Information about your stay
Regardless of whether you are visiting Balgrist Hospital as an outpatient or inpatient the following information from A to Z will help to make your stay as pleasant as possible:
Absences
If you want to leave the hospital during the day or at the weekend, you need a doctor’s approval. Please also notify a member of the nursing team about the duration of your absence. The hospital rejects any form of liability during absences.
Anesthesia
The anesthetists will inform you in detail about the various options for local, regional and general anesthesia as well as pain therapy. Please don’t hesitate to contact our specialists if anything is unclear.
Balgrist Tec AG: Orthopedic aids
Our orthopedic technology staff at Balgrist Tec AG are available to advise on and manufacture customized orthopedic aids. The orthopedic technicians specialize in prostheses, orthoses, rehabilitation technology, compression and burns suits and bandages, among other things. They also specialize in orthopedic footwear technology and produce orthopedic insoles, custom-made shoes and shoes for diabetics. The offer is rounded off by a medical supply and shoe shop, which is located in Balgrist University Hospital.
For any questions, our medical supply store staff will be happy to assist you. +41 44 386 58 00
Opening hours:
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5.15 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Cafeteria and Kiosk
The cafeteria in the entrance hall has an outdoor terrace area and is a popular meeting place in our hospital. It is also visited by passers-by. The kiosk has a wide range of newspapers and magazines as well as a small number of gift items.
The cafeteria and kiosk are open at the following times:
- Monday to Friday: 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Cash machine
There is a wheelchair-accessible cash machine on the Balgrist University Hospital premises, directly opposite the Balgrist tram stop.
Communication via Medical Share
To ensure that your personal health data is protected as well as possible, we use Medical Share to communicate with you. This allows us to send you documents electronically in a fast, secure, and privacy-compliant manner.
You can find more information in our information sheet.
Data privacy
Your personal data relating to your illness and treatment and that you provided during the admission procedure is subject to statutory data privacy. The data is handled in line with data protection regulations. The personal data is used to execute the treatment contract and is processed for communication purposes (invoicing, service billing, sending the medical report, X-ray images etc.).
Diabetes counselling
We offer our inpatients individual diabetes counselling if medically prescribed.
Discharge
E-Mails addressed to you and sent to info@balgrist.ch will be forwarded to you.
Finding an occupation
If you are no longer able to carry out your previous occupation due to illness or impairment, our vocational reintegration specialists will be happy to support you in your professional reintegration.
Gastronomy
Our kitchen team offers you and, on request, your visitors a varied selection of menus and à la carte dishes for a fee. Patients with semi-private insurance sometimes pay a surcharge for à la carte dishes.
Meals are served at the following times:
Breakfast 7.30 a.m. – 8.00 a.m.
Lunch 11.30 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Dinner 5.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Hairdresser
If required, we will be happy to give you the telephone number of a hairdresser who visits the hospital.
Hospital Regulations
These regulations serve to ensure the smooth running of the Balgrist University Hospital Zurich and to protect the rights and obligations of all parties involved. They are intended to help create a respectful and safe environment for patients, visitors, relatives, and the medical and non-medical staff of the Balgrist University Hospital. We ask everyone to adhere to the regulations.
Identification bracelet
Upon admission, you will receive a patient identification bracelet for the duration of your stay. This is important from a security perspective. The following information is printed on the bracelet: first name and surname, date of birth and age, case number, two QR codes and a barcode. The bracelet will be destroyed once you have been discharged.
More about the identification bracelet
Internet
You will receive information on connecting to the internet on the day of admission. Use of the WLAN is free of charge.
Laundry Service
We also wash your private laundry apart from items that need to be dry cleaned. This service is free for our private patients and available for a fee to patients with semi-private insurance.
Medication after discharge
When requested, we will give you the prescribed medication that you will need after leaving the hospital to take home with you. Your attending physician will inform you about this service during your hospital stay and prescribe the medication for you. Employees of the Balgrist pharmacy will bring the medication to your room on the day of discharge.
Nursing
The nursing team at Balgrist University Hospital offer comprehensive care and support around the clock. The treatment is tailored to your needs. The nurses support you in your recovery process with the aim of enabling you to heal in the best way possible and regain your independence. The focus is on building a trusting relationship and making use of the available opportunities. The nurses will be important contact persons for you during your stay.
Nutrition counselling
We offer our inpatients individual nutrition counselling if medically prescribed.
Parking spaces
There are paid parking spaces on the premises and an underground car park for outpatients and visitors. Please note that parking spaces are limited and there are no permanent parking spaces.
