Flowers and mail arriving for you will be delivered to your room. (No flowers in the ICU, please.) We are not able to supply flower vases. Outgoing mail can be given to your nurse. Any mail received after you have gone home will be forwarded to you.

The Bessie Chalifoux Gift Shop is located off Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s main lobby. Call (805) 682-7111, ext. 2854 for information.

NEW GIFT SHOP HOURS FOR 2006
For the convenience of employees, patients, and visitors, the Gift Shop has extened its hours on Monday and Wednesday evenings until 8:00 p.m.  

Mondays -------------------- 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesdays ------------------- 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays -------------- 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays ------------------ 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fridays ---------------------- 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays ----------------- 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Closed on Sundays

Please tell your nurse if you wish to receive a newspaper during the week. For your reading enjoyment, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital maintains a Patient Library of books and magazines. A volunteer will deliver reading material on request. Call the Auxiliary at (805) 682-7111, ext. 7357.

Reeves Medical Library at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital welcomes the public on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Consumer section in the library has books, videotapes, and access to online information; medical books and journals are also available for reference.

There is an ATM located outside the Cafeteria near the Castillo entrance at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Cottage's Interpreter Services has both in-house staff and volunteers to assist in communication between hospital staff and patients or family members. Contract services are also available in 40 languages, including Sign Language. Please ask your nurse about these translation and interpreting services.

For the health, protection, and comfort of our patients, visitors, and staff, smoking is prohibited throughout all Cottage Health System hospitals.

Our volunteers provide services ranging from hostessing to translation and nursing support. Pet Assisted Therapy (PAT) volunteers can bring Cottage therapy pets to visit you in your hospital room. To request a PAT visit or other volunteer services call (805) 682-7111, ext.7357. Volunteers can be identified by their distinctive uniforms and I.D. badges.

Sometimes just being in the hospital can raise questions or create stress for you or members of your family. For this reason, medical social services are available to all Cottage patients and their families at no additional charge. Social workers can help you deal with the stresses caused by illness and hospitalization. They offer counseling and referral services to help you adjust to illness or disability. Please ask your nurse to put you in touch with the medical social worker assigned to your unit or call the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Medical Social Services department at (805) 682-7111, ext. 7495.

Discharge staff is available to provide you with resources that will assist you in returning to your maximum level of functioning and wellness. They will coordinate arrangements and assist you in the safe transition to your home or another facility. Should you have discharge concerns, ask your nurse for assistance.

Learn more about what takes place on your Discharge Day from the hospital and read our Billing and Payment Policy.

The Department of Spiritual Care provides spiritual and religious support to patients and their families. This is a vital part of our commitment to total patient care. Members of our Spiritual Care team include professional chaplains, chaplain assistants from various faith traditions, on-call clergy, and Roman Catholic Eucharistic Ministers. We are sensitive to the essential role that faith, ritual life, and prayer offer to the healing process. We welcome the visit of your local clergy person. For support and information, please contact Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Department of Spiritual Care at (805) 569-8386. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Sacred Space is located on the second floor, near the ICU. It is open daily, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and upon request, Security will open it for you during the hours between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. You may call them at (805) 682-7111, ext. 7319.

When ethical dilemmas arise regarding treatment decisions or the decision-making process, patients and family members may request a consultation with members of the Bioethics Resource Committee. This is an interdisciplinary forum for communication and dialogue to help clarify ethical issues. For more information and a consultation questionnaire, contact Medical Staff Services at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital at (805) 569-7245.