Separate pediatric waiting and treatment areas allows us to protect our youngest patients and visitors from disturbing sights and sounds.

Following the triage process, patients are registered. The Registrar will ask each patient a series of questions as well as ask them to sign documents indicating that consent will be given for treatment and billing purposes. This process may take a few minutes, but patients should remember that it allows the emergency care professionals to have accurate and current patient information. If it is necessary for the patient to later be admitted to the hospital, admitting physicians and primary care physicians need this information to continue care. The information provided by the patient also provides the care team with access to information about previous medical treatment the patient may have received at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Documentation of insurance is obtained at this time, so patients are advised to be ready to show patient identification and any medical information cards at registration. Insurance companies often require the Emergency Department to obtain approval for emergency visits. These approval phone calls can take time. We ask that patients remain patient during this process. 

Some questions that patients might be asked during triage or registration include:

What brought the patient to the Emergency Department today?

What is the patient's address?

What is the patient's Social Security Number?

When did the patient last eat or drink?

What is the name of the patient's regular doctor?

What medication does the patient take on a daily basis?

What is the name of the medicine and how much is taken per day?

Does the patient have any allergies? What kind?

What is the name of the patient's insurance carrier?

Does the patient have an "Advance Directive"?

Insurance Coverage

Most insurance plans cover emergency treatment. Some providers require patients to call their private physician before going to an emergency department, if possible.

Billing Procedures

You will receive two bills: one from Crozer-Chester Medical Center for "facility" charges and one from the Emergency Department physician. You may also receive separate bills from other providers who provide consultation on the patient's case.

If a patient has questions about Emergency Department physician billing, call 1-800-666-2455.

Advance Directives

Federal law requires that all hospitals ask patients if they have an advance directive. An advance directive is a written statement describing the treatments that a patient does or does not wish to receive in the event that he or she is unable to communicate. Patients or families should inform the triage nurse if the patient has an advance directive.

Waiting Area

Although all patients are seen and evaluated by the triage nurse upon arrival, medical treatment is given to those patients most in need of immediate care. For this reason, we cannot always attend to patients in the order in which they arrive.

Patients may be asked to take a seat in the waiting room if an exam room is not available. As soon as possible, each patient will be taken into an exam room.