Before Your Visit
Patient information
What to bring, when to arrive, how billing works and who to call. Everything you need before, during and after a visit.
Preparing For Your Visit
A visit goes better when it is planned
Most appointments run to twenty minutes. A few minutes of preparation beforehand is the difference between leaving with answers and leaving with a follow-up.
Write down your three most important questions before you come and hand the list to your physician at the start — not the end — of the consultation. If your symptoms come and go, note when they happen and what you were doing. Patterns are often more useful to a clinician than descriptions.
If your appointment requires fasting, stopping a medication or arriving early for a scan, this will be stated in your confirmation letter. When in doubt, call the department directly rather than guessing.
What To Bring
Pack these six things
- Photo identification and your insurance card
- A list of every medicine you take, including doses and supplements
- Letters, scans or results from other hospitals
- Your referral letter, if you have one
- A form of payment for any co-payment due on the day
- Glasses, hearing aids or mobility aids you normally use
Visiting Hours
When you can visit
Rest matters as much as treatment, so visiting is structured rather than open. Exceptions are made for parents, partners in labour, and end-of-life care at any hour.
| Area | Visiting hours | Visitors at a time |
|---|---|---|
| General wards | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, daily | Two |
| Intensive care | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Two, immediate family |
| Children's wing | Parents at any hour; others 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Two, plus parents |
| Maternity | Partner at any hour; others 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Two, plus partner |
| Emergency department | One companion, at any hour | One |
Please do not visit if you are unwellIf you have a fever, a cough, or diarrhoea and vomiting within the last 48 hours, call the ward instead. Many of our patients have weakened immune systems.
Insurance & Billing
No surprises on the invoice
You are entitled to know what care will cost before you agree to it. Ask us, and we will put it in writing.
Meridian works with most major insurers. Bring your card to every appointment, since coverage details change more often than patients expect. For planned procedures our billing team will confirm what your policy covers, what it does not, and what you can expect to pay.
If you are uninsured or paying privately, ask for a written estimate before scheduling. Interest-free payment plans are available, and financial assistance is offered on a means-tested basis.
- Written cost estimates for any planned procedure, on request
- Direct billing with most major insurers
- Interest-free payment plans over three to twelve months
- Emergency care provided regardless of ability to pay
Patient rights
Every person treated at Meridian has the right to:
- Considerate, respectful care regardless of background or ability to pay
- Know the name and role of everyone involved in their treatment
- A clear explanation of diagnosis, treatment options and likely outcomes
- Refuse any treatment, and be told what that refusal means
- Privacy, confidentiality and access to their own records
- Raise a concern without it affecting their care
Medical records
Your record belongs to you. Requesting a copy is straightforward:
- Ask in writingComplete a records request at the admissions desk or by post. Include your date of birth and the dates of care you need.
- Verify your identityBring photo identification. If you are requesting records on someone else's behalf, bring written authorisation.
- Receive them within 30 daysRecords are released electronically through the patient portal, or on paper if you prefer. The first copy each year is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we are asked most
If your question is not answered here, call us on +1 (800) 555-0142 and ask for patient services.
Arrive fifteen minutes before your appointment time for a first visit, and ten minutes for a follow-up. This gives our team time to check your details and take any measurements the physician needs before you go in.
Call the appointment line on +1 (800) 555-0142 at least twenty-four hours ahead. Cancelling early lets us offer the slot to someone else, and it costs you nothing.
Yes. One companion may join you in the consultation room, and more may wait in the department. If you would like an interpreter, tell us when you book and we will arrange one at no cost.
Most results are released to the patient portal within three working days, and your physician will contact you directly if anything needs discussion. Urgent results are called through the same day.
Yes. Emergency care is provided to everyone regardless of insurance or ability to pay. For planned care, our billing team can give you a written estimate and set up a payment plan before you commit.
You can. Name your preferred physician when you book and we will offer their next available slot. If waiting would delay necessary care, we will tell you honestly and suggest a colleague.
The Emergency Department is open at all times for urgent problems. For advice that cannot wait until morning but is not an emergency, call the main line and ask for the on-call nurse.
Still have a question?
Our patient services team answers the phone between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM, seven days a week, and replies to email within one working day.