Waiting room

Pre Admission

YOUR ADMISSION

Prior To Coming To Hospital
Pre-admission is an important part of your hospital care. To ensure we can confirm your admission, financial and other arrangements we ask that:

• You complete ALL the questions on the Pre-Admission and Patient History Forms.
• You read and sign the Privacy Consent Form.
• Your doctor completes the Doctor Referral and Consent forms. Ensure you sign and date the consent form in the presence of a witness.

Remove these completed forms from the Pre-Admission Forms booklet and forward immediately to the Hospital in one of the following ways:

• In person to our Reception: (our preferred option)
  Open 6am – 9pm Mon – Fri
  Open 8am – 8pm Sat – Sun
   
• Fax: (02) 9717 0313.
  Please remember to bring the original paperwork on admission
   
• Post: locked Bag, 8 Taren Point   2220
  At least 7 days prior to admission.

Hospital bookings are only confirmed on receipt of Pre-Admission paperwork. For most admissions you are requested to attend a short interview with the Admissions Nurse (Monday to Friday only).

What To Bring On Admission

• Any letter(s) from your doctor relating to your procedure.
• A list of your current medications and how often you take them.
• Any x-rays relevant to your procedure.
• Glasses and physical aids (walking sticks, hearing aids, etc.)
• Sleep wear, dressing gown and slippers (not applicable for Day Surgery procedures).
• Personal toiletries (not applicable for Day Surgery procedures).
• Sufficient cash for incidental expenses (no more than $50)
• Medicare card
• Pharmaceutical, Pension or Veterans’ Affairs Entitlement card
• Private Health Insurance fund details and Membership card

What Not To Bring

• Jewellery
• Large sums of money
• Other valuables
• Electrical appliances
• Mobile phone

The Hospital accepts no responsibility for patients’ possessions, including jewellery, watches and money. Any valuables brought into the Hospital will need to be secured in the safe with our Reception staff for the duration of your stay.

Accommodation
Private and shared accommodation is available. Whilst every effort is made to meet preferences for accommodation, we cannot guarantee that your choice will be available at time of admission. If you cannot be accommodated in your room of choice at that time of admission, you will be offered your choice as soon as it becomes available.

For Your Comfort & Convenience
Each bed is supplied with a personal telephone and colour television. Local telephone calls can be made free of charge. To make mobile, STD or ISD calls from your bedside, a telephone card can be purchased at Reception.

In the interest of public health, smoking is only permitted in the Matson Courtyard – please ask our staff for directions.

Visitor Information

• General Wards – 10.00am to 12.00am and 3.00pm – 8.00pm
• Maternity Ward – 2.00pm - 4.00pm and 7.00pm – 8.00pm Partners are welcome to visit anytime
• Coronary Care and Intensive Care – by arrangement with the Nurse Manager
• Rehabilitation Ward – 3.00pm – 8.00pm

Privacy Policy
Kareena Private Hospital complies with the Commonwealth Privacy Act and all other State legislative requirements in relation to the management of personal information. To this end, our privacy policy and a consent form relating to the collection and use of your health information is provided in your pre-admission booklet. Your assistance in filling out this necessary documentation is most appreciated.

Day Surgery Patients Only

Day Surgery Reception

Before Surgery

• Wear loose comfortable clothing
• Do not wear make-up, jewellery or nail polish
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol or chew gum 24 hours prior to admission
• Bathe or shower beforehand

Post Surgery

• You will not be able to drive home so please make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home.
• For 24 hours, do not drive a car, drink alcohol, make any important decisions
  or sign any legal documents.
• If you live alone and are having IV sedation or a general anaesthetic, you will need to arrange to either stay with someone or have someone stay with you the night of your surgery.

Please bring a small overnight bag to keep your clothing in while you are in the operating theatre.

Planning For Discharge
Once you are over the acute phase of your surgery or illness, it is expected that you will continue your recovery at home. Before you come to Hospital, you will need to consider how you will manage daily living activities like:

• meals
• personal care
• shopping
• home care

If you have concerns about how you will manage after discharge, please contact your GP or surgeon prior to admission.

The preadmission and discharge planning nurses are available to facilitate your discharge back to your home or into the community.

Discharge is on or before 10.00am, as rooms are scheduled for re-use after 10.00am.

At the time of discharge please ensure that you collect any x-rays, medications or valuables in trust before leaving the Hospital.

Payment Procedures

Health Insurance
You may find that your health fund does not fully cover your stay and that an out-of-pocket balance may occur. You are not required to pay the portion of your account that is covered by your health fund; we will claim benefits on your behalf.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses are provided and payable on admission. A claim will be made directly to your health fund.

Self-Insured
You will be required to pay your estimated Hospital account at time of admission and any outstanding balance on discharge.

Department Of Veterans’ Affairs
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) patients will have their account sent directly to the DVA for payment. If a private room is requested, a fee will apply and is payable on discharge. Patients will be responsible for purchasing a phone card to make any mobile, STD or ISD telephone calls.

Work Cover / Third Party Patients
Total payment must be made on admission unless written approval for admission as been received from the insurer.

Other charges you may incur
Please note that you may receive bills for other charges incurred whilst you are in Hospital. These costs are not the responsibility of the Hospital and will therefore be charged separately and are payable on discharge. Please bring provision for payment of these fees on admission to the hospital. Payment may be made by personal cheque (up to $1000 only), Bank Cheque, credit card or EFTPOS.

These accounts may include charges for:

• Anaesthetics
• Emergency Department attendance (if you received treatment in the Emergency Department prior to your admission, a separate account will be rendered for these services)
• Hiring of physical aids
• Pathology
• Radiology
• Pharmacy
• Allied Health
• Your treating doctor’s fees
• Surgical Assistant fees
• Prostheses

Payment Options
Payment or settlement of accounts may be made by:

• Personal cheque (up to $1,000 only)
• Bank Cheque
• Credit Card – Visa or Mastercard
• EFTPOS
• Cash

PARKING & TRANSPORT

Free off-street parking is available in the Hospital’s visitor carpark. A bus stop and taxi rank are located on the Kingsway. Telephone Transport Infoline on 13 1500 for bus routes and timetables, these are also available from our Main Reception.

A free courtesy telephone to St George Cabs taxi service is located at reception.

Veterans and war widows may be eligible for transport provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, to and from the Hospital. Please check with your doctor.

How To Find Us?
Located on the corner of The Kingsway and Kareena Rd Caringbah, the hospital is opposite the Sutherland Public Hospital. Click here to view the Hospital location page.