Transferring to another hospital while in hospital

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nogutsnoglory

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Has anyone in an emergency situation had to goto a hospital where your doctor's or surgeons aren't at and wants to transfer to the place familiar with your medical history?

Is it even allowed? How much of a role can a doctor from your regular hospital play if you are at another institution?

I remember hearing that for insurance purposes you cannot be moved unless the hospital you admit in cannot take care of your needs.
 
I believe that the only way for a move to be covered by insurance is if the medical needs of the patient cannot be met at the first hospital. I'm sure a move could happen just based on the patient's preferences, but it would not be covered.
 
It is different in the UK, I go to a specialist hospital so my local hospital doesn't want to deal with me if it is serious. Cannot a medical reason be argued? You are a complicated case and need continuity of care?
 
The thing is here our medicine isn't socialized we pay for insurance and each hospital is a business. I suppose one can claim I'm a complicated case and they know what to do with me but the truth is any hospital with a colorectal unit can deal with most crohns stuff. They may not be great but insurance likely won't accept the argument.
 
My specialist will see me if admitted to whatever hospital. He will coordinate all care. Do you see a specialist?
 
My GI and surgeon are hospital affiliated so I don't know if they would do more than fax over my medical history if I landed at another place.
 
We have universal health care here too but even so…I live in a rural area so when my kids have had to go to the ER they never see their GI as he is 300km away. In that situation the local hospital always liaises with the GI.

When they have had to go to the city to a hospital with specialist IBD GI’s and surgeons they still liaise with their regular GI so they are familiar with their history.

Is it not possible for the consultant at the hospital to ring your GI and discuss your situation? Or doesn’t insurance allow that?

Dusty. xxx
 
I suppose they could be in touch but my main concern would be to see if transferring is possible. It seems not to be the case sadly.
 
I know in certain situations ( cardiac emergencies) patients are transferred from our community hospital to ones in the city that are better equipped to manage cardiac care. Not sure Crohn's/UC management qualifies UNLESS surgery is required. I think in that case it would be covered. Just a guess though.
 
The situation may be different because my son is a minor(17) but if we were to go to our local ER they would transfer him to the hospital with which his doctor is affiliated. This may be because that hospital is a children's hospital.

We checked on this with GI and insurance at time when C was flaring and not doing well just to be sure of the options.
 
See that makes sense insurance wise that the hospital wasnt the right fit not specializing in children's care. It's good to know there is some wiggle room.
 
I was thinking though and just remembered my husband was transferred from local ER to GIs hospital when he was having a gall bladder attack. GI had a surgeon he wanted to perform the surgery in case there were complications. I had my gall bladder surgery done at local hospital and have the same GI as husband though not emergent.

So I guess it depends on insurance.
 
It's really scary to think about all this but knowing my disease and how many times I have been hospitalized I think I will need to get a clear answer from my insurance.
 
It should just be a quick call to check everything out. I hope they give you favorable answers! My son's GI/children's hospital is around two hours away so I do understand the concern!
 
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