For Physicians

Physicians' Resource Service

Serving physicians in Arizona since 1990

Physicians' Resource Line:

1    (800) 777-7552
95  (800) 328-5868 (in Mexico)
      (520) 694-5868 (in Tucson)

Physicians' Relations Program:

24-Hour Priority Physician Access to Faculty Physicians, Medical Resources and Information

A highly skilled representative is ready to assist you to:

• Consult with a faculty physician
• Inquire about continuing medical education programs
• Obtain research information
• Ask about new patient care techniques
• Discuss an unusual or difficult case
• Reconfirm a diagnosis
• Order special tests
• Refer a patient
• Admit a patient to University Medical Center
• Determine and discuss status of referred patient
• Access a person or office of the Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson

There is no obligation to refer patients. The Physicians’ Resource Service is complimentary and funded entirely by patient revenue in support of The University of Arizona College of Medicine’s academic mission.

Physician Consultation or Patient Referral

To consult about a patient or discuss a referral, use the toll-free Physicians’ Resource Service. It provides timely, assisted access to attending faculty physicians on a 24 hour basis. Please refer to the information listed under Patient Registration.

Referring a patient is just a phone call away. Please have your nurse or secretary provide us with:

• Patient name, date of birth, current address, telephone number and social security number
• UMC medical record number
• Type of insurance
• Referral authorization number
• Referring physician
• Primary care physician
• Location or facility patient is coming from
• Diagnosis
• Patient’s special needs

There is no obligation to refer patients. The Physicians’ Resource Service is complimentary and funded entirely by patient revenue in support of The University of Arizona College of medicine’s academic mission.

Referrals to Specialists

If a patient requires specialized care or must undergo tests or procedures that cannot be performed in the office, the patient will need an authorized referral form from the primary care physician. Without an authorized referral, payment for services is due at the time of the visit. Please refer to Payment and Billing in this section.

Patient Registration & Appointment Scheduling

All patients must be registered to establish an official file for medical records and financial purposes. This must be accomplished before physician or hospital services can be rendered except in cases of medical emergency.

For scheduled outpatient physician services, patients are pre-registered by telephone. For all other services, registration may occur via telephone or when the patient presents for services.

To refer or admit a patient, please have your nurse or secretary to provide us the following:

• Patient name
• Patient’s date of birth
• Patient’s current address
• Patient’s telephone number
• Social Security number
• UMC medical record number
• Type of insurance
• Referral authorization number
• Referring physician
• Primary care physician

Patients may call University Health Connection at (520) 694-8888 to register and schedule an appointment. Patients will be required to provide the following information for patient registration:

• Full name, address and home telephone number
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number
• UMC Card or Medical Record Number (If patient has been seen previously at UMC or The University Physicians before)
• Business address and telephone number
• Guarantor name, home address, home telephone number, business address and business telephone number
• Complete medical insurance information (including policy number)

Schedule An Appointment

Physicians may call the Physicians’ Resource Service toll-free number, 1 (800) 777-7552, to schedule an appointment for their patient. Please refer to the Patient Registration section for new patients.

Patients may call University Health Connection at (520) 694-8888 to schedule an appointment.

Hospital Admissions

Patient need determines the avenue for admission. Patients are admitted as Emergency, Observation, or Elective admissions.

• Emergency Admissions – If the hospital is on triage, admission must be approved by the triage officer.
• Observation Admissions – Patients may be admitted for observation up to 23 hours and 59 minutes. This program is primarily for patients who require extensive monitoring after ambulatory surgery or after presenting to the emergency room, and should not be used for pre-scheduled procedures unless complications arise. Patients under 18, ICU candidates, pregnant patients, or patients with seizure activity or a primary psychiatric diagnosis are not eligible for this program.
• Elective Admissions – Pre-admission is preferred whenever possible.

To arrange an admission to UMC, call the Physicians’ Resource Service toll-free number.

To admit a patient, please have your nurse or secretary to provide us the following:

• Patient name, date of birth, current address, telephone number and Social Security number
• UMC medical record number
• Type of insurance
• Referral authorization number
• Referring physician
• Primary care physician
• Location or facility patient is coming from
• Diagnosis
• Patient’s special needs

Pre-admitted patients should report to the Patient Registration information desk in the UMC main lobby. Here, patients will sign a Conditions of Treatment Form, receive a patient identification wristband and be escorted to their room.

Same day surgery (Ambulatory Surgery) patients should report directly to the Ambulatory Surgery Unit located on the 1st floor.

Labor and Delivery Admissions

Expectant mothers who are planning their delivery at UMC should complete a UMC Pre-admissions OB Packet through their physician’s office several weeks prior to their expected delivery date to arrange special pre-admission.

Prior to delivery, the expectant mother must select a pediatrician and submit the name to their obstetrician’s office.

Expectant mothers in labor should go directly to Labor and Delivery on the 8th Floor.

Payment and Billing

Financial arrangements should be made in advance of physician appointments, admission and outpatient hospital services. Refer to Patient Registration in this section of the Directory.

• Physician Fees – University Physicians Healthcare – Payment is expected at the time of each office visit unless the patient’s insurance or medical plan designates otherwise. Cash, personal checks, travelers’ checks, Visa and Mastercard are accepted. University Physicians Healthcare accepts assignment on all Medicare claims. Patients should speak with a Patient Representative in the medical office if they have questions about their coverage or if they need to make special financial arrangements.
• Hospital Charges – University Medical Center – Financial information for patients is needed at the time of registration. For admissions, each patient is assigned a Patient Financial Representative who obtains the forms and signatures necessary for admission. Ability to pay must be determined before patients are admitted; however, no one will be denied emergency medical treatment.

Patients receiving hospital services will receive a separate statement from University Medical Center by mail, after discharge. This statement itemizes all hospital charges, amounts paid and amounts due.

