Admissions and Discharges
If your treatment, whatever its nature, requires you to be admitted for a stay at Saad Specialist Hospital you will be an inpatient.
There are a number of ways that a patient may be admitted to Saad Specialist Hospital. There are also means of payment that are specific to each admittance route.
Emergency Admission
A patient can be admitted to the Hospital due to a medical or surgical emergency. In this case, it would be normal and preferable for the patient to be accompanied by a family member or friend. They are often able to assist us with information about the patient’s history and circumstances surrounding the emergency, as well as be available to deal with all the required legal and administrative details.
Elective Admission
Elective admission is planned in advance. A patient can be admitted on an elective basis when delaying admission does not endanger his or her life, or until such time as a bed becomes available. This route allows for pre-admission testing and evaluation, costing, approval, operating room scheduling, and bed assignment.
Patients requiring elective admission can be admitted in three ways, either under Cash, Credit, or Insurance payment categories:
- Cash category: when the patient or the patient’s representative signs an agreement that treatment shall be paid for by cash and a deposit is placed.
- Credit category: applicable when there is cover for treatment at Saad Specialist Hospital by either the patient’s employer or sponsor (if they have a current financial agreement with us). The credit category requires pre-approval before a patient can be admitted.
- Insurance category: applicable when the patient is covered for treatment at Saad Specialist Hospital by an insurance company that has a current contract with us. This category also requires pre-approval. More information on which insurance companies have contracts with Saad Specialist Hospital can be found by following this link.
Referral Admissions
Referral admissions are applicable when a patient is transferred to Saad Specialist Hospital from another medical facility.
Saad Specialist Hospital is a tertiary care facility. As such, a patient can be transferred from other hospitals in the region for sub-specialty services based on eligibility.
Non-emergency transfer requests are accepted by Saad Specialist Hospital between the following periods:
- 8am-8pm Saturday to Wednesday
- 8am-5pm Thursday
The transfer team that works on referrals includes the Chief Medical Officer, Referral Center coordinator, ER Physician, Admission, Discharge and Transfer Team, and Case Manager.
Your stay with us: What you can expect
Pre-admission
When a patient is scheduled for a procedure that will require a stay at Saad Specialist Hospital, our Business Office will verify insurance or hospital coverage and benefits. We will also work directly with the relevant insurance company or employer to ensure that all required authorizations have been approved before admission. A representative from Saad Specialist Hospital may also contact the patient or guardian if there are any questions or concerns regarding insurance authorization.
Accommodation
During your stay you will either be in a shared or private room, both of which are fitted to make your stay as comfortable as it possibly can be. If you request a private room, then every effort to honor your request will be made, though a signed form stating that there is agreement to pay the entire difference between the cost of a private room and amount reimbursed by the insurance company will be required.
All rooms have a bedside table for toiletries, a refrigerator, and a closet for personal belongings. Every hospital bed has a bedside control panel to call members of staff and its own telephone extension. Upon admission, this number will be provided. All telephone calls are billed to the patient’s final account and must be settled at the time of discharge. There is no charge for calling within the hospital.
Mobile and cellular phones have the potential to interfere with the operation of vital and sensitive patient care equipment and their use is strictly prohibited in certain areas of the hospital. Please ask the nurse allocated to you about the use of mobile and cellular phones within your area.
If there are any maintenance issues, please inform the nurse assigned to you. A member of the maintenance team will be called to make the necessary repairs. Before admission, all rooms are cleaned and disinfected thoroughly and a member of the Environmental Services Department will service the room on a daily basis.
Food
Room service is available around the clock for inpatients, with a wide selection of western and eastern food and beverages available. As patients may require menus tailored to their medical needs, we ensure that experienced dieticians are on hand to screen any food that has been prepared for any dietary requirements that you may have.
Guest meal trays are available upon request for visitors, but electrical appliances such as kettles or toasters should not be brought to the hospital. Room service and guest trays are billed separately and should be settled at the time of discharge.
What to bring on admission
Saad Specialist Hospital is well equipped to make your stay as easy as possible (more information can be found by clicking here). You will only need to bring only a few items with you. The most important is a list of all the medications that you are currently taking. Do not bring any medications to the Hospital unless the doctor gives an instruction to do so.
You should also bring toiletries, a robe, non-skid slippers, night and under garments, and reading material. Hospital gowns will be provided.
A battery-operated radio or CD-Cassette Player (with headphones) may be placed in the room, however responsibility for its care lies with the patient/family.
A small amount of money (100 SAR) for incidentals, such as magazines, can be brought to the hospital, but please do not bring valuables, jewelry, credit cards, or large amounts of money.
DISCHARGES
In as much as your stay at Saad Specialist Hospital will be important, planning for your discharge is an equally critical part of your care.
Our highly experienced Discharge Planning Team works with patients and their families, using clinical pathways based on evidence-based practice, to help plan for your discharge and make it as efficient as possible.
There are, however, some practical tips that you may want to consider before this stage:
- Discuss with the social worker, nurse or rehabilitation coordinator (if appropriate), any special services, supplies, material, or equipment that may be needed within the home environment relevant to the patient’s needs or abilities.
- Listen carefully to the instructions provided about medications before going home. Ask as many questions as needed in order to understand the dosages, side effects, refill prescriptions, and so on.
- Prescriptions for medication will be given before discharge and can be filled at the Saad Outpatient Pharmacy or at a local pharmacy closer to home. These prescriptions will have to be paid for separately.
- Make the necessary financial arrangements so that accounts can be settled easily at the time of discharge.
- Think about how best you can be transported home and discuss your options with the nurse or social worker to ensure their suitability.
- Make sure that you inform the nurse of the name and phone number of the person that will be accompanying the patient.
- Try to ensure that any personal belongings have been sent home in advance of your discharge.
On the Day of the Discharge
A member of the discharge planning team will inform you of what time your discharge is most likely to occur. It is preferable that an escort arrives at the hospital an hour before the discharge time in order assist in finalizing practical arrangements.
Payment
If the bill is to be paid by the employer or an insurance company, and prior approval for admission and treatment has been obtained, Saad Specialist Hospital will direct the bill accordingly.
If the bill is to be paid in cash, a full payment will be required at the time of discharge. Some insurance companies and certain employers will not pay for some types of treatment. If this is the case, payment will be requested for exclusions, from the patient directly at the time of discharge, and Saad Specialist Hospital does not intervene in matters pertaining to exclusions with either the employer or insurance company.
If there are any questions regarding the bill after leaving the hospital, the ADT office in the main lobby can be visited or contacted on 801 2101.