At Kentucky River Medical Center you are our first priority. We are dedicated to providing personalized, caring, and efficient service to patients with total satisfaction as a top priority. In this section, you will find useful information you may need for your visit. If the following topics do not address your questions, feel free to contact us at 666-6000.

Admissions

The Admissions Office is conveniently located in the Emergency Departments waiting area. (The emergency room entrance)  For your convenience the Admissions Office is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.  To reduce your wait time and process time for admissions, you are encouraged to call the admissions office at 666-6325 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.

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

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.  All patients are admitted to Kentucky River Medical Center without regard to race, creed, sex, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, national economic status, educational background, or the source of payment for care. 

Financial Arrangements

It is very important that you have your insurance identification cards and proof of identification with you when you are admitted to Kentucky River Medical Center. This enables us to provide proper billing, verify insurance benefits promptly and obtain pre-approval for HMO patients before receiving services.

You will be asked upon admission to pay any insurance co-pay or deductible not covered by your insurance. As a courtesy to you, the hospital will bill your insurance company. If your insurance company requests additional information from you, please respond as soon as possible. A delay in returning the requested information will also delay payment to your account. After discharge from the hospital, you will receive a monthly statement from the hospital to keep you informed of the insurance payment status. Because the insurance company’s response time may vary, you may not notice the insurance payment on the initial statements.

Please keep in mind that (with the exception of HMOs) your hospitalization coverage is a contract between you and your insurance company, and we will cooperate to the fullest in expediting your claim. You are ultimately responsible for your account. Financial counselors are prepared to provide room charge amounts upon request.

Your hospital bill does not include fees for the professional services of your physician, surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, pathologist and consulting physicians. You will receive separate billing for services provided by the specialist.

If you don’t have insurance coverage, you must make a deposit prior to your admission (non-emergency) and have satisfactory arrangements made for payment of any balance due. The hospital accepts cash, check, money orders, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover for prepayments and estimated portion of your bill, which is due on admission.

We will be happy to answer any question you may have concerning your financial arrangements. Call the Financial Counselor at 666-6479 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Billing Information

If you have any questions regarding your hospital bill, please call the Business Office Department at (606) 666-6479. Please have your patient number and date of your visit available; a business office staff member will be available to assist you from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Medical Records Information

If you require a copy of your medical records, please call the Health Information Department at (606) 666-6311.  By obtaining the answers to a few questions in advance, our medical records department will be able to have your records ready for you when you come to the hospital to pick them up. You will be asked to complete an authorization for release of medical records. This consent form must be signed and dated by the patient or legal representative. Your first copy is free; those there after will cost one-dollar per-page and a 25-dollar retrieval fee if records are needed for personal, insurance, or attorney use.

Outpatient Surgery Registration

It is suggested to pre-register at least 24-hours prior to your surgery to ensure that your chart is ready for your arrival. If a deposit or co-payment is required, please bring in the form of cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or money orders.

Day of Surgery

• Arrive at KRMC one hour before surgery.
• Do not smoke, eat or drink anything (including water) after 12:00 midnight the day of surgery, including mints or chewing gum.
• You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth, but do not swallow.
• Call your surgeon if you develop a cold, fever, or have any breathing problems before your surgery.
• Notify your surgeon if there is a possibility that you are pregnant.
• Take blood pressure, heart, seizure or any form of steroid medications as usual with a small sip of water.
• If you are currently taking other medications, including insulin, please check with your doctor.
• Please do not wear makeup, nail polish, jewelry or contact lenses and leave any valuables, including, wallet, at home. KRMC will not be responsible for any loss of or damage to personal items.
• Bathe or shower the morning of surgery.
• Wear, loose, comfortable clothing and low-heeled shoes.
• Make arrangements to have a responsible adult drive you home after surgery. Your driver may remain at KRMC or we can give them an approximate time to return for you.
• If you fail to arrive for a scheduled surgery, you may forfeit your deposit.

Recovery

After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room where your blood pressure, pulse and breathing will be monitored closely until you are ready to return to your room or be discharged home. When you are released from the hospital, you must not drive or operate any machinery for 24 hours and refrain from eating heavy foods or drinking any alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. If an inpatient, you can expect to continue having frequent checks of your pulse, breathing, and blood pressure, as well as observation of surgical site dressings and maintenance of IV solutions. Some discomfort is normal, but please tell your nurse if you notice a marked increase in pain or any unusual symptoms.

Before you leave the hospital, a nurse will discuss with you any postoperative instructions concerning medications, diet, and follow-up prescribed by your doctor.

It is quite normal to feel light-headed or tired for some days after surgery. If you experience any problems or concerns, please contact your doctor. 

Valuables

Valuable items such as jewelry, important papers, credit cards, keys, wallets, rings, and cash in excess of $5.00 should be sent home. If you are unable to do so, the hospital has a safe that is specifically used to ensure the security of patient valuables. Just tell the nurse that you have valuables an envelope will then be brought to you in which you can place your items. This envelope will then be placed in the hospital’s safe and will be returned to you upon your request at discharge. The hospital assumes no responsibility for personal property retained by the patient. 

Personal Items

All patients are asked to bring a bathrobe, slippers, and personal toilet articles (comb/brush, toothbrush, etc.). Hospital gowns are provided; however, you may prefer to wear your own pajamas or nightgown. Electrical heaters are not allowed and all other electrical appliances must be approved for safety by the Engineering Department.

Eyeglasses, dentures and hearing aids require care. Notify your nurse if you will be using any of these items. To prevent accidental disposal, take care not to leave these items on your meal tray or bed.

Personal Medication

Any personal medications should be left at home and not brought to the hospital with you. Kentucky River Medical Center’s Pharmacy will provide you with appropriate medication for you according to the directions of your physician.