St. Francis Medical Center Patient Visitor Information

Patient Satisfaction

Welcome to St. Francis Medical Center, where we are committed to providing excellent care in an environment that fosters human dignity. Our goal is to meet and exceed your expectations, from the moment you arrive at the Medical Center and throughout your stay here. If at any time we can assist in making your hospital stay more comfortable, please do not hesitate to contact the nurse who is caring for you or the coordinator or manager on the unit where your room is located.

St. Francis Medical Center is Going Smoke-Free

Beginning January 1, 2008, St. Francis Medical Center will be entirely smoke-free. This decision was made to better ensure the health and well-being of all our patients, visitors, employees, volunteers, and physicians. Smoking will not be permitted anywhere on the Medical Center grounds.
The Medical Center has had a non-smoking policy for many years designating the central courtyard as a permitted smoking area. However, the concern regarding second-hand smoke continues to grow and has been an issue.
St. Francis will continue to be sensitive to those employees, physicians, volunteers, patients, and visitors who smoke. We will support those individuals who personally decide to stop smoking by providing additional resources, such as expanded smoke cessation classes. Your cooperation in making this a successful transition to a smoke-free campus is greatly appreciated.

Your Admission

During admission you will be required to answer some basic questions and present your insurance identification cards. The information is necessary for our records and critical to your medical care. Some details are required by law, while other information is needed for billing procedures. Your cooperation in facilitating this process is greatly appreciated.

Business Office

Healthcare Access Representatives are available to assist you either at the time of your arrival or during your hospital stay. They can be reached on your floor or by dialing 599-5252. Should you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage, credit procedures, or your bill after discharge, please do not hesitate to contact us at (609) 599-5766.

Cashier (located just off the main lobby) hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

To inquire about a balance you owe or if you need a copy of a bill: 1-800-893-9878

To inquire about eligibility for charity care and other assistance programs: 1-609-599-5648

To speak with a customer service representative regarding problems with your insurance: 1-609-599-5766

To submit a payment:

St. Francis Medical Center Billing
P.O. Box 827800
Philadelphia, PA 19182-7800 or

To pay online via credit card, visit our website at www.help-4-u.com and use the access code “SFM”

Patient Accounting sends bills to both insurance companies and patients. They also collect and post payments. Payments are accepted by check or money order, and credit card payments may be made using Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.

If you have a question regarding the insurance coverage for your procedure or stay, we urge you to contact your insurance carrier for information regarding pre-certification, referrals, coinsurance and deductibles before receiving hospital services.

Although St. Francis Medical Center accepts most major health insurances carriers, responsibility for your bill rests with you.

Hours of Operation: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday - Friday

Financial Assistance

St. Francis Medical Center offers several programs to assist you with paying
the self-pay portion of your hospital medical bills.

If your family income is less than the current 200% of the Federal Poverty
guidelines, you may be eligible for total forgiveness of all balances owed
to the hospital.

If your family income is between the 200-400% of the Federal Poverty
guidelines, you may be eligible for a partial forgiveness of self-pay balances
owed to the hospital.

All patients not receiving the financial assistance described above are
eligible for a prompt pay discount of 20% on hospital outpatient bills and 50% on hospital inpatient and outpatient procedure bills, if their hospital bill
is not covered by any insurance. Prompt pay discounts cannot be applied
to deductibles and copayments due after insurance has paid. In order
to receive this discount, the bill must either be paid within 30 days of
service, or arrangements to pay need to be made and approved within
30 days of service.

Please call our financial counselors at 609-599-5648 or 5647 to
complete an application for financial assistance.

Parking

                    The newest addition to SFMC is the recently opened lobby and
                    entrance on Chambers Street. This new space links the existing
                    parking garage to the hospital, allowing for a covered entrance.
                    Patients will also find friendly faces to greet them and help them get
                    to where they are going, and a newly renovated registration area
                    conveniently located to the new entrance. In addition, the new
                    "horseshoe" driveway is complete with curbside service and valet
                    parking.

Visitor parking is also available in the multi-level parking garage located behind the Medical Center. Garage and surface parking is free for all patients and visitors, as well as for those who have dropped off patients and are waiting to take them home.

Visiting Hours

Our patients’ well-being is our first priority and visitor guidelines have been established to allow patients to receive the rest they need for complete recovery. We suggest visitors be limited to family, very close friends and clergy.

Visitor passes may be obtained at the Visitor Information Desk located at the front and back entrances. We ask that you limit your visitors to two at one time. Children under age 12 may visit patients during regular visiting hours, when accompanied by an adult.

General Medical Surgical Units

Daily: 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Mental Health Unit

Weekends: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It is a secured unit and visitors must be cleared before access to the unit. Children under the age of 12 must have permission from the patient's doctor before visiting.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Daily: 12:00 noon to 8:30 p.m.

Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)

Daily: 12:00 noon to 8:30 p.m.

CardioThoracic Care Unit (CTCU)

Daily: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Cafeteria

The Cafeteria is open to visitors and is located on the ground floor of the hospital. The cafeteria is open daily from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. Serving hours, when hot food is available, is as follows:

Breakfast 6:45 am - 10:00 am

Lunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Dinner 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

On weekends the cafeteria will close at 2:00 pm

Vending service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

Calling Patients

To inquire about patients from outside the Medical Center call (609) 599-5000.

For Patient and Visitors

Our Staff Is Dedicated To Providing Excellent Patient Service