrance at 1340 Charles Street, 1st floor
East Garden entrance at 1401 East State Street, 1st floor
Emergency Department at 1401 East State Street, 2nd floor
Visitor guidelines
For details about our visitor guidelines including policies on the number of visitors and hours, please review our Patient and visitor guidelines.
We are proud to provide an environment that supports your health and recovery. All rooms are routinely cleaned and inspected to make sure there are no germs on any surface. If we can make you more comfortable, please talk with your nurse or call us directly:
If your room needs cleaning, call (779) 696-4100.
If your room is too hot or cold or a feature of your room (television, bed, lights, etc.) does not work properly, call (779) 696-4050.
Please speak to your nurse about options to mask sounds, such as requesting a sleep kit, wearing earplugs or listening to peaceful nature sounds on your television.
Pain management
Preventing your pain before it happens or managing it once it has begun can help you enjoy greater comfort and improve results of your care. If you are feeling pain from lying in a hospital bed, please talk with your nurse or care team how to be more comfortable, such as:
Extra pillows for neck, knees, ankles
Fan or sound/white noise machine
Machine that stimulates nerves (TENS unit)
Warm pack/cold pack (heat/ice) or warm blanket
Patient and visitor meals
Cafeteria
The cafeteria is located on the fourth floor of the main hospital.
Cafeteria hours are:
Monday–Friday, 6:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Weekends and holidays, 6:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Room service guest trays
Guest trays are available for family and friend through room service. Your meal will include one main course, two side orders, a beverage and dessert of your choice for $8. Credit card payment is preferred at time of order, if paying in cash, please have exact change available. Please call (779) 696-8888 to place your order.
Vending
Vending machines are located throughout facility. Please ask your nursing staff for the nearest location.
Staying connected
Free wireless internet (WiFi) access
UW Health provides complementary internet access during your stay. Connect your smartphone, tablet or laptop to Wi-Fi as "UW Health Guest".
Television
Please keep your television volume at a comfortable hearing level so as not to disturb other patients on your floor. Most patient rooms have televisions equipped with closed captioning.
Your health care team partners with you to achieve the best possible outcome for your care. We want you to feel informed and cared for during your stay. If you have questions about the roles of your care team, or wonder why certain medicines, tests or therapies are being ordered, please ask us.
The core members of your care team are:
You and your family
Your primary support person can be a family member, partner or friend, at least 18 years old, who provides you with significant emotional support.
Your nurse is your main caregiver and point of contact
Nursing assistants work alongside your nurse to ensure you receive all of your care.
Your providers (doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) partner together and provide care on your treatment plan with input of other care team members.
Other care team members might include:
Health unit coordinators (HUCs) assist with communication between you and your health care team.
Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in internal medicine and the general medical care of hospitalized patients.
Nurse case managers assist your health care team to develop a discharge plan of care and arrange for home care, medical equipment or therapies outside of the hospital.
Social workers provide support to help you with the stresses associated with sudden and chronic illnesses and their impact on everyday life.
Patient care technicians are certified nursing assistants who work alongside your nurse to ensure you receive all of your care.
Pharmacists review your medicines and teach you how to take them properly so you get the best results.
Registered dietitians help you learn what foods and beverages promote healing and recovery as well as meet your nutritional needs based on your personal health concerns.
Therapists are skilled in specialized treatments help you develop skills to recover from illness or injury.
Various support services including environmental services, security, culinary, patient access, guest services, materials management and others also partner with your care team to ensure your stay meets your expectations.
Please tell us how you’re feeling
You and your family members might be the first to notice a change in your condition. Please tell nursing staff if there is a change in your condition, such as high or low blood pressure, high or low heart rate, breathing problems, chest pain, facial droop, arm or leg weakness, problems speaking, new or increased confusion or inability to waken.
Smooth transitions between nursing shifts
To ensure your safety, every time there is a change of shift, the off-going nurse will introduce you to the on-coming nurse. Together, both nurses will perform a safety check that includes a brief summary about your medical condition and a review of equipment and medications.
Call, don't fall!
Everyone is at risk for falling while in the hospital: Call, don't fall.
Before getting up, please check with your nurse first about assistance you might need.
Honoring your health care wishes
Completing advance care planning and an advance directive can give you and your loved ones the peace of mind that your current and future health care preferences are known and will be honored if you are not able to make decisions for yourself or not able to communicate your wishes. Advance directive forms are available online or staff can provide them for you.
Expressing gratitude
Some people find expressing gratitude to be emotionally healing as they reflect on challenging experiences.
Patients and families often ask how they can express their gratitude to our providers and staff. We appreciate your kindness and offer several ways that you can recognize members of our UW Health team.
If you wish to recognize:
Physicians
You may submit a message for a physician for National Doctors’ Day, which is celebrated annually on March 30.
Nurses
You may submit a nomination for a DAISY award, which is presented monthly.
To make a donation
For those interested in making a philanthropic gift to support care at UW Health in Northern Illinois, please contact the SwedishAmerican Foundation at (779) 696-2496.