Right Choice Index

Page Contents

Common reasons

Who may need
a hospital transfer

Initiating a hospital
transfer

What you should
know

Site Contents

Patients & visitors

Medical professionals

Yale-New Haven
Children's Hospital

General information

Calendar

Online resource

Press information

Phone Numbers

Directory assistance
(203) 688-4242

Patient Information
(203) 688-4177

Adult emergency
(203) 688-2222

Children's emergency
(203) 688-3333

Admitting
(203) 688-2221

Children's admitting
(203) 688-3331

Psychiatric admitting
(203) 688-9907


Mailing address:

Yale-New Haven Hospital
20 York Street
New Haven, CT 06504

When to Initiate a Hospital Transfer

A hospital transfer involves transporting a patient from one hospital or emergency department to another. Transfers often take place by ambulance, but helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and even boats can be used. Hospital transfers to referral centers like Yale-New Haven Hospital have been increasing over the last few years because consumers and physicians recognize certain advanced hospitals are better equipped and staffed to handle very sick patients.

What are common reasons for hospital transfers?

• More advanced care is available at another hospital
• Patient or family wants a second opinion
• Patient's problem is not improving
• Originating hospital does not have medical equipment or staff expertise to meet patient's medical needs
• Patient wants to return to original surgeons or physicians who are familiar with the medical problem from a previous hospitalization

What kind of patients may need a hospital transfer?

• Heart and stroke patients
• Patients with mechanical support devices, such as pacemakers or insulin pumps
• Trauma patients
• Surgical patients
• Patients with complex or high-risk conditions
• Patients with multiple medical problems
• Patients whose conditions remain undiagnosed
• Patients not responding to treatment

How to initiate a hospital transfer
Talk to your physician and ask to be transferred to your hospital of choice. If you are very sick, have a family member talk to your doctor. If your physician has admitting privileges at your destination hospital, he or she may accompany you. If your physician does not have admitting privileges at your destination hospital, ask him or her to suggest a new physician to consult with your original physician. Confirm that your health insurance company includes your hospital of choice in its network.

Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) Facts

• Yale-New Haven Hospital receives over 2,000-transfers each year.
• Most transfers are heart patients and newborn special care patients.
• Yale-New Haven Hospital has two specialized ambulance services to meet the different needs of each group:
  • Pediatric Critical Care Transport Program—for children.
  • Newborn Special Care Transport Unit—for newborns

What you should know about hospital transfers

• As a consumer, you have the right to change hospitals and doctors if you are not receiving the care you require.
• Many patients ask for a transfer to another hospital after being seen in the emergency department.
• Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other types of health insurance plans may insist on a hospital transfer to a specific hospital after an emergency patient has been stabilized.
• At Yale-New Haven Hospital, we work with hospitals throughout New England to make the transfer experience as efficient as possible.

Last revised: April 19, 2005 (LMc)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.