HOME FIRST PHILOSOPHY

A Home First philosophy of care means that patients do best at home with the right supports in place. If you are admitted to PRHC, everyone will work together to get you back home to continue your recovery as soon as your pressing medical needs have been met. Please start to discuss your plans or concerns about returning home with your healthcare team early in your hospital stay. Patients who are discharged home with the supports they need as soon as it is safe to do so experience less loss of mobility and function than those with longer hospital stays.

PATIENT TRANSPORTATION

The patient, family member or substitute decision maker (SDM) is responsible for arranging and paying for patient transportation if needed upon discharge or during the patient’s stay, unless transportation is determined by the physician to be medically necessary (e.g. transportation between facilities for treatment or diagnostics; transportation of critically ill or unstable patients who require a nurse, emergency medical attendant or other primary care provider en route).

Non-emergency or non-medically necessary patient transportation includes transportation to:

The patient, family member or substitute decision maker (SDM) will be advised of their transfer options, which include: family member, taxi, Handi-Van, Home at Last, or one of several non-urgent transfer services.

PRHC is not able to hold a patient bed to accommodate late travel arrangements. The social worker and/or charge nurse will work with the patient to support a smooth transition.

Upon discharge, the patient will be asked to wait in the unit lounge until their transportation arrives. If a patient cannot wait safely in the lounge and transportation has not been arranged to accommodate the discharge time, PRHC can arrange transportation at the patient’s expense.

PATIENT ACCOUNTS & BILLING

During your stay, you may incur some additional costs that are not covered by OHIP or other insurance. When this happens, the hospital will keep track of the charges and bill you when you are discharged to go home.

The following list is not complete, but includes some of the expenses not covered by OHIP:

PAYING YOUR BILL

Patient bills can be paid at the Cashier’s Window located on Level 4, just inside Central Registration at the main entrance. PRHC takes payments as follows:

• MyChart – https://mychart.ourepic.ca
• Online through most chartered banks or local credit unions
• Phone by calling the cashier office at 705-876-5026 to pay by credit card
• Cheque payable to Peterborough Regional Health Centre, mailed or deposited in locked drop-box, located just outside the cashier window

The cashier’s office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding holidays. The cashier accepts payments by cash, cheque, interac and credit card. Please use your Guarantor ID located on your invoice when making payments. Cheques should be mailed to:

Peterborough Regional Health Centr
1 Hospital Dr.
Peterborough, ON
K9J 7C6

For additional information or inquiries, please call 705-876-5026.

Frequently-Asked Questions

Why am I unable to wait for an ambulance to take me back to my long-term care facility or nursing home?
The Ministry of Health (MOH) states that ambulances should only be used to transport patients in an unstable medical condition who require a medical escort and the use of a stretcher. If you have both a valid Ontario Health Card, and an emergency, life-threatening or urgent situation, a paramedic or ambulance is medically necessary. The MOH regulates that if an ambulance is used when it is not medically necessary, there will be a charge of $240. If you are in a stable medical condition, we can recommend other, less expensive modes of transportation.

Can I simply wait for the ambulance and pay the $240 fee?
When an ambulance is used to transfer a patient from one facility to another, it means that fewer ambulances are available in the community for emergency calls. Ambulance transfers for non-urgent situations are not reliable and they may not come at an arranged time. The first priority for ambulance services will always be emergencies. If they fail to come at the required time, the inpatient bed you are in may not be available for an acutely ill patient waiting in the Emergency Department. There is also no guarantee that you will have a daytime transfer. Daytime transfers help your long-term care facility or home care staff and others settle you into your surroundings.

I believe I am medically unstable and need a medical escort. Will I have to wait for an ambulance?
The decision as to whether transportation by ambulance is medically necessary will be made by the physician and care team.

Why was my trip to the hospital covered, but my return to a long-term care facility isn’t covered?
When you came to the hospital, you were coming for services that were medically necessary. At the time, you were assessed by your facility to be in an unstable medical condition. Therefore, there was no charge for the ambulance. When you are discharged from the hospital to return to your place of residence you will be in stable medical condition. Because an ambulance is not required, the trip is not covered.

Why will the hospital not cover the cost for my transportation home or back to the long-term care facility?
The hospital is not funded to provide transportation for patients unless it is medically necessary. Once discharged from the hospital, the patient incurs their own costs to return to their residence.

What if I cannot afford the cost of the transportation?
There are a number of transportation services available in the community to assist you. Our social workers can be a helpful resource for alternative patient transportation resources and will assist you.

I need help and I have no-one to assist me in arranging transportation.
Our social workers are knowledgeable about your transportation options and can help arrange an appropriate option for you.

Will PRHC pay for inpatient transportation to medical appointments?
The hospital will pay for transportation when the appointment is related to ongoing medical care. If the patient is stable and ambulatory, family or a substitute decision maker are encouraged to transport the patient.

How do I pay for transportation services?
The transportation services should be booked directly by you, and payment arrangements should be made directly with the transportation provider.

What other transportation options are available at PRHC?
Buses – Peterborough Transit serves passengers travelling to and from the hospital with two (2) bus routes: Charlotte West (Route 5) and Jackson Park (Route 4). Kneeling buses, which are easier to get on and off, are available on these routes as often as possible. The bus schedules can be found in the bus shelters outside the main entrance and outside the Emergency Department. For more information on fares and schedules, call Peterborough Transit at 705-745-0525 or visit www.peterborough.ca.

Taxi service – You can find a direct-dial taxi phone next to the Gift Shop inside the hospital’s main entrance.

Accessible transit services – For information about accessible transit options, speak to your healthcare team, call Peterborough Transit at 705-745-5801,
contact Community Care Peterborough at 705-742-7067 or visit www.peterborough.ca and search “accessible services.”