Anticipating Your Hospital Stay

Getting ready for a hospital stay can seem a little scary if you don't know what to expect. Your doctor is your best resource when it comes to questions about your condition and the medical procedures you may experience. If you have questions about your care once you arrive at the hospital, please ask your nurse or other caregiver and we will assist you in getting those questions answered.

The hospital routine is likely to be quite different from what you're used to. To help you feel more at ease about your hospital stay, an admissions representative will call you at home ahead of time to let you know what to expect, and, if you are scheduled for tests, will tell you where you need to go and when you should plan to arrive. The information contained on these web pages will help you with many of your other questions, or you may call Registration at 973-8050 for more information.

Accommodations
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has both semi-private and private patient rooms. Exceptional care is given in both care settings; however, patients with a medical reason for a private room are given first priority. Should your accommodations not meet your expectations, please speak with your nurse or nurse manager so we have the opportunity to address.   

Parking and Registration
Park and Ride!
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Medical Center quickly realized that we could no longer safely provide valet service to our patients and their families. Knowing that many of our patients needed parking accommodations, we selected new carts that are easy to clean between passengers, allows adequate social distancing, heated, and electric; they charge from the power we generate on campus.
The Park and Ride vehicles make continual trips between the shelter in the Webber parking lot and the Main Entrance, so wait times are minimal.

Park and Ride is available Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays, from 5 am to 5 pm. Patients may also call 973.7500 from their cell phone to request a picked up.
To get a ride back to their vehicle, patients may stop at the Penobscot Pavilion Main Entrance and speak with the Park and Ride attendant.


At Registration in the Level 1 lobby, a representative will review your medical information with you before we escort you to your room. Please bring any insurance cards, forms, and policy numbers with you.

Pre-Admission Testing (PAT)
If you need tests performed before your hospital stay, our admissions representative will let you know when you should come in for those tests.

We look at pre-admission testing as an opportunity not just for testing, but also for teaching. Your PAT visit is a good opportunity to ask questions about your upcoming procedure.

If you are a PAT patient on our main campus and need to park a vehicle, please take advantage of our free valet parking. You can leave your car at the main entrance and our Valet Parking staff will park your vehicle for you. Simply present your valet ticket at the front door when you are ready to leave and your car will be brought to the door for you.