Pastoral care
Our pastoral care team can support you and your relatives during your hospital stay – in the form of conversations, rituals and religious services.
Catholic pastoral care +41 44 386 14 51
Protestant pastoral care +41 44 386 14 52
Plaster cast
You may need a plaster cast. Our specialized plaster team makes all the immobilization bandages (plaster casts) in the plaster room. They are made from plastic materials (e.g. polyester).
Post
Letters, parcels and flowers will be delivered to your room as soon as possible after they arrive. You can hand letters to a member of the nursing staff or directly to the reception desk for posting.
While you are with us, your postal address is:
(Your name)
c/o Balgrist University Hospital
Forchstrasse 340
CH-8032 Zurich Switzerland
Quality
As a privately sponsored university hospital, we are committed to the highest quality and performance standards. We continually improve the quality and efficiency of our services. This enables us to deliver the highest-quality medical services. We review our service quality on an ongoing basis and improve it where necessary.
Quiet room
The quiet room is available to anyone looking for a place to withdraw or pray. It is located on floor B in the OK building, right next to the lift.
Quiet period at night
Please respect the night-time quiet period between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am, particularly if using a mobile phone.
Radio and television
All our rooms have a radio and television. In the private departments, you can use the Netflix streaming platform with your own private access code.
Radiology
Should you require any diagnostic examinations during your stay, these will be carried out in our state-of-theart radiology department.
Social counselling
Our social counselling team informs, advises and supports you and your relatives in social and material matters. The team coordinates the co-operation with internal and external specialists and institutions that are important for your treatment and therapy. Therapy is often necessary for full recovery after certain operations, sometimes in a specialized spa or rehabilitation clinic. If follow-up treatment in an appropriate clinic is planned, our social counselling
service will be happy to organize your transfer +41 44 386 12 62
Suggestions
Please contact the Guest Relations Management directly if you have any uncertainties, suggestions or complaints. Your satisfaction is very important to us
Teaching and training activities
Teaching and training activities Balgrist University Hospital is a teaching center of the University of Zurich. Unless otherwise instructed by you, your illness may be discussed in the presence of medical students. The students are also subject to medical confidentiality. We also train students and trainees in other health professions (e.g. nursing or physiotherapy).
Telephone
You will receive instructions on using your personal telephone connection on your day of admission. Telephone calls within Switzerland and to most European countries are free of charge. You can be reached via your direct dial number by telephone from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. in shared rooms and around the clock in private rooms.
Therapies
We analyze and support your functional performance and resources on an individual basis and according to your needs. Balgrist University Hospital has specialized therapists in the fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, activation therapy and walking aids. We kindly ask you to observe the times of your therapy sessions and to inform the relevant team in good time if you are unable to attend. If you have any queries, please contact the nursing staff. After an inpatient stay, you can continue with outpatient treatment in the physiotherapy and ergotherapy department in the hospital.
Tobacco and alcohol consumption
For health and safety reasons, it is not permitted to smoke anywhere in Balgrist University Hospital. Designated smoking areas are available outside the building. It is forbidden to smoke by the main entrance. We recommend not smoking during your stay at the hospital. As soon as your state of health allows, moderate consumption of alcohol is permitted.
Valuables
We recommend that you leave valuable items at home during your hospital stay. There is a safe for smaller valuables in the patient rooms. Essential personal items that you absolutely need (e.g. clothing, visual/ hearing aids, mobile phone etc.) are documented in writing as part of a deposit agreement when you enter the hospital. The hospital’s liability is limited to an amount of 250 Swiss francs.
Visiting hours
Visits to the semi-private ward are possible every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and around the clock on the private ward. Parents can visit their children at any time. Doctors and nurses may also visit the wards and administer treatments while visitors are present. We kindly request that you and your visitors show understanding and consideration for your fellow patients in shared rooms.
Visits to the intensive care unit or recovery room are possible after consultation with the nursing staff.
Walking sticks
Walking sticks are available for sale at Balgrist Tec AG’s specialist equipment store. However, walking sticks are not available for rent.
The store itself is open as follows:
Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m.–5.15 p.m
Friday: 8 a.m.–4.30 p.m.
+41 44 386 58 05
Outside these hours, you can order walking sticks at the reception desk by the main entrance (limited range).
Wound consultation
Balgrist University Hospital offers an outpatient consultation service run by wound experts from the nursing department. They are supported by doctors and regular inter-department discussions take place.
Contact
Balgrist University Hospital
Forchstrasse 340
8008 Zürich