Frequently Asked Questions
Do my doctor appointments change?
No. You will see your doctor at the clinic and time that was confirmed when you made your appointment. If you would like to confirm you appointment information, please contact our scheduling department at 303.398.1355 or 1.877.CALL.NJH (877.225.5654).
Is National Jewish Health now part of the Kaiser Permanente network?
National Jewish Health is part of the Kaiser Permanente network for a limited number of specialized services for specific Kaiser plans. These services require an authorization or referral to receive care from National Jewish Health.
Will I now be referred to Saint Joseph Hospital when I need hospitalization?
Yes, over time, but we will still be able to send you to other hospitals if there is an insurance or payment requirement. Now that the Joint Operating Agreement is final, we are working with Saint Joseph Hospital to design care units that meet the complex needs of our patients. We anticipate opening some care units fairly quickly, while others will open when Saint Joseph Hospital opens its new facility in December. If you are one of the patients who is impacted by this change, we will let you know as more information becomes available.
What if my insurance requires me to be admitted to a hospital other than Saint Joseph Hospital?
National Jewish Health will still be able to send you to other hospitals if there is an insurance or payment requirement.
Will my National Jewish Health doctor take care of me when I am at Saint Joseph Hospital?
Yes, many of our National Jewish Health doctors will be seeing patients when they are hospitalized at Saint Joseph Hospital. Doctors must be credentialed at each hospital where they practice and will need to have that approval before seeing patients at Saint Joseph Hospital, but this process is underway now. One of the strengths of the agreement is the ability to offer highly coordinated, quality care. This means that in many cases, your National Jewish Health doctors will care for you while you are at Saint Joseph Hospital, with support from some of the best hospital-based physicians, nurses and technicians in Colorado.
Did National Jewish Health merge with (or was it bought by) Saint Joseph Hospital?
We have formed a collaborative relationship with Saint Joseph Hospital, however, it is not a merger, and neither company has been purchased by the other. National Jewish Health and Saint Joseph Hospital will jointly manage a newly formed clinical operation. The new entity is scheduled to begin operating in August.
Why did National Jewish Health and Saint Joseph Hospital choose to come together? What are the benefits?
Both of our organizations have been active in partnering with others when it is beneficial for our patients, our caregivers and the community. In this case, we saw two leading health care organizations in Colorado with complementary cultures, missions and dedication to excellence.
The strong outpatient approach of National Jewish Health complements the focused inpatient expertise of Saint Joseph Hospital, increasing our ability to manage patients along the full continuum of care. SCL Health offers access to high-value system services, and both institutions will share best practices. Both organizations also will benefit from each other’s complementary areas of clinical expertise.
Working together, we are expanding resources available to our patients and caregivers. We anticipate that patients will benefit from highly coordinated, quality care and the highest value in health care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
When will National Jewish Health Saint Joseph Hospital begin operations together?
The agreement officially begins in August 2014.
