FOR PATIENTS :: PREPARING FOR A VISIT
Admission
Our admitting procedure is designed to take as little of your time as possible. We’ll ask you a few pertinent questions necessary for our records. All the information you give us is strictly confidential. Only your doctor and other members of our staff involved in your case have access to your information.
At the same time, we’ll ask you to sign Conditions of Admission form and other forms related to your stay. A parent or legal guardian must sign if the patient is under 18.
Your insurance coverage will be verified and you will be advised of any possible co-payments or deductibles due upon discharge. If you do not have insurance coverage, arrangements for payment will be made at this time. [back to top]
Checking your Valuables
We strongly recommend that you leave your valuables at home. However, if you have any with you, we suggest that you deposit them in the hospital’s safe. An admitting staff member will give you a receipt, which you can present to reclaim your valuables at discharge.
The hospital is not responsible for items not deposited into the safe. [back to top]
Special Needs
The hospital is an equal opportunity health care facility with special services for physically and sensory impaired patients. Should you need auxiliary aids such as TDD - a hearing aid compatible phone - or sign language interpreter, please let us know in advance so we may make suitable arrangements. [back to top]
Visitors
We maintain a liberal visiting policy because we know how important visitors can be to your recovery. However, we do ask that a few guidelines be followed to maintain everyone’s comfort.
- An adult must accompany children under 12 years of age at all times.
- Visitors should observe the visiting hours established by each patient care area. Please ask the nurse about the hours for your area. [back to top]
Meals
All meals are planned by the dietitian and prepared in the Ojai Valley Community Hospital kitchen. If your doctor orders a special diet, the dietitian MAY discuss it with you. (a lot of times the dietitian does no discuss a specially ordered diet with the patient) [back to top]
Visitors' Food Services
Visitors have several meal options to choose from. The hospital operates a small public cafeteria, which is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm. After hours, and on weekends, we have vending machines, offering a variety of food items.
If you wish, you may pre-arrange for a meal to be delivered to the room of your family member or friend. A small, nominal fee is charged, please see the nurse for arrangements. [back to top]
In-Room Amenities
All patient rooms have bedside telephones with free local calling. ICU patients are provided with a portable phone for their use. Long distance calls made through the hospital operator can be made collect or charged to your telephone credit card.
All rooms have color televisions. [back to top]
Patient Rights & Responsibilities
Our objective is to provide quality care for the sick, the injured and the terminally ill, while ensuring dignity for all patients. Inherent in this philosophy is certain mutual responsibilities between staff and patients.
Patient Rights
- The right to exercise these rights without regard to sex or cultural, economic, educational, or religious background or the source of payment for your care.
- The right to considerate and respectful care.
- The right to know the name of the physician coordinating your care and the names and professional relationships of other physicians involved in your care.
- The right to receive information from your physician about your condition, the course of your treatment, and the prospects for recovery in terms that are understandable to you.
- The right to receive from your physician comprehensive information about any proposed treatment or procedure, so that you are well prepared to give informed consent or to refuse this course of treatment. Except on emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved in the treatment, alternate courses of treatment or non-treatment, and the risks involved in each, and the name of the person who will carry out the procedure or treatment.
- The right to participate actively in decisions regarding your medical care.
- The right to full consideration of privacy concerning your Medicare care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. You have the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual.
- The right to confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to your care and your stay in the hospital.
- The right to reasonable responses to any reasonable requests you may make for service.
- The right to leave the hospital even against the advice of your physician.
- The right to reasonable continuity of care and to know in advance the time and location of appointments as well as the identity of persons providing the care.
- The right to be advised if your physician proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting your care or treatment. You also have the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
- The right to be informed by your physician or a delegate of your physician of your continuing health care requirements following your discharge from the hospital.
- The right to examine and receive explanation of your bill regardless of the source of payment.
- The right to know which hospital rules and policies apply to your conduct as a patient.
- The right to have all patients’ rights apply to the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on your behalf.
Patient Responsibilities
We believe that patients share in the responsibility for their own care. We
feel you can best accomplish this by establishing an open line of communication
with those providing your treatment. We encourage you to:
- Actively participate in decisions about your health care.
