September 11, 2007
Tuesday AM

(SitNews) - There are proper procedures that must be followed to access emergency medical services in Ketchikan according to SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC).
 
SEARHC patients who reside outside of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough and who are seeking treatment at the Ketchikan General Hospital emergency room are required to notify the Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Health Clinic within 72 hours (three days) after their visit. Patients who are disabled or older than 65 years old have 30 days to notify KIC. Failure to notify the KIC Tribal Health Clinic of visits to the Ketchikan General Hospital's emergency room can mean the loss of benefits, and the patient being held responsible for paying the bill.
 
SEARHC patients using the Ketchikan General Hospital emergency room for legitimate emergencies should call (907) 228-4900 to leave notification. During the day, the patient should request a transfer to the KIC Tribal Health Clinic's nursing department. At night they can call the same number to leave notification with the Anchorage answering service. After leaving notification with the KIC Tribal Health Clinic, SEARHC beneficiaries should call SEARHC Contract Health at 1-866-966-8316 to make sure the visit is in SEARHC's records.
 
"Timely notification is important," said SEARHC Contract Health Manager Karen Fredrickson, who added that the rules have been in effect for several years. "It's their responsibility to notify Ketchikan," if they want their visit covered under SEARHC Contract Health's agreement with KIC. "Call KIC first, and then call us."
 
Patients with non-emergencies should wait until they can be seen at the KIC Tribal Health Clinic and not go to the Ketchikan General Hospital emergency room. Only legitimate emergency room visits to Ketchikan General Hospital will be covered under SEARHC Contract Health's agreement with KIC, while routine care should take place at the KIC Tribal Health Clinic during normal business hours.
 
For more information on SEARHC Contract Health policies and procedures, patients can call 1-866-966-8316.

Source of News:

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC
www.searhc.org

 

SitNews ©2007
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska