Patient Rights

St. Clair Medical Centre has recently invested in a new integrated hospital management information system called RUSHMORE. This offers a transparency and refinement in our billing system.

If your hospitalization is not part of a surgical package, daily room fees will apply. These fees include: 24-hour nursing care, 3 meals per day, in-room amenities (cable TV, nurse call system, en-suite bathroom, etc) and a selection of standard consumables.

Doctors’ fees are not included in Medcorp’s billing as they are consultants and are independent of the institution. You will receive:

• A separate bill from the treating physician/s

• A bill from anaesthetist for surgical procedures

• Interim bills are provided on a daily basis

• Daily ward visits may be included in the bill as per the doctor’s request

• Final bill is issued upon Doctors’ discharge

All investigations, medications, intravenous infusions, blood transfusions, specialist consultations and selected consumables will be charged to your bill.

If you should require isolation for medical reasons, such isolation will incur an additional charge (except where isolation is included as part of a package), as it requires extra materials and staff. You will be provided with all information regarding these extra costs on your bill.

OTHER CHARGES NOT INCLUDED IN MATERNITY OR SURGICAL PACKAGES.

• Daily room charge and daily doctors’ fees for additional nights and charges for intensive care beyond the number of nights specified in the package and charges for upgrade to single, VIP room or Suite.

• Additional investigations (i.e. haematology, radiology, anatomo-pathology) and additional treatments (such as, non-prophylactic antibiotics) or medical procedures not specified in package

• Charges for blood transfusions, cross matching platelets and additional or incidental procedures

• Physician care not related to the procedure specified in the package (specialist consultations )

• Additional medical services relating to newborns: investigations, medical procedures, medications etc.

• Medications and consumables, which are not defined in the package description, or to taken home after discharge

• Dressings, treatments and investigations prescribed after discharge, including those prescribed during the complimentary post-operative consultation.

A final bill will be provided by the Billing department within an hour of the doctors’ discharge order being communicated to the Billing department. St. Clair Medical Centre provides a summarized bill, adhering to industry standards. We are no longer able to provide itemized invoices immediately.
However, if you request itemized invoice, our billing department can produce one for you in 3 months.

You may contact our Billing Supervisor at extension 294 or our Customer Service Supervisor at extension 202, the Ward Secretary on your ward or the Main Cashier on the Ground Floor; they will be happy to help you during working hours (Monday – Friday 7:00-19:00 hours / Saturday 7:00-15:00 hours). During off hours, please go to the Accident & Emergency Department Cashier.

In order to cover your expenses, we require you to make a deposit upon admission. The Admission Officer will inform you of the amount on the day of your pre-admission meeting. This deposit must be submitted on the day you are admitted.

During your stay, if your account exceeds the initial deposit, you will be requested to pay the difference between the initial deposit and the current charges, and make a second deposit. If your charges exceed the amount deposited, please be informed that a member of the Finance Department will contact you
to request another deposit installment.

For any information regarding the deposit before your hospitalisation please contact the Admissions Officer, at extensions 202, 228 or 232 between 8:30 –4:30 hours, Monday through Friday, or during your hospitalisation, the Customer Relations Officer at extension 226.

The medical record is the property of Medcorp Limited. Medical records are completed by all physicians involved in the patient’s care upon the discharge of the patient. If a patient requests a copy of his/her medical record this medical chart first has to be completed in its entirety by all physicians that were involved in the care of that patient. To then request a copy of the medical record please follow steps 1 and 2.

Please note that any request to have a copy of your medical records will take at least three (3) weeks to be available.

A medical report (which is a summary prepared by a physician from the information contained in the patient’s medical record) may also be requested for release directly to a physician or medical facility for follow-up care of the patient when needed. This report would be forthcoming within seven (7) days of request.

How do I receive my medical record information?

Step 1: Authorization Release Forms
The information contained in the patient’s medical record is confidential. All requests for release of medical records information must be accompanied by an authorization form duly signed by the patient.
The form must have an original signature. Forms are available from our admission staff at St Clair Medical Centre.

Step 2: Submit
Please mail or deliver in person to the address below:

The Manager

Medical Records Department

Medcorp Limited/St Clair Medical Centre

18 Elizabeth Street, St Clair

Port of Spain ,Trinidad and Tobago

To receive your medical record information via email, please complete steps 1 and 2. Be sure to indicate on the authorization form that you want the medical record information sent to you electronically and provide an email address.

•The Ward Coordinator will inform you when your bill is ready for payment and you will be given the doctor’s prescription

•Show your prescription to the Main Cashier, who will scan and transmit it electronically to our onsite Pharmacy.

•After completing payment, proceed to the Pharmacy located at the front of the building, to collect your medication.

•The Pharmacist will explain the prescription: what the medication is for, how and when to take it and how to refill the prescription should such action be required.

•A prescription for medications, (when necessary)

•The results of imaging (x-rays, scans) and blood tests done during your stay (if requested).

•Information if you require follow-up consultations with your doctor

NOTE: If you require a medical report of your hospitalisation stay prior to your discharge, please inform your doctor in advance.

•Children younger than three (3) years of age will not be permitted to visit clinical areas.

•Children can visit a sick parent at the nurses’ discretion

•No more than two visitors are allowed at any one time

All wards except ICU – 6:00a.m. – 8:00a.m.

4:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.

ICU visiting is at the discretion of the Nurse in Charge

Please note that the Specific Visiting Hours are in place for our patients’ comfort and safety. We urge all
visitors to comply.

Visitors should check with a nurse before bringing gifts of food or drink to patients. On the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), please check at the nursing station before bringing any gifts for patients to ensure the safety of our patients. Please note that flowers are not allowed in the ICU.

Most major insurance institutions in Trinidad and Tobago have Medical Insurance coverage. We accept local and some international medical insurance policies. We work closely with insurance companies to ensure that clearance is provided to facilitate admission, management and treatment of patient. Some insurance policies cover fully or partially the patient medical bills. The patient will be required to pay if there is partial coverage.

TTARP

Trinidad and Tobago Association for Retired Persons (TTARP) cards are accepted by Medcorp Limited. Once you present your card at the point of admission, the discount is recorded against the cardholder’s bill. TTARP card must be presented at admission and accompanied by National Identification Card. The discount is only provided to the patient who is a CARDHOLDER of the TTARP card. Owners of TTARP cards will not be provided a discount when paying the final bill on behalf of a patient.

ANSA McAl

Patients who present this card will be offered the relevant discount.