Admissions Policy
PolicyStat ID12001647; Eff. 5/2014; Last revised 9/2019
North Valley Hospital staff shall not deny access to emergency care based upon ability to pay and/or transfer of patients with emergency medical conditions or active labor.
1. North Valley Hospital or its medical staff shall not adopt or maintain admission practices or policies which would:
a. Discourage or impede those who have no third-party coverage and who are unable to pay for hospital services from seeking services;
b. Limit or attempt to reduce the number of individuals admitted for inpatient hospital services for which payment is, or is likely to be, less than the anticipated charges for or costs of such services; or
c. Lead to refusal to admit patients expected to require unusually costly or prolonged treatment for reasons other than the appropriateness of the care available at the hospital.
d. North Valley Hospital shall not transfer a patient with an emergency medical condition or who is in active labor unless necessitated due to the limited medical resources. North Valley Hospital shall follow reasonable procedures in making transfers to other hospitals to include confirmation of acceptance of the transfer by the receiving provider and hospital.
North Valley Hospital admissions and medical staff shall admit patients as quickly and efficiently as possible. They will attempt to obtain demographic, personal and insurance information.
Patients should be queried about the existence of an advance directive and information provided about advanced directives at time of admission.Should the patient's condition preclude obtaining this information from the patient, the hospital staff will make good faith effort to review prior medical records for this information or discuss with the accompanying family members, significant others, or friends that may have authority to provide this information.
North Valley Hospital prohibits discrimination, harassment and bullying against any person because of age, ancestry, disability, national origin, race, religion, gender, sexual or affectional orientation, gender identity, appearance, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. North Valley Hospitals' patients are informed of their rights prior to furnishing or discontinuing care. They shall be given Financial options, Consent for treatment, Notice of privacy practices and Charity Care information upon admission or additionally upon request.