Admission and Discharge

Inpatient Registration

When your physician determines that an overnight stay or longer is required, he/she will make arrangements with Central Registration who will then notify you and/or the physician's office of the time of admission. Upon arriving at the hospital, please proceed to the Central Registration Department, located near the Emergency Room, so that your admission may be finalized. Please assist us by having your identification, insurance cards, and any claim forms, if applicable, at the time of registration.

Many insurance companies require that authorization be obtained prior to an admission. Failure to obtain authorization may result in penalties imposed by your carrier. If you are unsure of what your insurance carrier requires, please contact their Member Services department for assistance. Special charges, such as telephone and television service, or the use of a private room, are typically not covered by insurance carriers.

For your convenience, deductibles may be paid at the registration window at the time of registration or, if you prefer, at the Cashier's Office located opposite the information desk.
The Cashier's Office is open 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Preparing For Discharge

At the beginning of your hospital stay, the Care Coordination Department will assist you in collaboration with your physician, primary care nurse, clinical/financial staff, and insurance provider to identify your inpatient and post-hospital needs. Your Care Coordinator will help with the following:

• Daily/as needed reviews with your Commercial/HMO insurance provider regarding the necessity of your admission, length of stay, and utilization of hospital resources (i.e. x-rays, stress tests, consults for services that can be done as an outpatient, etc.). Quality of care concerns are forwarded to the hospital Quality Resource Management Department.
• For Medicare/Medicaid patients - A hospital Physician Advisor will review the above issue, if necessary, to ensure compliance with Federal/State Regulations. Care Coordinators are available at extension 3003 to answer questions regarding hospital coverage, patient's Medicare/Medicaid rights, and the appeal process.
• Problems regarding housing, food, community case management, financial difficulty, mental health referrals, crisis counseling by a Social Worker, and support group referrals.
• Collaborate with other clinical staff and community providers to arrange appropriate and insurance covered community and home care services such as: Acute and subacute rehabilitation, Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Home, and Family Care Home placement; visiting RN for skilled nursing needs; Home Health Aide for medically related needs; home Physical Therapy; Personal Care Aide (CNA) for baths, meals preparation, light housekeeping, transport to appointments and errands; home Respiratory Therapy and equipment; home IV Infusion Therapy; durable medical equipment; Medical Alert systems.
• Make referrals to subsidized/free community services through a host of social and aged service organizations. Compassionate care means that we will coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with and for you from admission to discharge. We know you deserve the best in quality.