mybonsecoursFAQ on Free Standing Emergency Department
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a free-standing emergency room?
A free-standing emergency room is open to the
public 24 hours a day for the treatment of urgent and emergent medical
conditions. Bon Secours St. Francis Watkins Centre emergency room is staffed
with the same medical personnel and diagnostic equipment available in Bon
Secours’ hospital-based emergency rooms. The primary difference is St. Francis
Watkins Centre emergency room is not located on a hospital campus. No
appointment is required to be seen at the facility. Should a patient need to be
admitted to the hospital, an ambulance is on campus 24 hours a day to
immediately transport a patient for direct admission.
How is St. Francis Watkins Centre different from an
urgent care center?
The emergency room at St. Francis Watkins Centre is
open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, whereas most urgent care centers are
only open 8 to 16 hours per day. St. Francis Watkins Centre is also capable of
treating all urgent and emergent medical conditions, including heart attacks,
strokes, respiratory distress, head injuries, abdominal pain, dehydration,
orthopedic injuries (fractures), sports injuries and lacerations (cuts
requiring sutures). These conditions are beyond the scope of treatment for most
urgent care centers.
How is St. Francis Watkins Centre different from a hospital-based emergency room?St. Francis Watkins Centre provides the same emergency treatment patients receive in our traditional hospital based emergency rooms. While the national average wait time to be treated in most hospital- based emergency rooms is four hours, patients in Bon Secours facilities will be immediately seen by a member of our clinical care team who will assess needs and begin care right away. As a free standing emergency department, St. Francis Watkins Centre uniquely provides a convenient, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.
Am I required to pay for services prior to being treated?
Consistent with Bon Secours’ mission and the
requirements of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
(“EMTALA”), Bon Secours St. Francis Watkins Centre will treat all emergency
room patients regardless of their ability to pay, including a medical screening
examination and appropriate stabilizing treatment as required by EMTALA. Additionally,
Bon Secours has various charity and self-pay options to assist those in
financial need.
What insurance plans does St. Francis Watkins Centre accept?
Bon Secours St. Francis Watkins Centre is an
extension of St. Francis Medical Center, and the Hospital accepts all private insurance
carriers.
What am I required to pay?
Patients whose insurance plans treat the Watkins
Centre services as in-network are required to pay the emergency room co-pay as
designated by the insurance plan at the time of service. As with any visit to
an emergency room, upon receipt of the explanation of benefits (EOB) from the
insurance carrier, patients may also be required to pay a deductible or any
co-insurance if it is determined to be patient responsibility by the insurance
provider.
What if I have to be admitted to a hospital?
St. Francis Watkins Centre covers
the cost of the ambulance transport from Watkins Centre to St. Francis Medical
Center. Should a patient choose another
hospital or need to be transferred to a higher level of care, the insurance
company or the patient will be billed for the transport consistent with
stabilization and transfer from any hospital Emergency Department.
