For Patients

At Elbowoods Memorial Health Center, our providers and employees strive to provide the best possible care for our patients. The menu at the right provides information about patient rights, responsibilities, and more.

Elbowoods Memorial Health Center serves the Native Americans of the Fort Berthold Reservation. It is a health care system for federally recognized American Indian and Alaskan Natives of the United States.  Our patient registration staff can answer specific questions regarding your health care or qualifications. Information about Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) and eligibility can seen in the Purchased and Referred Care section of this webiste. Specific questions regarding Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) and be answered by Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) staff. 

Patient Services

Patients can schedule appointments by calling patient services and requesting an appointment with their primary care provider. We encourage patients to keep their appointments, especially for chronic care. If you are unable to keep your appointment please notify the clinic you are scheduled with and cancel when ever possible and our team of Patient Services Professionals will assist you in rescheduling. 

Every patient every patient encounter:

Patients/care takers, guardians will be asked to update thier demographic information at every visit.

Patients must update their contact information, such as phone numbers, mail, and physical address. 

Patients will be asked for a current ID and insurance information when checking in for thier appointments.

Please ensure all your information is current and present a valid driver's license or tribal identification card at each visit. Ensuring that your address and phone number are correct helps our staff better communicate with you for patient care purposes, future appointments, or medical needs as well as helps Purchased and Referred Care staff determine PRC eligibility.

Referrals

All referrals that are approved by PRC will be mailed with an appointment scheduling letter to the facility you are being referred to. Non-eligible PRC referrals are still generated and sent to the facility and will be considered "Medical Only" referrals that will be fully the responsibility of the patient's insurnace coverage or consdiered self-pay.Any misinformation from you may lead to a delay in this process. 

Patient Services Availability

Patient Registration Department personnel are always available during operational hours. The Patient Registration workstation shall not be left unattended during clinic hours. Patient Services designates staff to answer the telephone and continue the department's business throughout the day and lunch hour at the main clinic. 

Patient Service/Sensitivity

Patient Registration is sensitive to the cultural values and concerns for the privacy of each patient. Our department receives continuous management support for maintaining skills in communicating with patients and assuring patient comfort during the registration and update process during the daily course of business. We are here to serve our patients to the best of our ability. 

Privacy and Confidentiality Practices 

The patient has the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy. The patient health record information is confidential and shall be treated as such. The patient has the right to expect that all communications pertaining to his/her care should be treated as confidential. Refer to the Patient Rights and Responsibilities Policy for more information.

The Patient Registration Department will ensure that no Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is visible to patients during the daily course of business. All patient information will be kept in a locked and secure location.

Release of Information 

All requests regarding the Release of Information will be forwarded to the Health Information Management (HIM) Department to complete, following the proper chain of authority regarding the Release of Information (ROI) refer to Notice of Privacy Practices for more information. EMHC has up to 30 days to provide the requested information upon completion of the ROI. 

HIPAA Privacy Rule

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training is provided to all employees during New Employee Orientation and annual training required thereafter.