- Be as accurate and complete as possible regarding your medical history and treatment.
- Let your doctor or nurse know if you are concerned about a treatment, or if you cannot or will not follow a certain treatment plan.
- Follow your doctor’s advice regarding your level of activity, diet, and other health care requirements.
- Be considerate of other patients.
- Use hospital property and equipment only for their intended purposes.
- Examine your bill and ask any questions you may have regarding charges or method of payment.
- Be considerate of hospital staff, but don’t hesitate to call for assistance when needed.
Advance Directives
We encourage patients to talk to their physicians prior to hospitalization
about the appropriate use of life-sustaining treatment. The State of California
requires that we provide you with information concerning Advance Directives
such as Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care forms.
The nursing staff, social workers, and other appropriate staff members can provide you with printed information and forms designed to help communicate your values and wishes on this subject. [back to top]
Gift/Shop & Sundry Items
Newspapers and other reading materials can be requested through Volunteer services.
Basic toiletries and a variety of gift items can be purchased in our gift shop located in the main lobby. Please check for shop hours when you arrive.. [back to top]
Pastoral Care
Upon request, we will be happy to contact your minister, priest, or rabbi for additional support. Many local ministries are happy to provide pastoral and spiritual care at a moment’s notice. For phone numbers of local ministries, please see the complete "Spiritual Care" section on our Community Resources page. [back to top]
Discharge Planning and Social Services
Our Discharge Planning and Social Services departments are available to help you and your family deal with any problems involving your illness and hospitalization. We’ll assist you with post-hospital care and will be happy to refer you to community health welfare services such as:
- Homemaker Services
- Extended Care Facilities
- Meals-on-Wheels
- Live-in Help
- Family Counseling
- Mental Health Services
Please ask your nurse for more information. [back to top]
Discharge
Prior to leaving, a discharge plan will be created for you. Feel free to
discuss your convalescence with your health care team. They will be happy
to answer any questions regarding restrictions on your diet or activities
after you leave the hospital. They will also explain any special treatment
or medication prescribed
It’s best to arrange to leave the hospital by 11:00 a.m. on the discharge
day so the room can be prepared for incoming patients. If you stay past that
time, an additional charge may be applied, which may not be covered by private
insurance or Medicare.
Before leaving, remember to make a last check of your closet and bedside table to be sure you have not left anything. On your way out, please stop at the Admitting desk in the main lobby to reclaim any checked valuables.
Sometime after you have arrived home, you will receive a survey in the mail from the hospital. We would appreciate it if you take the time to candidly respond to our questions, as this information is vital to us to continue to offer the best service. [back to top]
Outpatient Services
Ojai Valley Community Hospital offers a wide variety of outpatient services. Please ask your doctor or nurse to discuss those that may benefit you when you leave the hospital. [back to top]
Pharmacy
Our hospital pharmacy does not fill discharge prescriptions. At the time of your discharge, please let your nurse or doctor know how you want your prescription handled. Your prescriptions can be faxed ahead of time to your pharmacy so they will be ready when you arrive. [back to top]
Billing
An itemized summary of your bill will be submitted to your insurance carrier about a week after you leave the hospital. If you do not have insurance, an itemized statement will be sent to you directly approximately one week after discharge. The "daily room charge" includes your room, nursing care, meals, housekeeping, laundry, telephone and television.
Specialized services ordered by your doctor will be shown separately. Your bill from the hospital will not include the professional fees for special services such as anesthesiology, emergency room physician, pathology and radiology. You will receive a separate statement for these services.
If you have any questions about your bill, please call our Business Office, using the number printed on your statement. Our business office is open between 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or contact us at:
If you have given your insurance information to Admitting, the Business Office will bill your insurance and submit the balance to you for payment. If you are a Medicare patient, and have supplemental insurance, the explanation of benefit payment you receive from Medicare will be submitted to your insurance company.
If there is a balance remaining after your supplemental insurance has paid, you will receive an explanation of the balance due. [back to top]