When you leave
Discharge
Discharge planners are registered nurses trained to assist you in determining whether you have special needs after discharge (such as home-care visits). The discharge planning nurse will help you and your family set up any necessary equipment and care at home. If you cannot go home, they will help you and your family plan where you will go.
Transportation
Getting home is the responsibility of the patient and family. Please arrange for a ride home as soon as you know when you will be discharged. If you have special transportation needs, a discharge planner can help you make arrangements.
What to Take Home
Take all of your belongings and any personal care items given to you during your stay. Do not take hospital linens, gowns, robes, remote controls, or electric razors.
If you need supplies, please talk with your nurse.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe medications for you when you are released from the hospital. You have a choice of having your medications filled at the hospital’s Pharmacy, requesting that hospital staff call the pharmacy of your choice, or asking your doctor to give you a written prescription you can take to your own pharmacy.
If you choose to have our Pharmacy fill your medications, it will take time.
Reimbursement for discharge medications varies by insurance plan. The Pharmacy staff can help you complete claim forms if your insurance plan requires that you do so for discharge medications.
Taking Care of Yourself at Home
The nursing staff will provide a copy of your discharge instructions, as well as information on any medications you will be taking at home. Please call your doctor or the nursing staff if you have questions.
Home Follow-Up
You may receive a phone call from our staff the day after leaving the hospital if you had surgery or your doctor requested that you be called. We want to make sure you are getting the care you need at home and that you understand your discharge instructions.
If you have a referral for a nurse to visit you at home, the homecare agency will receive a copy of your history, physical report, and orders written by your physician. The home-care agency will contact you directly at home.
Hospice Care
These services are for people and their families facing a life-threatening illness focus on pain and symptom management and emotional support — including home care, support through our resource centers and hospice volunteer programs, and inpatient care at Westland House. For more information on hospice care, call (831) 658-3939.
Westland House is located at 100 Barnet Segal Lane in Monterey.
For more information, call (831) 658-3772.
The Community Health and Hospice Resource Center is located at 2 Upper Ragsdale Drive, Suite D-110 in Monterey. For more information, call (831) 658-3772.
Auxiliary Outreach
The Community Hospital Auxiliary offers Tele-Care, a service that provides a daily phone call from a volunteer for older and housebound people. For more information, call (831) 625-4557.
Lost and Found
If you lose something during your stay, immediately notify your nurse, who will contact Security. If you have been discharged when you discover you’ve lost an item, contact Security, (831) 624-5311.
Questions About Your Bill
You should receive an initial bill approximately 10 days after your discharge. Patient Business Services will bill the insurance(s) on your account at the time you are sent this initial bill.
Hospital billing does not include fees for your personal physician(s), such as the admitting doctor, consultant, surgeon, and/or anesthesiologist; these are billed directly by the physician(s).
If you have no insurance, Community Hospital expects to receive payment in full within 30 days. If you need assistance with a payment plan, or with applying for Sponsored Care, please call Patient Business Services at (831) 625-4922 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You will receive information periodically about the status of your account, including the amount currently due. Insurance companies will send an explanation of benefits (EOB), which will tell you the amount paid on a claim or a reason why all or part of the claim was not paid.
If you have questions about your account or wish to set up payment arrangements, please call Patient Business Services, (831) 625-4922, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Patient Business Services is located at 2511 Garden Road, Building A, Suite 250, Monterey (near the Monterey Peninsula Airport).