Your care journey, made clear
Your care journey, made clear
A step-by-step guide to admission, billing and discharge, written so that patients and families know what happens next and what will be asked of them.
From arrival at the emergency room through to discharge clearance, the sections below cover the paperwork, the payments and the practical details.
what happens next.
Every step below tells you who you will talk to, what they will ask for, and what you walk away with. Nothing on this page assumes you have been in a hospital before.
Admission process
What to expect before your hospital stay begins.
Arrival
The patient arrives at the emergency room for assessment and possible admission.
Assessment
The ER physician and staff assess the condition. Initial evaluation and stabilisation are carried out where they are needed.
Information form
A companion fills out the patient information form. Basic demographics and contact details are recorded.
Admitting section
The companion discusses room availability and rates, receives an estimate of the cost, and has the hospital procedures explained.
Agreements
The companion presents the patient ID and insurance ID where available, reviews the billing policy, and signs the admission and billing agreements.
Back to the ER
The companion receives copies of the signed agreements. An identification bracelet is placed on the wrist and stays on until discharge.
Admission proper
The patient is endorsed for room admission and transferred to the assigned room or unit.
Billing process
- Charges build up through the stay: room, medicines, laboratory, imaging and professional fees.
- You may ask the billing section for an interim bill at any point during the stay.
- On discharge the final bill is prepared once every department has posted its charges.
- PhilHealth and HMO deductions are applied against the final bill. Submit the membership documents early so the deduction is not held up.
- Settle the balance at the billing counter and keep the official receipt.
Discharge process
- The attending physician issues the discharge order.
- The nurse prepares your discharge instructions, home medicines and follow-up dates.
- Billing finalises the account and applies any PhilHealth or HMO deduction.
- Once cleared, discharge clearance is issued and the nurse removes the identification bracelet.
- Ask for a medical certificate or clinical abstract before you leave if you will need one.
Questions before you come in?
The admitting and billing sections can walk you through anything on this page before you arrive.
Patient rights
- To be assigned a competent physician and to be told the names of the health care team members involved in your care.
- To know the hospital and physician fees, and to be informed about the possibility of financial assistance.
- To notify a family member or a person of your choice, and your own doctor, of your admission.
- To have someone remain with you during your stay, unless it compromises the rights, safety or health of others.
- To exercise your spiritual and cultural beliefs within the capacity and rules of the hospital.
- To be informed and to give consent before any non-emergency procedure or research, or to refuse it.
- To privacy and confidentiality of your medical records, and to see or obtain a copy of them except where restricted by law.
- To request an escort during physical examinations.
- To be represented by someone you assign when the circumstances warrant it.
- To ask about the complaint process and to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
Patient responsibilities
- Provide adequate, accurate and complete information about your health.
- Report unexpected changes in your condition.
- Understand the purpose and the cost of your treatment.
- Accept the consequences of your own informed consent.
- Settle financial obligations.
- Respect the rights of health care providers, the hospital and other patients.
- Take an active part in your own treatment.
- Respect the privacy of health care providers and institutions.
- Exercise fidelity on privileged communications.