St. Mary’s Hospital FAQs

Q. How do I find a doctor who works with St. Mary’s Hospital?
A. You can use our Find a Doctor search to find doctors in a variety of specialties who work with St. Mary’s.

Q. What makes St. Mary’s different from other local hospitals?
A. St. Mary’s is different because we have been called by a higher power to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people by providing the best care you will find anywhere—care that encompasses your physical, emotional and spiritual needs, all delivered by the hands of our exceptionally trained, compassionate staff.

Q. What kinds of medical services does St. Mary’s provide?
A. St. Mary’s is a full-service hospital including facilities and staff for general medical care as well as behavioral health care, cancer care, cardiovascular care, emergency care, home health care, joint replacement surgery, neurosurgery, obstetrics, orthopedics, pain management, pediatrics, physical rehabilitation, sleep medicine, stroke care, surgery, urology and vascular care.

Q. Is St. Mary’s accredited?
A. Yes. St. Mary’s hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, an independent, non-profit organization that is recognized nationwide as the symbol for hospital quality. In addition, we are accredited as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. Our Advanced Rehabilitation Center (ARC) is Macon County’s only accredited inpatient rehab center. In addition, we are home to Macon County’s only certified pediatric emergency department. Accreditations and honors are important to us because they give you confidence in the quality of care you will receive at St. Mary’s.

Q. How does St. Mary’s compare to other hospitals in terms of health care quality?
A. The rate of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) is a common measure of hospital quality. Across the nation, 5-10% of hospitalized patients acquire an infection during their stay.¹ In contrast, less than 0.5% of St. Mary’s patients developed a new infection between 2007 and 2009.

Q. Where can I find food or beverages while at St. Mary’s?
A. St. Mary’s cafeteria is located on the ground floor. In addition to the full-service cafeteria, vending machines are available on the ground floor, Emergency Room waiting room on 1st floor, ICU waiting room on 2nd floor and the Maternal/Child waiting room on 3rd floor.

Q. What are St. Mary’s visiting hours?
A. General hospital visiting hours are 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Special visiting hours apply for Intensive Care, Behavioral Health, Maternity Services and Pediatrics. Please ask one of our team members in those areas for more information about the visiting hours and policies in place.

Q. How do I learn about job opportunities at St. Mary’s?
A. You can learn more about careers and current job opportunities at St. Mary’s by visiting Join Our Team.

Q. Who can I talk to if I have questions about my hospital bill?
A. Please contact the St. Mary's Business Office for questions about your bill. The Business Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For billing assistance, please call 464-2964. For payment arrangements, call 464-2360.

Q. Does St.Mary’s care for people without health insurance? What if I cannot pay my bill?
A. Because St. Mary’s continues the mission of its founding Sisters––to serve the needs of the sick and the poor with dignity and respect, compassion and joy––St. Mary’s offers a Charity Care Program that offers financial assistance to all who show financial need. For more information about St. Mary’s Charity Care Program or for reconsideration of eligibility, please call 464-2964 or 464-2360.

Q. Do I need to contact my health insurance company prior to a planned admission, surgery or procedure?
A. Most insurance plans require that a patient be pre-certified (approved) before going to the hospital for procedures or surgery. If you have any questions regarding pre-certification, contact your insurance company or primary care phyisican.

Q. How do I learn about volunteer opportunities at St. Mary’s?
A. For more information about volunteering at St. Mary's Hospital, please contact Community Relations at 464-5540.

Q. What classes and support groups are offered to the community at St. Mary’s?
A. Please check out our Calendar of Events for a full listing of upcoming community events, classes and support groups.

¹ Humphreys H, Newcombe RG, Enstone J, et al. Four country healthcare associated infection prevalence survey 2006: risk factor analysis. J Hosp Infect 2008;69(3):249-257.