Here, we put patients and families first.
Our goal is to make your stay as comfortable as possible and to treat you with respect, compassion and dignity as we provide you with exceptional medical care. We believe that quality care is enhanced by open communication. We encourage you and your family members to be actively involved in your care by feeling free to ask any questions you may have and by providing our staff with valuable feedback.
It is our privilege to serve your medical needs and we thank you for entrusting us with your care. If, at any time during your stay with us, there is anything we can do to make you more comfortable, please do not hesitate to ask one of our staff members to assist you.
Patients’ Personal Belongings
Leaving your valuables at home is the best way to secure them during your hospital visit. Onvida Health is not responsible for valuable belongings left unsecured. Of course, many hospital visits are surprises or unplanned emergencies. So, you may have arrived wearing jewelry or carrying your purse or wallet. It is best to send your cash, purse, wallet, wedding ring and other jewelry at home with someone you trust. If you have valuables you cannot arrange to send home, please ask your nurse for assistance placing them in the hospital safe. If you have property lost or stolen, ask a member of our staff to contact Security to submit a report.
Outpatient Observation Care
Your doctor or healthcare provider may choose Outpatient Observation care for you because your medical condition requires additional tests and monitoring. As a patient in Outpatient Observation, your condition will be monitored until time and information allow a decision to be made about your diagnosis and treatment plan.It is important to know that you have not been admitted to the hospital. Your stay is not classified or billed as a hospital admission.
Schedule an Appointment
Whether you are an existing or new patient, you can schedule an appointment.
Observation is an outpatient service that a doctor or other healthcare provider orders so that testing and medical evaluation of your medical condition can be completed.
While under observation care, your bed may be located on any unit or floor of the hospital. However, please know that the quality of your care is exactly the same as any patient, whether you are an observation patient or have been admitted to the hospital.
The doctor will decide whether you need to be discharged or admitted into the hospital. This decision is usually made within the first 24 hours of observation care, which should not exceed 48 hours.
Outpatient Observation is usually ordered for conditions that can be treated in 48 hours or less, or when the cause for your symptoms has not yet been found. Some examples of conditions are nausea, vomiting, weakness, stomach pain, headache, kidney stones, fever, certain breathing problems and chest pain.
No. Any of your time spent during an Outpatient Observation stay does not count toward Medicare’s three-day (consecutive) hospital stay rule to qualify for placement in a skilled nursing home. If you are actually admitted into the hospital, your three-day hospital day begins only from the time when you become an inpatient (are actually admitted).
An observation stay is billed under outpatient services (under Medicare this would be included under Part B) while an outpatient admission is billed under inpatient services (under Medicare this would be billed under Part A).
This is possible. For example, Medicare allows for a 4- to 6-hour recovery period. The reason for outpatient surgery is the ability for you to have the surgery and be discharged the same day. However, if you experience a complication after that surgery, your doctor may place you into Outpatient Observation to watch you further.
No, Medicare will only pay if there is a medical condition that requires you to be monitored following surgery. If you want to stay overnight in the hospital as a matter of convenience for you or your family, you will be fully responsible for that payment.
Since observation stays in the hospital are billed as an outpatient service, your insurance co-pays and deductibles, along with any additional costs, will most likely be based on the outpatient terms of your policies. Your out-of-pocket costs may change depending on whether your stay is designated as observation or full inpatient admission.
Therefore, any costs from a nursing home following an observation stay or any inpatient hospital stay less than three days are the financial responsibility of the patient and will not be covered by Medicare as a Part B service.
Insurance payers have different amounts of time that are covered in observation.
For example:
- Medicare limits Outpatient Observation services to 48 hours. Typically, however, a decision to discharge or admit a patient is made within 24 hours.
- Medicaid allows Outpatient Observation for up to 48 hours.
- Private insurance may vary, but most permit only 23 hours of observation care.
Your provider will then write an order to change your Outpatient Observation stay to full inpatient admission. You will be officially admitted into the hospital at that time.
You will be discharged from the hospital at that time.
