Providence St. Peter Hospital Emergency Room & ER Info

Providence specifically identifies conditions such as the following as reasons to seek immediate emergency evaluation:

Providence does not promise a fixed wait time because emergency patients are treated according to medical urgency.

Wait time can change based on

• The severity of your condition.
• The number of patients seeking care.
• The number of trauma cases arriving.
• The number of patients requiring immediate life-saving treatment.
• Specialist availability.
• Hospital bed availability when admission is required.

A Level III trauma hospital provides initial evaluation, resuscitation, emergency surgery and stabilization for serious injury, with transfer to a Level I or II trauma center when a patient’s injuries require resources beyond the hospital’s trauma scope.

Trauma-related resources include

• Emergency physicians.
• Trauma and acute-care surgery.
• Anesthesia.
• Critical care.
• Neurosurgery consultation.
• Orthopedic services.
• Diagnostic imaging.
• Blood/laboratory services.
• Transfer coordination.

St. Peter Regional Heart Center treats conditions including

• Heart attack.
• Coronary artery disease.
• Congestive heart failure.
• Heart-valve disease.
• Arrhythmias.
• Structural heart disease.
• Aortic aneurysm.
• Cardiomyopathy.
• Adult congenital heart disease.

Providence describes St. Peter as the leading hospital in southwest Washington, serving communities in Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.

Current major services include

Pre-registration

Providence offers online pre-registration for eligible scheduled admissions. If the patient is being admitted within the next 48 hours, Providence instructs patients not to use the online form.

Bring for scheduled care

• Photo identification.
• Insurance card.
• Referral when required.
• Prior-authorization information.
• Medication list.
• Allergy list.
• Outside imaging if requested.
• Advance directive when applicable.

Cardiology

Cardiothoracic surgery

Neurosurgery

General and vascular surgery

Obstetrics and gynecology

The hospital’s operating services include both planned and urgent surgery. Providence currently lists specialties such as:

• Cardiac surgery.
• da Vinci robotic surgery.
• ENT surgery.
• Neurosurgery.
• Obstetric and gynecologic surgery.
• General surgery.
• Vascular surgery.
• Urgent and emergency procedures.

Before scheduled surgery

1. Confirm insurance authorization.
2. Ask whether surgeon and anesthesiologist bills are separate.
3. Request an estimate.
4. Follow medication instructions.
5. Follow fasting instructions.
6. Confirm surgery check-in location.
7. Arrange transportation after outpatient surgery.

Providence St. Peter Hospital provides family-centered pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum care.

Family Birth Center features

• Obstetric emergency triage.
• Private birthing suites.
• Soaking tubs.
• Family area with sleeper sofa.
• Dedicated C-section operating rooms.
• Private postpartum suites.
• Certified nurse-midwife care.
• OB/GYN care.
• Lactation consultants.
• Pediatric providers.

Level II NICU

The current Family Birth Center page identifies a 13-bed Level II neonatal intensive-care/special-care nursery. It generally cares for infants born at 32 weeks gestation and above who need additional medical support.

Providence collaborates with Seattle Children’s tele-neonatology program when specialized neonatal consultation is needed.

Birth-center tours

St. Peter currently offers Family Birth Center tours on Sundays at 3 p.m.. Providence asks families to call 360-493-7027 between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. that day to confirm that the tour can be accommodated.

St. Peter provides emergency mental-health evaluation through its Emergency Center and adult inpatient psychiatric treatment.

Inpatient treatment can include

• Psychiatric stabilization.
• Medication management.
• Group therapy.
• Recreation/activity groups.
• Education.
• Family support.

Providence’s Transfer Center coordinates:

• ER-to-ER transfer requests.
• Inpatient admissions.
• Hospitalist consultation.
• Specialist consultation.
• Cardiology.
• Critical care.
• ENT.
• Gastroenterology.
• General medicine.
• General surgery.
• Neurology.
• Neurosurgery.
• Orthopedics.
• Oncology.
• Pediatrics.

An ER bill can include

• Hospital Emergency Department facility services.
• Emergency physician professional services.
• Laboratory tests.
• X-rays.
• CT or other imaging.
• Medication.
• Procedures.
• Specialist consultations.
• Trauma services.
• Hospital admission.

For planned care

Providence’s estimate tool can provide expected out-of-pocket pricing based on the facility, service and insurance details.

Current Washington charity-care levels

Apply by

1. Calling 855-229-6466.
2. Downloading the Washington application.
3. Requesting the application at hospital registration.
4. Submitting the requested household-income documents.

Providence payment-plan features

• Interest-free plans.
• Payments can start as low as $25 per month.
• No hidden payment-plan fees.
• No early-payoff penalty.
• Plans can be customized to the patient’s budget.

Providence’s billing-support information also describes long-term plans that can extend to approximately 24 months depending on the account and arrangement.

If you believe a bill is wrong

1. Check whether insurance processed the claim.
2. Confirm the hospital was billed under the correct plan.
3. Ask whether the charge is hospital or physician billing.
4. Request an itemized statement.
5. Ask for an explanation of the disputed charge.
6. Ask about financial assistance while the issue is reviewed.

Medical-record options

Providence states that Washington medical-record requests can take up to 15 business days, depending on request type and state law.

MyChart can be used to

• View test results.
• Read clinical notes.
• Message participating clinicians.
• Manage eligible appointments.
• Request prescription refills.
• Review billing statements.
• Pay balances.
• Set up eligible payment plans.
• Access or request health records.

Providence’s current Southwest Washington visitor-policy page lists general hospital visiting hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m..

Visitor belongings currently allowed include

• Discharge clothing.
• Phone, charger, tablet or laptop for communication.
• Hearing aids, glasses, contacts or dentures when needed.
• Items requested by the nurse.
• Flowers, except lilies.
• Non-latex balloons.

Family Birth Center patients may bring additional items such as baby clothing, birth equipment and a car seat.

Providence provides an official visitor-parking map for the 413 Lilly Road NE campus. The map identifies multiple visitor parking areas separately from staff parking.

First-floor hospital directory

Providence’s current linked hospital directory places:

• Emergency Center — first floor.
• Critical Care Unit — first floor.
• Surgery waiting — first floor.
• Information — lobby.
• Admitting/Registration — lobby.
• Diagnostic Imaging — south reception.
• CT — south reception.
• Ultrasound — south reception.
• Security — Emergency Center.
• Family Birth Center — via north elevators to lower level.
• Medical Records — via north elevators to lower level.
• Cafeteria — second floor.

Cafeteria

Visitors can purchase a guest meal ticket and eat with a patient in the room. A Starbucks is located on the first floor in the main lobby.

Providence Corner Gift Shop

Current published Sunshine House rates

Sunshine House amenities

• Kitchen facilities.
• Cookware, dishes and utensils.
• Parking adjacent to the house.
• Security escort to and from many St. Peter facilities.
• RV sites for units up to approximately 45 feet.

Providence provides professional interpreters for multiple languages, including American Sign Language, without charge to the patient.

Accessibility resources can include

• Professional spoken-language interpreters.
• American Sign Language interpreters.
• Telecommunication devices for deaf/hard-of-hearing patients.
• Amplified telephone handsets.
• Communication assistance for vision or speech needs.

Suggested escalation route

1. Discuss immediate concerns with the nurse or treating physician.
2. Ask for the charge nurse or department leader if needed.
3. Call St. Peter Patient Care and Safety at 360-493-7352.

If the hospital concern remains unresolved

Providence publishes these external complaint routes:

• The Joint Commission: 800-994-6610.
• Washington State Department of Health: 800-633-6828.