For Patients: When you leave

When you leave

Queries about your care – helping us to care for you

If you are concerned about your care or things that happen to you while in hospital, please bring this to our attention. For matters related to hospital care, please ask to speak to the Clinical Nurse Manager of the unit or the After Hours Nurse Manager. Your doctor is the only person who can explain the details of your medical treatment. Please see the end of this brochure for Your Rights and Responsibilities, which outlines information about what to expect whilst in hospital.

PATIENT FEEDBACK

Patient feedback is appreciated, as it assists us to make ongoing improvements to our services and facilities. Please feel free to provide feedback either through the formal Patient Satisfaction Survey or by writing to the General Manager of the hospital.

Discharge

You will need to think about your discharge even before you come in to hospital, as there may be arrangements that you need to make. Your doctor can provide an estimate of how long you will be hospitalised and will discuss discharge plans with the nursing staff. You will be advised of any items you may need to hire or purchase to use at home when you are discharged and you will need to arrange to have these available. Arrange for someone to take you home from hospital. An ambulance is not automatically available to subscribers, as the Queensland Ambulance Service has strict criteria for the transportation of patients. Most of your convalescence will occur at home. If you are having major surgery it is helpful to have someone who is able to help you with cooking, laundry and housework after you are discharged.

When you are ready to leave, a staff member will assist you to Front Reception if required, to finalise your discharge.

Discharge time is between 9.00am and 10.00am. We ask that you adhere to these times to enable staff to prepare your bed area for new admissions coming in.

Before you leave the ward area ensure you have:

• Your medications and/or prescriptions, x-rays and scans
• All personal items
• A copy of your discharge information form

Accounts

Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your account.

• For patients covered by Private Health Insurance, you will be required to pay any excesses and/or copayments due, for any aids or equipment provided during your stay, telephone accounts and pharmacy costs that you have incurred.
• For patients covered by Third Party, Workers Compensation, your accounts will be forwarded to the insurance company by the Hospital, on your behalf. You will be expected to pay for STD and ISD calls made during your stay. Local calls are free.
• For self-funded patients, you will be required to pay the balance of any amounts owing. Estimated costs will have been provided to you and arrangements made for a portion of the costs to be paid for, on admission and then at regular intervals.

For patients covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, authorisation will have been obtained by your doctor, prior to admission. Your account will be forwarded direct to the department. You will be expected to pay for STD and ISD calls made during your stay. Local calls are free.

Medicare accounts
For some services such as medical visits, x-ray or pathology, you may receive separate accounts, which you can claim from Medicare. Any cheques sent to you by Medicare for these services should be sent to the service provider along with any outstanding amount owing.

Your Privacy

All Hospitals in the Ramsay Health Care Group comply with the Commonwealth Privacy Act and all other state / territory legislative requirements in relation to the management of personal information. Our patients can feel safe in the knowledge that we safeguard their personal health information ensuring that confidentiality is respected and information is stored securely.

Our Privacy Policy and consent form relating to our collection and use of your health information will be provided to you.

If you have any further enquiries in relation to our Privacy Policy or our health information management practices please contact the Hospital or visit the Ramsay Health Care website www.ramsayhealth.com.au

We trust you enjoy your stay at Cairns Private Hospital.