How to Admit and Refer Patients

Patients may be admitted to Children's Medical Center 24 hours a day. When scheduling elective inpatient and same-day admissions, patients may be pre-admitted.

Physicians with admitting privileges

Physicians with admitting privileges may call bed management at 214-456-2196 to refer at patient. Bed management staff will request:

• A written order specifying whether a patient is to be admitted to Inpatient or 23-hour observation status.
• Orders should be faxed to 214-456-6351 or sent directly to Admitting with the patient. If the patient presents for admission and there is no admit order, Admitting will contact the identified attending physician for one.
• Treatment orders may be faxed or sent with the patient.
• Patient name and date of birth.
• Medical record number, if available.
• Reason for admission or probable diagnosis.
• Phone number where you can be called to confirm the child's bed assignment.

Physicians who are not medical staff members

Physicians who are not medical staff members may refer patients to the general pediatric staff service through a chief resident. A chief resident is available 24 hours a day at 214-456-2926. The chief resident will request the following information:

• Patient name and date of birth.
• Medical record number, if available.
• Reason for admission or probable diagnosis.
• Phone number where you can be called to confirm the child's bed assignment and accepting physician.

Physicians wanting to refer a patient for emergency surgery

Physicians wanting to refer a patient for emergency surgery should call the hospital operator at 214-456-7000 and request the on-call surgeon.

For admissions requiring patient transport

For admissions requiring patient transport, call 1-800-262-0988. The transport coordinator will request the following information:

• Patient name and date of birth.
• Hospital or location from where the child is being transferred.
• Reason for transfer or probable diagnosis.
• Referring physician and phone number where you can be called to confirm transport arrangements.

The transport coordinator also will request information regarding the status and stability of the patient, including:

• Vital signs
• Glascow coma scale scores
• Oxygen saturation levels

Transport staff will arrange:

• Necessary consults
• An accepting physician
• Bed assignment
• Administrative approval
• Memorandum of transfer

Emergency Department

To refer a patient to the Emergency Department at Children's, call 214-456-8145 and a referral nurse coordinator will assist you. Provide the following when calling:

• Patient name and date of birth.
• Patient's chief complaint, reason for referral and past medical history.
• Referring physician's name, phone and fax number.
• An after-hours number where referring physician can be reached.
• Primary care physician's name, phone and fax number.

Referral Care Center

To refer a patient to the Referral Care Center, call 214-456-8145 and a referral nurse coordinator will assist you. Provide the following when calling:

• Patient name and date of birth.
• Patient's chief complaint, reason for referral and past medical history.
• Referring physician's name, phone and fax number.
• An after-hours number where referring physician can be reached.
• Primary care physician's name, phone and fax number.

To refer a patient for outpatient services

To refer a patient for outpatient services, call 1-800-CHILD-RX and a physician referral coordinator will assist you, or you may call the service or specialist directly. The physician referral coordinator will request:

• Patient name and date of birth.
• Medical record number, if available.
• Reason for referral.
• Specific service(s) requested.
• Phone number where you can be called to confirm the child's appointment.

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