Patients with questions about physician or hospital charges may call the Patient Inquiry Line at (520) 694-2748.

Home Health Services

University Medical Center’s Home Health Services has been a leader in home health care innovations since it was established in 1984. We introduced the first hospital-based infusion program — including pediatric pain management and enteral feeding — to Tucson in 1987. Our skilled nursing and therapy services are Medicare-certified and state-licensed. All of our services are accredited by JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations). Whether a patient’s needs are considered routine or highly specialized, we’re prepared to bring hospital resources to the home. Well-qualified professionals — from registered nurses and nurse’s aides to highly specialized therapists — are available for people of all ages.

Skilled Services

• Nursing
• Home Health Aides
• Infusion/Enteral Therapy
  • Antiobotic
  • Nutritional
  • Hydration
  • Chemotherapy
  • Pain Control
  • Enterals
  • Blood Products
  • Pediatric Infusion
• Maternal/Child Health
  • New Mom/Baby Care
  • Diabetic Program
  • Asthma Teaching
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Breast Feeding Support
• Support Services
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Social Services
  • Speech Therapy

Insurance Coverage
Most home health care services are covered by insurance. UMC Home Health Services is happy to help obtain this information. UMC Home Health Services will coordinate and arrange any Medicare services, including paperwork and necessary follow-ups. Our staff also will complete insurance forms and make payment arrangements for any uninsured services.

Always Available
UMC Home Health Services staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please call us at (520) 694-HOME (4663). Serving Tucson Since 1984.

General Information

Emergency Services Department - University Medical Center

The Emergency Services Department is a Level-1 Trauma Center offering a comprehensive range of emergency services. Emergency and trauma services are available 24 hours a day. All facilities and equipment of the University Medical Center are available to assist the Emergency Department at any time, including consultations with any specialty on a STAT basis.

Hospital Discharge

Hospital discharge is at 11:00 a.m. Patients who stay in their room beyond 11:00 a.m. may be billed for additional time. Social workers can assist patients and their families with discharge planning – call (520) 694-6671.

Hospital Patient Relations Office

The Hospital Patient Relations Office was established to promote patient satisfaction, answer patient questions, address problems and meet the special needs of patients who are hospitalized and their families. Representatives are available at (520) 694-7731, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Night and weekend messages may be left on the Patient Care Line at (520) 694-2640.

Hospital Visiting Hours:

Hospital visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Exceptions may be granted by the nursing and/ or medical staff.

Certain units may have special practices. Visitors are to check with the staff or charge nurse.

Only family members of a critical, unstable patient, or those awaiting a birth, will be allowed to stay beyond normal visiting hours. Fathers of newborns may visit anytime.

The age of children allowed to visit patients is determined by the nursing and/or medical staff and is dependent upon the individual patient’s condition.

For our patients’ well-being, visitors are asked to observe the following:

• No more than two visitors at a time per patient in semiprivate rooms.
• Visitors should limit their visitation to brief periods of time, in consideration for other patients in the room and as the patient’s condition permits.

Visitor’s use of lounges may be as follows:

• Visitors may not smoke in lounges or anywhere within the hospital.
• Family members staying beyond 9:00 p.m. must have approval of the unit charge nurse or clinical supervisor and shall have a color coded visitors badge.

Information Desk:

The information desk and inpatient registration, located in the main lobby of University Medical Center, can assist you or your patient in locating a physician’s office or diagnostic service. Use the lobby elevators to reach most of the services located in University Medical Center and University Physicians Healthcare. The elevators from the main lobby (2nd floor) lead to all patient floors. Lab and X-ray are located on the first floor. Medical offices are on floors two through eight toward the front of the building. Some medical offices-Arizona Cancer Center, Family Practice Office, Ophthalmology, Neurology-are not in the main building, but nearby on the Arizona Health Sciences Center campus or at the Alvernon location.

Interpreters:

Interpreters are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for patients whose primary language is Spanish. Call (520) 694-6604. Interpreters for other languages are on call. The nursing staff can help if an interpreter is needed.

Lodging Program:

University Medical Center provides a service to assist patients in obtaining affordable lodging close to the hospital. Patients may call the Coordinator for Lodging Options at (520) 694-7666 to make advance arrangements.

Medical Records:

Medical records are confidential and available only to the patient and physicians. Copies may be requested through Medical Information Services of University Medical Center. Affiliated medical offices not located at the Arizona Health Sciences Center maintain their own records. Examples include The University Physicians Family and Community Medicine offices, North Hills Center and Pantano.

Parking:

Valet parking service is available at the Campbell Avenue main entrance from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Valet service is also available at the Emergency, Ambulatory Surgery and Cancer Center entrance from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Valet parked vehicles may be retrieved 24 hours a day by security personnel.

Self parking is available in the visitors’ parking garage located just south of the hospital. Turn left as you enter from Campbell Avenue. Elevators are located in the northwest corner of the parking garage.

Pastoral Care:

Chaplains are available to provide care and counseling for the spiritual, emotional, and interpersonal needs of patients, families, and staff 24 hours a day. Chaplains also provide information and assistance in dealing with the many decisions that surround hospitalization.

Pastoral Care can be reached at (520) 694-6826 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Also, during the day and evenings, the on-call chaplain may be contacted by call the paging operator at (520) 694-4480 or on a UMC phone dial 80 and ask for pager (or key in) number 2109.

Pharmacy and Drug Information:

For patient convenience, prescriptions may be purchased at the outpatient pharmacy located on the UMC 2nd floor main lobby. The pharmacy is open weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed holidays. Patients and physicians may call the pharmacy at (520) 694-6398 for information about medications or call the 24 hour Poison and Drug Information Center at (520) 626-6016.