6401 Patterson Pkwy Arkansas City, KS 67005 (620) 442-2500
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In-Patient Services

Medical - Surgical Inpatient Care
Family Birthing Center - Obstetrics
Senior Health Unit

out-Patient Services

Surgery & Outpatient Procedures
Anesthesia & Pain Management
Laboratory | Radiology | Acid Reflux Surgery

Patient Support Services

Women's Health & Prepared Childbirth Classes
Physical and Respiratory Therapy | RDGNS
Prairie Breeze Cafe | Hospitality Services

patient and family advisers

Working Together to Help Improve Care

What is a patient and family adviser?

A Patient and family adviser is someone who:

  • Wants to help improve the quality of our hospital’s care for all patients and family members
  • Gives feedback to the hospital based on his or her own experiences as a patient or family member
  • Helps us plan changes to improve how we take care of patients
  • Works with the hospital for either short- or long-term commitments, depending on the project
  • Volunteers his or her time typically (usually at least 1 hour and not more than 4 hours per month)

Patient and family advisers provide a voice that represents all patients and families of patients who receive care at South Central Kansas Medical Center.

They partner with hospital doctors, nurses, and administrators to help improve the quality of our hospital’s care for all patients and family members.

Why should you become a patient and family adviser?

When you or your family member was in the hospital, did you think there were things we could have done better?
Do you have ideas about how to make sure other patients and families get the best care possible?

At South Central Kansas Medical Center, patient and family advisors give us feedback and ideas to help us improve the quality and safety of care we provide.

Who can be a patient and family adviser?

You can be an advisor if you or a family member received care at South Central Kansas Medical Center in the last 5 years.

You do not need any special qualifications to be an advisor.

What’s most important is your experience as a patient or family member. We will provide you with any other training you need.

What do patient and family advisers do?

If you are an adviser for our hospital, you can help us in the following ways:

  • Share your story.  Advisers help by talking about their health care experiences with clinicians, staff, and other patients.
  •  Participate in discussion groups. Advisers tell us what it’s like to be a patient at our hospital and what we can do to improve.
  • Review or help create educational or informational materials. Advisers help review or create materials like forms, health information handouts, and discharge instructions. Advisers help us make these materials easier for all patients and family members to understand and use.
  • Work on short-term projects. We sometimes ask advisers to partner with us in making improvements — for example, helping to plan and design a family resource room.
  • Serve on a patient and family advisory council. An advisory council discusses and plans changes to improve hospital quality and safety. Members include patients, family members, and hospital staff.

Is being a patient and family adviser right for you?

Being a patient and family adviser may be a good match with your skills and experiences if you can:

  • Speak up and share suggestions and potential solutions to help improve hospital care for others
  • Talk about your experiences as a patient or family member – but also think beyond your own personal experiences
  • Talk about both positive and negative care experiences and share your thoughts on what went well and how things could have been done differently
  • Work with people who may be different than you
  • Listen to and think about what others say, even when you disagree
  • Bring a positive attitude to discussions
  • Keep any information you may hear as an adviser private and confidential

To get more information about becoming an adviser at South Central Kansas Medical Center or to find out how to apply:

Call: (620) 441-5794

Ashley Lynn | BSN, RN, Med/Surg Team Leader and PFAC Co-Chair
 ashleyl@sckrmc.org 

or

Shayla McDonald | BSN, RN, Director of Risk Management and Quality Performance & PFAC Co-Chair
 shaylam@sckrmc.org 

Click here to view our accepted health insurance plans.

TOGETHER WE CAN WORK TO MAKE OUR HOSPITAL THE BEST IT CAN BE!

The Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) is a new committee that combines patients and families with the healthcare team. This council provides advice on ways to improve the patient and family experience within our system. Our goal is to instill the customer’s point of view with our service, quality and safety improvements.

Am I Ready to Become an Adviser?

Are you thinking about becoming a patient and family adviser?  Review the checklist below and check those statements with which you agree.  If there are statements with which you do not agree, these may be things to work on before becoming an adviser.
I am read to be a patient and family adviser when: 
  • I am willing to talk about the positive and negative care experiences I had as a patient or family member of a patient.
  • If I had any negative experiences, I am coping well and am ready to respectfully share my ideas about how things could have gone differently.
  • I am ready to speak up and share suggestions and potential solutions to help improve hospital care for other patients and family members.
  • I am willing to think beyond my own personal experiences.
  • I can bring a positive attitude to discussions.
  • I can listen to and think about what others say, even when I disagree.
  • I am willing to keep any information I may hear as an adviser private and confidential.
  • I enjoy working with people who are different from me.
  • I am willing to learn how to best serve as an adviser.
  • I have time in my schedule to be an adviser.  Usually advisers spend at least 1 hour a month and not more than 4 hours per month on adviser work.
Adapted from Resources from the Institute for Patient-and Family -Centered Care, Bethesda, MD.

Billing information

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HOSPITAL BILL AND THE PAYMENT PROCESS 

The hospital billing and payment process can be complex and confusing. This information will help explain our hospital’s billing and payment policies, and the resources available to help you. 

UP-FRONT PAYMENT 

Our hospital’s practice is to collect all known fees when you register, including deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance. If it is higher, we may ask you for additional payment upon discharge. If it is lower, we will promptly refund the difference owed to you. 

PAYMENT BY INSURANCE 

If you have health insurance, we will bill your insurance carrier shortly after your visit, and your insurance carrier should pay your bill within 60 days. Your insurance company may contact you for additional information to process your claim. Please respond as quickly as possible to ensure you receive the maximum benefit from your coverage. 

WHEN WILL THE HOSPITAL CONTACT ME? 

If you pay up-front or with insurance, you will not receive further communication from the hospital unless the insurance company has not paid your claim or a balance is due from you (e.g., the portion not covered by your insurance or paid at the time of your visit). 

PAYMENT WITHOUT INSURANCE 

If you do not have insurance, you will be asked to pay in full at the time of service. If you are unable to pay, we will work with you to: 

  • Set-up a payment plan 
  • Apply for coverage through Medicaid 
  • Apply for the Financial Assistance Program through SCKMC 
  • Explore insurance options through the Health Insurance Marketplace* 

*Only during annual enrollment 

CAN I GET AN EXACT PRICING QUOTE? 

Unfortunately, no. We will do our best to provide you with a range of what you can be expected to pay based on our hospital’s historical pricing for similar services. Price quotes are not guaranteed since the services used to compute the quote can vary from the services you receive due to treatment decisions, unforeseen complications, additional test(s), or services ordered by your physician, and variation in the clinical needs of each patient. 

 

OTHER CHARGES 

Your hospital bill contains charges for hospital services only. Some of the services you receive during your visit may be from providers who are affiliated with our hospital but are not employed or operated by our hospital. Therefore, you may be billed separately for certain professional services, which may include: 

  • Radiologists- Wichita Radiology Group 
  • Hospitalists - FreeState 
  • Pathologists 

 

For questions about your hospital bill: 620-441-5723 

You may also email us at:  billing@sckrmc.org 

Medical records & health information

The Health Information Services department is available Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. To request copies of your medical records, please complete the Authorization for Release of Information.

You can reach the department at: 620-441-5853

This form may be submitted by:

Email: his@sckrmc.org

Fax: 620-441-5982

Mail:

SCKRMC

Attn: HIS Dept.  

PO Box 1107

Arkansas City, KS 67005


Normal processing of requests takes 5-7 days.

*If your request is urgent or needed immediately please notate the top of the form. Please call our Release of Information Department at (620) 441-5853 with any questions.

Click here to view forms.
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