Admissions

The Admissions Office is located on the second floor of the hospital near Elevator A. Patients arriving at the hospital should check in through the Admissions Office.

Inpatient care
Patients will receive preliminary admission information from their doctor, who will direct their care throughout their stay. Upon arrival, patients should check in at the Admissions Office located on floor 2 of the hospital near Elevator A.

Outpatient surgery
Patients entering for Outpatient Surgery may check in at the Admissions Office located on floor 2 of the hospital near Elevator A.

Pre-admissions for all patients
All patients are encouraged to take advantage of the pre-admission process.  The process helps the hospital collect necessary information about each patient's hospital stay. Having this information prior to a patient's arrival enables us to make admission into the hospital as fast and convenient as possible. It also provides an opportunity for patients to ask questions about Our Lady of the Lake prior to their arrival and to take care of all the testing and financial arrangements in advance of their stay.

For questions concerning admission, please call (225) 765-8899.

Documents needed for admission

• To assist us in serving our patients, please have the following items available (as applicable):
• Insurance card(s)
• Medicare card/Medicaid card
• Driver's license
• Social Security number
• Doctor's orders (if available)
• Authorization (HMO/PPO patients) or pre-certification document

Many PPO, HMO, employer benefit programs, and insurance plans require pre-certification for payment of full benefits. If your plan requires pre-certification, please notify your physician. Also, if your plan requires a referral form, please bring it at the time of admission.

Patients without insurance coverage will be expected to make a deposit on admission. Financial Counselors will assist you in making arrangements.

Financial arrangements
Patients will be required to make financial arrangements upon admission if they have not done so during a pre-admission visit. This includes verifying health insurance and estimating the cost of surgery and other health costs. If there is a difference between the amount a patient's insurance covers and the cost of health services or surgery or if the patient does not have insurance, he or she will be asked to make a deposit at this time. A deposit or hospital payments can be in the form of cash, check, or major credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard or Discover).

Please note that most hospital insurance plans do not provide full coverage for hospitalization. Coverage is a contract between patients and their insurance company, and while Our Lady of the Lake will cooperate to the fullest in expediting a patient's claim, ultimately the patient is responsible for his or her account.

If after 45 days from filing a claim, a patient's insurance company has not paid the claim, he or she will be requested contact their insurance company in order to arrange payment. If patients have questions about their bill, they should call a Patient Accounts Representative, 8 am - 4:30 pm at (225) 765-8872.

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Physicians' fees and ancillary services
The hospital bill does not include the attending physician's fees or the fees for consulting physicians who have been requested to participate in a patient's care. Common examples of other fees not included in the hospital bill are for the following services:

Pathologists are physicians who specialize in the evaluation and interpretation of laboratory procedures.

Radiologists are physicians who interpret imaging studies, such as X-rays, MRIs, and Nuclear Medicine services that help a physician in diagnosis and treatment.

Emergency Medicine physicians provide treatment in the hospital's Emergency Room and will bill patients separately.

Anesthesiologists are physicians who administer the anesthetic for patient receiving surgical or certain other procedures.

These medical specialty physicians will bill patients separately for their professional consultation fee - these fees are not collected by the hospital. The hospital may make a technical charge for these special services on a patient's hospital bill for space, equipment, personnel and supplies required in order to perform the procedure.

For any questions concerning laboratory or radiology examinations or the results, patients should consult their physician. For any questions concerning bills received for ancillary services, patients should call to the physicians' professional offices directly.

Please remember not all of the aforementioned physicians may be considered a participating provider for your health insurance plan. You may contact OLOL or your insurance company for additional information regarding a physician's participation status.

Valuables
Our Lady of the Lake urges patients to leave valuables at home or send them home with family members. If this is not possible, patients may deposit them at the Cashier's Office. Our Lady of the Lake cannot be responsible for money or other valuables kept in patient rooms.

Patients may pick up valuables placed in the Cashier's Office, Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm. During other times, a nurse-manager and security will assist you. A receipt is necessary.

Due to safety and fire regulations for hospitals, patients cannot bring any electrical appliances from home. Battery-operated devices may be brought, if necessary.