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.

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital currently does not have a gift shop. Please ask a volunteer or staff member for options regarding gift and sundry items.

At Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, newspapers are available and patients may select materials from a book/magazine cart.

Please ask your nurse about the availability of 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. Please ask your nurse about volunteer services at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. 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. Ask your nurse about arranging access to these services.

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 ask your nurse.

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.