C# + SQL Server: set up and call a Stored Procedure WITH a RETURN VALUE

CREATE proc [dbo].[sp_admitted]
@patientid int,
@rowCount int output
as
select * from 
admissions
where
patientid = @patientid and status='active'
set @rowCount = @@rowcount

SqlConnection thisCon = new SqlConnection(YOUR CONNECTION STRING);

thisCon.Open();

SqlCommand cmdIsAdmitted = thisCon.CreateCommand();

cmdIsAdmitted.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
cmdIsAdmitted.CommandText = "sp_admitted";

cmdIsAdmitted.Parameters.Add("@patientid", SqlDbType.Int);
cmdIsAdmitted.Parameters["@patientid"].Value = suppliedPatientID;

cmdIsAdmitted.Parameters.Add("@rowCount", SqlDbType.Int);
cmdIsAdmitted.Parameters["@rowCount"].Direction = ParameterDirection.Output;

int PatientCount;
cmdIsAdmitted.ExecuteNonQuery();
PatientCount = (int)cmdIsAdmitted.Parameters["@Count"].Value;
thisCon.Close();

.. further processing ...