The Regional Hospital is committed to a patient assessment and transfer that is as uncomplicated as possible. One of the keys to a successful and trouble-free transition is early coordination with the transferring facility, patient and family. One call to our admission staff will begin the process and we will provide a timely evaluation and complete financial authorization, communicating with you throughout the process. Admissions can occur seven days a week. Our critical care liaison can provide you with written guidelines for referral and transfer at the time of the evaluation.

Facility Tours
Transferring a critically ill patient to another facility can be unsettling for the patient's family. We encourage family tours early in the referral process so the family can see our facility and understand our specialty services and philosophy. They are welcome to drop in, but a pre-scheduled appointment will ensure that someone is available to spend as much time as necessary to answer their questions. Professionals from referring facilities and insurance companies are always welcome to tour too.

Initial Monitoring
Upon arrival, the patient will be assessed by our pulmonary and critical care physician, nursing and respiratory care staff. Since patients admitted to The Regional Hospital are both highly-complex and traveling from other facilities, they are all closely monitored when they arrive. Every patient is evaluated by all disciplines of our team-usually within the first 24 to 48 hours of their stay.

Social Services
Social services is an integral part of the interdisciplinary team at The Regional Hospital. It is important for the family to meet with our social worker as soon as possible after arrival. This will help us get to know the patient and family better through psycho-social evaluation. Our social worker will facilitate communication with the interdisciplinary team; provide patient and family support and financial counseling; and help access appropriate resources throughout the patient's stay.

Patient-Staff Ratios
Nursing and respiratory care staff at The Regional Hospital work together to provide direct patient care in a patient-focused model. One registered nurse usually cares for three to five patients. In addition, the nurse is assisted by certified nursing assistants and there is a respiratory care practitioner for every six ventilator patients. Staffing is adjusted for acuity and will vary to meet the physiologic and care needs of each individual patient.

Funding
Referred patients should have a source of funding. We accept Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance and managed care programs. As it may be necessary to negotiate with insurers, it is helpful to identify potential patients as early as possible. For insurers without a current contract, individual agreements usually can be negotiated on a case by case basis.

In order to encourage the placement of Medicare patients into the most appropriate site of care, our exemption from the Prospective Payment System (and thus, DRGs) allows referring hospitals to retain their full DRG, even though the patient is transferring to us, another acute care facility.

Communicating with Referring Providers
Physicians and staff from referring facilities and insurance companies are invited to attend the weekly team conference where each patient's care is reviewed and updated by the interdisciplinary team. In addition, frequent progress reports and information are provided on request. Physicians also are welcome to attend rounds on the patients they transfer.