If you need to be hospitalized at UW Medical Center, you'll be cared for by a team of health-care professionals in a medical center cited as one of the best in the country by many consumer guides. Our staff is dedicated to providing you with excellent care and helping you be as comfortable as possible while you are here.
If you or your family and friends have questions or concerns about your health care here, please feel free to talk with your doctor, nurse, or another member of your health-care team.
Our Team Approach
Your Stay at UW Medical Center
Leaving UW Medical Center
Treatment at UW Medical Center is a cooperative effort between patient and staff - you are the most important member of your health-care team. We deal quickly with your questions, problems and concerns, and keep you fully informed about options and choices.
Every one of our nearly 400 attending staff physicians - one of whom is your attending physician when you are hospitalized at UW Medical Center - is a faculty member of the UW School of Medicine. Your attending physician oversees all aspects of your medical care, including direct supervision of any care you receive from resident physicians (physicians doing specialty training) and UW medical school students.
Our nursing care is also recognized nationwide. We were one of the first facilities in the country to adopt primary nursing care, in which each inpatient has a registered nurse assigned to coordinate his or her care.
Your health-care team may also include occupational, respiratory, and physical therapists, as well as pharmacists, technologists, technicians, social workers, dietitians, and other support staff.
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Your Patient Care Coordinator
Most of our medical and surgical services have a patient care coordinator who works with you and your doctor to plan your admission. You can reach your coordinator through the medical center paging operator at 206-598-6190 during weekday office hours.
Arriving at UW Medical Center
Parking validation is provided for UW Medical Center patients and visitors in the Triangle Garage, the Surgery Pavilion lot, and the S1 pre-pay lot. For more information on directions and parking, please see our location information page. You may also call 206-598-4151.
Your doctor will arrange for your admission to UW Medical Center on a specific day (unless you are admitted through the Emergency Department or transferred from another hospital). If you can't keep this appointment, please call your doctor or patient care coordinator as soon as possible.
Enter the medical center through the main entrance (Level 3) on N.E. Pacific Street. Wheelchairs are available in the medical center lobby.
The Admitting Office is to your left in the main lobby. The staff will help you register. Please bring your health insurance card with you.
On admission you'll receive a plastic identification bracelet that we'd like you to wear while you are at UW Medical Center. It helps identify you to the staff members who will be taking care of you.
If you are a Morning Admission patient and have already registered, take the Pacific Elevators to 8-South and go to the reception desk there. Outpatient surgery patients with Morning Admissions, please go to the Surgery Pavilion A.M. Admissions desk.
Your Room
All patient rooms in the East Wing are private and have mountain or water views, and a private bathroom with a shower. Rooms in the original hospital building are private or semi-private.
Your room assignment depends on your medical or surgical needs and the availability of rooms in the area requested by your doctor.
What to Bring
We recommend that you bring only a small amount of cash and leave jewelry, credit cards, and other valuables at home. If you do bring valuables, we encourage you to secure them in the Admitting Department safe. UW Medical Center cannot assume liability for any items of value you keep with you during your stay here.
Bring your own gown or pajamas, robe, and slippers, or use those provided by UWMC, and personal hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste or denture paste, brush and comb, and cases for glasses, contacts, or dentures.
You may bring personal grooming aids such as electric razors and hair dryers if they are UL-approved. Battery-operated radios or computers are also permitted.
Meals
You choose your meals a day in advance from menus delivered to your room by a Nutrition Services technician. Kosher, vegetarian, or other special diets approved by your physician are available upon request.
Telephones
The main medical center telephone number is 206-598-3300. Incoming calls to patients are connected to their rooms. You may make local calls from your room by dialing 9 first. Long distance calls may be charged to your credit card or home phone, or may be placed collect.
We provide a variety of adaptive equipment for patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or who have speech impairments. TTYs (regular print, large print visual display, Braille), amplified headsets, flashing light and vibrating phone alert signalers, and TV decoders are available. To request adaptive equipment, call 206-598-6993.
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When you are admitted to UW Medical Center - or even before then - our staff members are available to help you and your family begin planning for your discharge. (For example, you'll need to arrange ahead for a family member or friend to accompany you when you leave.)
If you have questions or concerns about care after hospitalization, your nurse and the UW Medical Center Social Work Department can help you plan for visiting nurse services, nursing home placement, home health care, special equipment, or other follow-up services.
Leaving the Medical Center
Your doctor will issue your discharge order when its time for you to leave. Your nurse will talk with you about medications, special precautions, and any other information you need to know before leaving.
Check-out time is 11 a.m. Remember to take all your personal articles with you, including any valuables you may have secured in the Admitting Department safe.
A volunteer escort service is available to take you to the medical center exit. Your nurse can arrange for escort service.
Medical Records
Copies of your medical records are available at the Patient Data Services office, Room BB-304. A fee is charged for the copies. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 206-598-4344.
Follow-up Care
Your doctor may ask you to return to one of our outpatient clinics for follow-up care. Your nurse can help you make an appointment, or you may call 206-598-4333.
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