The organization has defined the policies and procedures to address managing the patients during non – availability of beds. The admission counter staffs, nursing staff in ICU and other in-patients areas are aware of their role in managing Non-availability of beds situation.

Patients shall be offered a choice of rooms/beds at the time of admission but in case of non-availability, alternatives shall be explained with the cost implications.

The hospital will have different kinds of room categories such as:

1. General ward
2. Semi-private room
3. Deluxe (Private) room

Non-availability of general ward bed

1. Higher category (Semi-private, Deluxe [Private]) shall be offered as per the availability,
2. In an emergency, the patient shall be admitted to the available bed and later she/he shall be shifted to the bed of choice
3. If higher category (Semi-private room /Deluxe private room) is given, charges shall be applicable as per the patient’s preferred category ie General ward.

Non-availability of semi-private

1. Lower category or upper category bed shall be offered as per the availability
2. If the patient is not willing, a waiting list shall be allotted
3. In an emergency, the patient shall be admitted to the available bed and later shall be shifted to the bed of choice
4. If lower category (General ward) is given, charges shall be applicable as per the number of days stayed in the general ward
5. If higher category (Deluxe private room) is given, charges shall be applicable as per the patient’s preferred category i.e Semi-private room
6. Based on the availability, the patient will be shifted back to the semi-private room

Non-availability of deluxe [Private]

1. Lower category bed shall be offered as per the availability
2. If the patient is not willing waiting list shall be allotted
3. In an emergency, the patient shall be admitted to the available bed and later shall be shifted to the bed of choice
4. If lower category (General ward/Semi-private room) is given, charges shall be applicable as per the number of days stayed in the respective category

Non-availability of ICU bed

1. The patients who are already in the ICU are evaluated and if there is less need for ICU monitoring, the patient will be shifted to the ward. And the bed is allotted to the new admission
2. In case, no bed is available in the ICU and upon clinical evaluation, the medical team ascertains that the patient can be managed temporarily inward with available resources of equipment and manpower at the ward, then the patient is offered that option after explaining the condition to the family
3. In case there are no chances of availing a bed in ICU, patient and family is explained about the condition of the patient and the non-availability of the bed and need of transfer and referred to another suitable healthcare provider.
4. The availability of a bed in other centres is confirmed by the OPD in-charge before sending the patient.
   The medical team will identify the transportation needs of the patient and help coordinate the process.

In case there are no chances of availing a bed,

• either at lower / upper category
• either ICU/Ward in case emergency patient or
• the patient is not in a condition to be managed inward or
• the patient doesn’t want to go in a higher or lower category, or
• treatment required to the patient is not in the scope of the Hospital
• Then, the patient and family are explained about the condition of the patient and the non-availability of the bed and the need for transfer.
• And then the patient is asked to go to/transferred to another suitable healthcare provider or Hospital under MOU (if the patient is stable)

Transfer / referring of patient

1. The transfer procedure is followed as mentioned in transfer policy