IU Health Bloomington Hospital: Contact & Patient Info

Where is the emergency entrance?

The official hospital map places the Emergency Department Entrance, Emergency Department and dedicated Emergency Department Parking Area on the hospital’s ground floor. The ER is separate from the covered Main Entrance used for most routine hospital arrivals.

When should you use the ER?

IU Health advises using an emergency department for conditions that are life-threatening or could cause permanent disability. Examples it lists include severe allergic reactions, heart attack symptoms, major bleeding, loss of consciousness, severe burns, suspected poisoning, seizures and severe abdominal pain.

Emergency fees

IU Health does not publish one flat Bloomington emergency-room fee. An ER bill can depend on the emergency-service level, physician evaluation, laboratory work, imaging, procedures, medications, specialists, observation and admission.

Is there a separate “case fee”?

IU Health does not publish a universal Bloomington Hospital “case fee” or registration fee that applies to every visit. Hospital facility charges and professional physician charges can differ according to the care actually provided.

Public transportation

This is a practical selection of officially listed Bloomington providers, not the hospital’s entire credentialed medical staff. Emergency physicians, hospitalists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, surgeons and many other clinicians also provide care at the hospital.

IU Health Bloomington places its core Women & Children’s services together on the first floor. The official facility map identifies:

• Obstetrics & Gynecology Practice
• Labor & Delivery
• Postpartum Services
• OB Emergency Department
• NICU
• Radiology
• Outpatient Laboratory

Midwifery

The Bloomington OB/GYN practice includes certified nurse-midwives who provide family planning, annual care, prenatal care, labor, delivery and postpartum care when midwifery is appropriate for the patient’s pregnancy and medical history.

Labor & Delivery tour

IU Health Bloomington offers information about touring its Labor & Delivery and Mother Baby units. Childbirth-education questions can be directed to the Bloomington Women & Children’s Services community education coordinator through IU Health’s childbirth-education program.

Snooze & Snuggle time

Women & Children’s Services observes a daily 3-5 p.m. Snooze & Snuggle period designed to give the mother time to rest and bond with the baby. Visitors should check with the nursing team before arriving during that period.

The Bloomington cardiology team includes general and interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, advanced practice providers, specialty nurses and clinical pharmacists.

Testing and procedures available through the heart program

• Cardiac MRI and CT angiography
• Stress testing
• Echocardiography
• Heart and vascular scans
• Mobile cardiac telemetry
• Nuclear cardiac testing
• Vascular ultrasound
• Cardiac catheterization
• Coronary angioplasty and stenting
• Pacemaker and defibrillator care
• Cardiac ablation
• Cardioversion
• Watchman left-atrial-appendage closure
• TAVR

The Bloomington cancer program provides hematology and oncology evaluation, chemotherapy and infusion services, systemic therapy, hormone therapy, precision-genomics support and clinical-trial access when appropriate.

The hospital’s official map places an Infusion Center on the first floor and an Oncology Practice on the third floor.

Preparing for an oncology appointment

• Bring insurance and identification cards.
• Bring relevant outside records.
• Bring a complete current medication and supplement list.
• IU Health recommends arriving approximately 15 minutes early when paperwork remains.

IU Health asks laboratory patients to bring insurance and identification cards and a current medication list. Verify whether your particular test requires fasting, medication restrictions, a timed collection or advance scheduling.

Pharmacy services

• Same-day prescription filling when possible
• 24-hour refill ordering online or through the automated refill system
• Prescription transfers
• Medication counseling
• Medication monitoring
• Medical-device education
• Most prescription insurance programs accepted
• Safe drug disposal bin during regular pharmacy hours

A pharmacist is available for consultation during operating hours. IU Health says pharmacy messages are addressed within one business day.

The hospital also has a prescription drug drop box on Level 2 across from the gift shop.

