Patient Access Services

The Patient Access Services Department performs registrations for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s inpatient, Emergency Department, same-day and select outpatient services.

Admissions
Patients are admitted to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh 24 hours a day by physicians with admitting staff privileges. Many patients are admitted from referrals to staff physicians. Non-staff physicians must contact an admitting physician or the resident on call for admissions to Children’s Hospital. Admitting residents are in the hospital 24 hours a day and may be reached through the hospital operator (412-692-5325). All admissions are reported to the Revenue Maximization Department before the patient reports to the hospital. The pre-certification nurse will obtain initial demographic information, diagnosis, treatment plan and any special needs of the admitting physician. The pre-certification nurse will make the arrangements with the admitting staff for bed location. Pre-certification nurses must be notified of all admissions.

Scheduled admissions begin with the receipt of a completed reservation form by the Pre-Certification Department.

The Emergency Department physician or charge nurse will notify the pre-certification nurse of any admissions from the Emergency Department.

The charge nurse from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or surgeon will notify the pre-certification nurse of any admissions from the PACU.

The patient/family member must present to Patient Access Services during the first 24 hours of admission and prior to discharge to sign consents and update demographic information.

The following information must be provided when scheduling an admission:

• Patient name
• Date of birth
• Admitting diagnosis
• Admitting physician’s name
• Authorization from the insurance carrier for service requested

Discharges
Patients occupying a bed must be discharged when they physically leave the bed. All discharges are the responsibility of the nursing staff on the nursing unit.

Transfers
All transfers between beds at Children’s Hospital are the responsibility of the nursing unit staff.