Parkway Medical Center

Admissions

The Admitting Department will be your first stop before you are admitted to the hospital or before you have an outpatient procedure done. At Parkway Medical Center, it is our goal that patients who are admitted are provided services without discrimination. All information is confidential and becomes part of your medical record.

Parkway Medical Center’s Admissions Office is conveniently located on the second floor of the hospital. Admission office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

During your registration for medical services, information and authorization will be needed for your medical record and for financial arrangements. All information will be handled confidentially. Please bring any insurance materials including your insurance and/or Medicare/Medicaid cards, physician orders and pay any co-pays or deductibles if owed.

Other helpful information to bring with you includes a medical history (previous surgeries or medical conditions, allergies, etc.), a list of medications you take, and your advance directive, if you have one.

If you are staying overnight, your room assignment will be determined by the kind of medical care you are to receive and room availability. As your condition improves, you may be transferred to another unit in the hospital.

Registration and Scheduling

Please remember to bring your insurance information and physician requests. You may call and register by phone or in person. The Admissions Office opens at 8:00 a.m., and the Emergency Room at Parkway Medical Center is open 24 hours a day.

Pre-registration

To reduce your wait time and process time for admissions, you are encouraged to call the Admissions Office, 256.301.3355 (inpatient) or 256.301.3717 (outpatient) in advance and pre-register. By pre-registering over the phone, you will only need to sign the paperwork, show verification of your insurance and identification once you arrive at the hospital.

Outpatient Scheduling

Centralized Scheduling handles appointments for all outpatient procedures. To schedule, reschedule, or cancel an appointment, please call 256.301.3488 or 256.301.3472.

What to Bring

During the admission and registration process you will be asked to provide information about yourself, as well as financial information. Please be prepared to present:

• a picture identification card
• all active insurance cards
• MatureLife membership card
• any required co-payment/deductible

Physician orders and insurance verification will be done at this time.

The patient or responsible party may be asked to complete and sign several documents, including consent for treatment and authorization to bill insurance. Co-payments, deductibles, or non-covered charges will be paid prior to being admitted or registered. Patients who do not have insurance, or cannot pay at the time of admission will be referred to the Business Office for short-term payment arrangements.

For questions regarding admissions, please call 256.301.3355.

Central Scheduling

The majority of routine, outpatient and inpatient appointments are made through the central scheduling office. When calling to make an appointment, the following information should be available:

• Patient Name
• Date of Birth
• Home Telephone
• Work Telephone
• Weight
• Diagnosis/Symptoms
• Procedure/Test to be scheduled
• Type of Insurance
• Insurance Policy # (if applicable)

Central Scheduling will request that a doctor’s order be faxed or that patients bring the doctor’s order with them on the day of testing. Patients who arrive for testing without a doctor’s order (written or faxed) may have their test delayed. Confirm the order by contacting the doctor or his/her office.

On the day of the test, patients should visit our Registration office, located in the lobby of the center entrance of the hospital, before going to the appropriate testing area.

Central Scheduling Telephone: 256.301.3488 or 256.301.3472. Central Scheduling Fax: 256.350.4131.

If a valid insurance card is presented at the time of service, we will accept your insurance and bill the charges to your insurance carrier, regardless of the amount. However, you are responsible to pay any deductible and/or co-payment amounts as specified under the schedule of benefits of your insurance coverage. Payment of these amounts will be requested at the time of service.

You may determine the co-payment or deductible amounts you are responsible for by contacting the claims service phone number of your insurance company or the personnel (human resources) director at your place of employment.

Self-Pay or Uninsured Patients

If you are not covered under a healthcare plan, you will receive the same care as insured patients. The quality of care our patients receive is not determined by their ability to pay. You will be asked to pay the full amount of your charges or cash deposit at the time of discharge. If you cannot make a cash deposit, we will ask you to speak with a financial counselor to discuss a plan for paying your bill.

Outpatient Services

We consider that a 45-day period after billing is more than a reasonable time for your insurance carrier to pay your bill. If we do not receive payment from your insurance within 45 days, you will be billed for the services rendered and contacted by a representative of our office to intervene and request payment from your insurance company. If payment is not received within an acceptable time frame, you will be held responsible for the balance in full. Please note your contract is with your insurance company and you and not with the hospital.

In the event your insurance carrier submits payment after you have paid, the overpayment will be applied to any balance(s) outstanding, with the excess refunded to you.