• Patients may choose who is allowed to visit and may withdraw that permission.
• Specific units can modify visiting hours for medical or safety reasons.
• Visitors should keep voices low so patients can rest.
• People with a sore throat, cold, fever or other illness should not visit.
• The entire IU Health campus is smoke-free.
• IU Health facilities are alcohol- and drug-free.
• Firearms and weapons are restricted under IU Health policy except for authorized security/law-enforcement personnel.

Main cafeteria — first floor

Guest tray delivered with patient meal

The Daily Perk coffee

The Daily Perk, part of the We Proudly Serve Starbucks Coffee program, is open 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7-10 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Gift shop

The Bloomington Hospital Auxiliary gift shop is on the second floor. Published hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. Call 812-918-3440 to purchase flowers or gifts; hospital delivery is available.

Other amenities

• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hospital, available 24/7
• ATMs near the cafeteria
• Wheelchairs available through guest relations, volunteers or information desks
• Third-floor chapel
• Hotel information from the Bloomington visitors bureau: 812-334-8900

Does IU Health publish one doctor consultation fee?

No. A cardiology visit, OB appointment, oncology consultation, orthopedic visit and emergency evaluation can all be billed differently. Patient cost depends on the CPT code, provider, facility, insurance network, deductible, copay and coinsurance.

Emergency-room costs

There is no single Bloomington ER price. Costs can rise when a patient requires laboratory testing, CT/MRI/X-ray imaging, medication, procedures, specialists, observation or admission.

Price estimates

IU Health offers a self-service price-estimate tool and a price-estimate request process for scheduled services. The estimate can help a patient understand potential billed charges and anticipated out-of-pocket responsibility before planned care.

How to pay

Financial assistance

IU Health says it provides medically necessary and emergency care regardless of ability to pay and offers financial counselors who can help patients apply for Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Healthwise and IU Health Financial Assistance.

How much assistance is possible?

IU Health states that eligible Indiana residents receiving qualifying care may receive assistance up to the full medical bill when they meet applicable federal-poverty-level criteria. Patients above those criteria may still qualify for a hardship discount when the amount owed exceeds 5% of annual household income.

IU Health also offers payment-plan options to patients regardless of whether they qualify for financial assistance.

Fastest option: My IU Health

IU Health says patients can obtain immediate electronic access to available medical records through the My IU Health patient portal.

Formal record request

Records can be delivered electronically, on CD or on paper depending on the request. IU Health retains records for at least eight years.

Although state and federal rules can allow up to 30 days for processing, IU Health says its goal is to process complete requests within approximately five business days.

My IU Health is the health system’s patient portal. Depending on the provider and service, patients can use it to:

• View available medical records
• View test results
• Schedule appointments with select established providers
• Send messages to the care team
• Manage billing statements
• Make payments
• Set up eligible payment plans

Wheelchair assistance

Guest-relations representatives and volunteers can obtain a wheelchair when a patient arrives. Ask any hospital team member or visit the nearest information desk.

Language assistance

IU Health’s Language Services Department provides translation support in 200 languages, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Language-services help line: 877-746-4674.

Patient Relations

If an inpatient safety or quality concern is not resolved by the nurse or physician, IU Health lists 812-353-9556 for IU Health Bloomington Hospital Patient Relations.

Wi-Fi and accessibility

Free wireless internet is available throughout IU Health Bloomington 24/7. The official floor maps also mark accessible routes, restrooms, public elevators and entrances.

• Confirm whether your visit is at the Discovery Parkway hospital or another IU Health Bloomington medical office.
• Save the direct department or doctor’s number.
• Confirm the named doctor’s actual appointment date and time.
• Bring insurance and photo identification requested by registration.
• Bring a medication and supplement list.
• Bring outside medical records when seeing a new specialist.
• Ask whether imaging or laboratory testing requires fasting or preparation.
• Use the main covered entrance for most routine hospital visits.
• Use the dedicated ground-floor Emergency entrance for emergency care.
• Remember that self-parking is free; regular valet is $5 and patients with disabilities are not charged.
• For maternity, check with your OB team about where to enter for Labor & Delivery or the OB Emergency Department.
• For scheduled expensive care, use IU Health’s price-estimate tool in advance.