Admission and discharge

Getting admitted

1. 01

   Your doctor advises admission

   From the OPD after a consultation, or straight from casualty in an emergency.

2. 02

   Register at the admission counter

   Bring the patient's photo ID, the doctor's admission note, and your insurance or scheme card if you have one.

3. 03

   Choose a room

   Room type affects the daily tariff and, on many policies, what your insurer will pay. Ask for an estimate before you decide.

4. 04

   Sign consent after it's explained

   You have the right to have the treatment, its risks and its alternatives explained to you in a language you understand before you sign.

What to bring

• Photo ID of the patient
• Previous prescriptions, reports and scans
• The medicines the patient takes now, or their strips
• Insurance card, or Ayushman / CGHS / ESIC card
• A change of clothes and basics for the attendant

Going home

1. 01

   The doctor advises discharge

   On the morning rounds, or whenever the treating doctor decides the patient is ready to go home.

2. 02

   Billing prepares the final bill

   Pharmacy returns, test charges and room charges are totted up into an itemised bill.

3. 03

   Insurance settles, or you pay

   For a cashless admission the insurer settles its approved share directly; you clear the balance.

4. 04

   Collect everything before you leave

   Discharge summary, all original reports, the itemised bill, and the follow-up date.

Before you leave

• Discharge summary with the diagnosis, treatment given and follow-up advice
• Your test reports and scans
• An itemised final bill and receipts
• Prescriptions, with instructions on how long to take each medicine
• The date and department of your follow-up visit