General Information

About Harlingen Medical Center

General Information – Harlingen Medical Center opened its doors on October 2, 2002, with 112 beds. We are a Level IV Trauma Designated hospital offering specialty care in the areas of bariatric, cardiology, emergency, gastroenterology, obstetric and gynecology, and orthopedic care.

Visiting Hours

We encourage loved ones to visit patients and we make every effort to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our patients and visitors. While receiving care, patients have the right to decide who may or may not visit, and those visitors are allowed without regard to race, color, national origin, language, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or socioeconomic status.

Our staff and caregivers understand the important role that visitors and support persons play and every effort is made to ensure that our patients’ support person is embraced as a valued member of the care team.

• To safeguard the comfort of all our patients, visitors are asked to talk quietly and leave promptly when visiting hours have ended.
• The visiting times and/or the number of visitors may be limited in certain circumstances – and vary unit by unit – to protect the health, safety, and privacy of our patients.
• If visitors are not feeling well or have an illness that can be transferred to our patients, please refrain from visiting.
• Visitors must follow infection control precautions, keep noise to a minimum, refrain from taking photographs or videos, and comply with restrictions on smoking, alcohol, and illegal substances.
• Before entering and after leaving your loved one’s room, make sure to wash your hands.
• All children must be in the company of a responsible adult and may not be left unattended.

Visiting hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Labor and delivery patients may have two people stay during labor and delivery. All others wait in the Women’s Center lobby. Only one adult visitor may stay overnight with the patient during the recovery phase. Brothers and sisters who do not have signs of cold or illness may visit the baby.

Only two visitors at a time are allowed in the Critical Care Unit and the Emergency Department. Any issues regarding visiting hours can be directed to a department director or a hospital security officer.

Telephone Usage

A telephone is provided for patients at no charge for local calls. Most of these telephones are located at your bedside. To make a call, dial “9” and then the telephone number. To make a long-distance call, dial “9” then “0” and then give the number you are calling to the operator. All long-distance calls are made collected, and charged to a credit card, or calling card. Calls cannot be charged to your room. To reach the hospital operator, dial “0.” The patient rooms at Harlingen Medical Center can be contacted by dialing direct 365-1 and the last three digits of the patient’s room number. For example: if the patient’s room number is 211, the telephone number to the room is 365-1211. No telephone calls are transferred to a patient’s room between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in order to let our patients rest.

Chaplain Services

Chaplain services provide ministry or pastoral care and counseling to patients and families during times of illness or need. To have chaplain visits or for help in contacting your own clergy please call the hospital operator. Our Meditation Room is located on the first floor and is available for prayer and meditation at all times.

Cafeteria & Vending Machines

Patient Meals: food is important for your recovery. Your physician has ordered a diet that complements your total program of therapy. Your menu may exclude certain items because of the restrictions on your diet. Please ask for a visit from our registered dietitian if you have diet questions or nutritional concerns. Family members and visitors are not allowed to serve food from home, or the outside, to patients.

Guest Meals: guest trays may be ordered for a nominal fee. For more information, contact the Resource Nurse at (956) 365-1850. The Cafeteria is located on the first floor of the hospital. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dinner is served from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Vending and coffee machines are available outside these hours.

Smoking Policy

Harlingen Medical Center is a smoke-free facility. As a healthcare facility, we recognize the hazards of smoking and enforce a “No Smoking” policy. Patients, visitors, physicians, personnel, and volunteers are not permitted to smoke inside hospital facilities under any circumstances. Receptacles are placed at hospital entrances for use in extinguishing smoking materials. No smoking is allowed inside the hospital or at any of its entrances. Smoking is allowed in designated areas outside the hospital.

Security

We encourage everyone to take an active role in their personal safety and the security of their personal belongings. We ask everyone to leave personal belongings at home and only bring those belongings that are essential to their care/visit. The hospital cannot be responsible for loss or damage to personal belongings. The hospital has a secure area for valuables in case personal belongings cannot be sent home.

Lost & Found

Items found on hospital premises are turned in to hospital security. Items that patients and visitors accidentally leave in their rooms are turned in to security. Perishable items such as flowers and food normally are disposed of immediately. All other items are kept for 30 days before disposal. Efforts are made to contact the owners of any items found.