Hospitalization and surgery

Post-operative survey

• Sondage BAIE-COMEAU (in French)
• Sondage SEPT-ÎLES (in French)

Hospitalization

Admission

Have your health insurance card, your hospital card and, if applicable, your personal insurance certificate with you when you arrive at the hospital for admission. If you do not have a hospital card, the admission staff will give one to you (fees may apply).

Most hospitalizations follow a stay at the emergency department during which the physician, sometimes after an observation period, requests the admission of the user. In the case of a one-day surgery or of a surgery with hospitalization, the pre-admission staff will contact you to tell you at what date and time you have to be at the hospital. When the time comes, you first have to go to the admission to prepare your file.

You will be asked to sign a care consent form for both treatments and examinations that may be carried out during your hospitalization. If a user is unable to sign the form because of incapacity, a spouse, guardian or relative has to sign it. During your stay, before any high-risk intervention and treatment, your identity is always double-checked (for example: your name and your date of birth).

What to bring?

The hospital provides the nightgowns. However, you can bring your own clothes (nightgown, bathrobe, slippers or shoes). Do not forget your personal hygiene items (tissues, toothpaste, hairbrush or comb, etc.).

Be sure to bring all your medications so that the physician or nursing staff will know your medication and dosage. During your hospital stay, it is important to not consume any medication or natural product other than those prescribed.

If you have concerns or questions about the prescribed or non-prescribed medication during your hospitalization, do not hesitate to ask.

It is recommended that you do not bring valuables with you. The hospital shall not be liable for any stolen item.

Choice of room

Three types of room are available: 

• Private room (1 bed): $98.86/day
• Semi-private room (2 beds): $61.18/day
• Shared room (4 beds): no fees

You must inform the staff of your preference when your hospitalization is confirmed or when you arrive at the hospital. Private and semi-private rooms are assigned following their availability. During your hospitalization, you can always change the choice of room you made upon admission by signing the form “Private or semi-private room request”, which also include the choice of a shared room. Moreover, during your stay, you may be transferred to another room in case of medical necessity. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that you will get the type of room you choose, but be assured that we take your request into account. The rates are established by the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

Terms of payment

If you have a personal insurance and you would like the establishment to handle the claim for hospitalization expenses with your insurance, you have to pay administrative charges of $15 and sign the form “CLAIM FOR HOSPITAL EXPENSES” provided by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, upon admission.

We will then be able to claim the room supplements corresponding to your hospitalization directly to your insurer. However, your insurance may not, or only partially, cover room supplements. Therefore, it is your responsibility to check your insurance coverage, because you will be charged with any balance not covered by your insurance.

Non-insured hospitalizations

If you have no personal insurance and you choose a semi-private or private room, you must deposit an amount equal to three days of hospitalization for your choice of room as soon as your are admitted. Once you are discharged, you have to go to the accounting department to pay the fees for the additional days of hospitalization. If you were hospitalized for less than three days, the accounting department will reimburse you for the overcharged fees.

Senior hospitalization

It is important to prevent the loss of autonomy related to immobilisation for the hospitalized user, especially for seniors. Immobility has adverse effects on seniors and it slows down their recovery. You can help prevent the loss of autonomy by:

• Asking the nursing staff what movements or exercises you can do;
• Actively taking part in your care, your grooming, your meals and your wake-up routine;
• Walking often with your visitors, when allowed by the nursing staff;
• Moving and eating good meals to increase your strength and endurance.

Intensive care

Users in a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening condition are cared for in intensive care.
Useful things to know when a relative is hospitalized in the intensive care unit (Hôpital Le Royer) (in French)

Refusal of traitment

If you decide to leave the hospital without medical authorization, and consequently to stop your treatment, you will we asked to sign a treatment refusal form.

Your departure

As soon as you arrive, several professionals will work with you on the organization of your departure in order to ensure that you return to your living environment safely, in a way that corresponds to your needs and in the best possible conditions. You can share your worries and concerns with the nurse in charge of you.

Departure formalities

The physician will inform you of the procedures for your departure one day in advance to allow you to organize your return home. You have to leave your room as early as possible.

Users whose departure is confirmed on the same day have two hours to leave their room following the signature of the discharge by the physician, in order to allow the admission of another user as soon as possible. You and your family are responsible for the transportation for your return home.

Before your departure, if necessary, a reference will be made toward the appropriate community resources to provide you with the care and services required by your health status.

When leaving, do not forget to take all your belongings and documents with you:

• Health insurance and hospital cards;
• Personal medications (if applicable) and new list of medications;
• Medical prescriptions (appointments to book, medication prescriptions and upcoming examinations);
• Hospitalization summary: This document is filed in the user’s record and transmitted to the attending physician. It will be given to the user in specific situations (e.g.: the user has to bring it to a specialist outside the region).

Insurance and return to work forms

Only the attending physician can complete and sign insurance and return to work forms. Be sure to request it before leaving the hospital. 

One-day surgery

A one-day surgery is a minor intervention that does not require hospitalization. On the day of the surgery, you must have with you:

• Your valid health insurance card;
• Your hospital card;
• ALL your medications required for the day in their original, well identified containers.

Go to the one-day surgery unit at the time mentioned in your form. Note that the time mentioned to you is not the time of the surgery, but the time of your arrival. You must report any symptom (for example: cough, fever, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, etc.). You have to plan on spending the whole day at the hospital for a one-day surgery, even if it is not always the case. Please take your medications according to the instructions you received and plan to be accompanied for your return home.

Important: Escorts must wait outside the surgery unit, in the adjacent waiting room. For children or users with cognitive disorders, the escort must remain with the user.