Before Your Visit

When you come to Natividad, you are in the hands of dedicated professionals. We are ready to welcome you into our care, and we want to make your visit as simple as possible. Whether you are coming to Natividad for an inpatient stay or have a quick appointment, we know you might have questions. Here is some information about preparing for your visit.

If you will be staying overnight at the hospital, it’s because the admitting physician feels it is important for you to stay either for observation or as an inpatient. If you will not be staying overnight and are only coming for an appointment or other services, you have an outpatient visit. If you are having surgery, please see For Surgery Patients below.

Preparing for Your Visit

We want you to feel as ready for your visit as possible. If there are special instructions you were given for your appointment, please make sure to follow them. Have a look at all the sections on this page to fully prepare yourself for your visit.

If You Have Health Insurance

When you arrive at registration, bring:

Health insurance card
Photo ID

Important Information

We bill your medical insurance company directly
You will be billed for any part of your hospital fees not covered by your insurance company
You will be asked to pay a portion of your deductible, co-pay, or co-insurance before or during your admission stay
For clinic, pharmacy, laboratory and radiology services, your deductible, co-pay or co-insurance will be collected at time of service
Payments may be made with cash, personal check, or accepted major credit cards

Please see our Insurance and Billing page for more information >

Questions about insurance and billing? Call Hospital Billing at (831) 755-4242 or (831) 755-4252. The billing office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The business office is located outside the hospital grounds at 1615 Bunker Hill Way Suite 250, Salinas CA 93906.

If You Do Not Have Health Insurance

Financial Assistance
Natividad has programs for qualified patients who need help paying for services. If you need financial assistance, Natividad offers payment plans and charity care in accordance with state law. If you are interested in applying, you can contact or visit the Financial Counseling office at (831) 755-4165. The Financial Counseling office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Appointment Checklist

There are a few things that are helpful to have at any appointment. Your doctor may ask you to bring other items or information. If you have an appointment for surgery, be sure to carefully follow the instructions from your doctor, and see the section on preparing for surgery below. Here are some items to bring with you to your appointment:

Important documents, including your photo ID and your health insurance card
A list of any medications you are taking, including vitamins and supplements, and the dosage
Copies of past records that relate to your health problem, if you have them
A list of any allergies you have
Medical assistive devices, such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, dentures, etc.
Your Advance Care planning document, if you have one

If you are going to stay overnight at the hospital, there are some things you should leave at home, or give to a family member to take home for you. Please do not bring:

Jewelry or other valuables
Credit cards
Keys
Wallet
Prescription medications
Cash

Please leave personal items at home. The hospital maintains a fireproof safe for the safekeeping of money and valuables. The hospital is not liable for the loss or damage to any money, jewelry, documents, assistive devices, cell phones, laptops, other electronic devices, or other articles that are not placed in the safe.

Questions for Your Doctor

At Natividad, we believe in personal care for every patient. Health care is a team effort, and each patient is a part of our team. We want you to be informed about your health, so you can make the decisions that are right for you. Asking questions is a great way to communicate with your health care team. Here are some suggested questions that may be helpful to ask your doctor. Of course, be sure to ask any other questions you might have.

About Your Diagnosis

What condition or disease do I have?
What symptoms should I look out for?
What is the test you are recommending?
Is the test safe and accurate?
When will I get the results?
Will I need more medical tests?

About Treatment

What are my treatment options?
Are there any alternatives?
Are there any possible complications?
What outcome should I expect?
Do I need to have treatment right away?
How much will treatment cost?
Are there any side effects to the medication you recommend?
Will this medication interact with other medicines I’m taking?
Is there anything I can do on my own to improve my health?

About Surgery

Why do I need surgery?
Are there alternatives to surgery?
What are the benefits and risks of having surgery?
What kind of anesthesia will I need?
Will I need to stay overnight in the hospital, or is this an outpatient surgery?
How long will it take me to recover from surgery?

For Surgery Patients

Preparing for Surgery

Your doctor may have specific instructions for you to follow before surgery. It is important that you understand and follow all instructions.

Before the Day of Your Surgery
Before the day of your surgery, there are some things you must do:

Speak with a pre-operative nurse. This interview will discuss your current medications and medical history. If you have an Advance Directive, please provide a copy
Speak with a pre-operative nurse. This interview will discuss your current medications and medical history. If you have an Advance Directive, please provide a copy
Complete all diagnostic tests as directed
If you smoke, reduce or stop smoking one week before surgery
Arrange for someone to take care of your children, pets, and other things you are normally responsible for
Arrange for a responsible adult to take you home and to stay with you, if you are going home the same day
Make sure you have the phone number of the person picking you up. He or she will be required to sign you out when you are discharged. The person picking you up must be at least 18 years old
Call your surgeon if you develop a cold, fever, or change in health
It is very important to contact both your doctor and the hospital staff as early as possible if you decide to postpone the surgery or you become ill
Ask your doctor if you need to stop any medication before surgery, and if you can eat or drink before surgery
Follow any other instructions from your doctor

On the Day of Your Surgery
On the day of your surgery, please follow the following instructions to prepare. These are general instructions, and you should always follow specific instructions from your doctor. If you are staying overnight after surgery, you will be admitted as an inpatient. If you are going home on the same day as your surgery, you are an outpatient.

Avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before your surgery (this includes gum, breath mints, and cigarettes/tobacco)
Someone should drive you to the hospital
Ask someone to stay with you at the hospital, if possible
Shower and wash your hair before coming to the hospital
Do not shave the surgery site
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and low-heeled shoes
Do not wear make-up, nail polish, or lotion
Leave jewelry and other valuables at home
Bring a photo ID with you

To learn more about what to expect during your visit, please see our During Your Visit page >

To learn more about going home after surgery, please visit our After Your Visit page >

Admissions

Upon Admission

All hospital services require that you register.
Admission Steps and Important Forms

Speak with a registration representative
Bring with you:
- Your photo ID
- Insurance, Medicare, or Medi-Cal cards
- A list of your current medications
- Advance Directive – Form, Brochure
Discuss financial payments
Review paperwork and sign the required forms

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Questions
We are asking adults 18 and older about their sexual orientation and gender identity to provide more patient-centered care. Read our brochure to learn what the questions mean, and how the information will be used to improve health care for all.

Patients with Special Needs
Natividad is accessible to all persons with disabilities. If you have a special need or disability which requires help, please let our staff know, and we will be happy to help. If possible, let us know before you arrive for admission.

What Do I Bring to the Hospital?

When you check in, Natividad provides you with:

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Comb
Soap
Shampoo
Gown
Pajamas
Slippers

If you’d like, you can bring some items from home:

Special toiletries (shaver, special soaps, etc.)
Robe
A small amount of cash ($10 or less)
A telephone calling card for long-distance calls (toll calls cannot be charged to your hospital bill)

Please see the Appointment Checklist above for a list of important items you should plan to bring. Please put your name on any items you bring from home.

Please do not bring:

Jewelry
Credit cards
Keys
Wallets
Important personal documents
Prescription medications
Cell phones
Personal electronic devices

Natividad assumes no responsibility for personal property the patient keeps in their room.