After-Hours Emergency Medical Fees
As a “third-tier” emergency medical care institution, Ashikaga Red Cross Hospital’s Emergency Medical Care Center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in order to provide residents of the communities around the hospital with the highest-possible level of treatment possible, whenever they need it.
In recent years, however, there has been a large increase in the number of less-critical patients casually seeking after-hours medical treatment, making it more difficult for the hospital to provide the care needed by patients with life-threatening conditions, or those who need immediate surgical procedures or hospitalization.
In addition, Japanese government regulations now require community hospitals like Ashikaga Red Cross that have over 500 beds to charge a fee (¥5,000) to patients who request treatment without a referral, i.e., who have not first sought treatment at a local clinic before being treated at the hospital.
In order to support local doctors and clinics, and to discourage non-critical use of the hospital’s emergency facilities, we will be assessing a ¥5,000 charge to patients who are treated in the ER during hours that outpatient services are not being offered. Details are below. We request your understanding of this policy.
Fee Assessment Times
| Weekdays (Monday – Friday)
| 5:05pm – 8:45am
(following day) |
1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays
| 12:35pm – 8:45am
(following day) | |
2nd and 4th Saturdays, Sundays, Public holidays, Dec
| All times
| |
29–Jan 3, July 1
| ||
Fee Amount
| ¥5,000
| |
Fees Waived if
| Patient requires hospitalization
| |
Patient was transferred by another institution and has a referral
|