Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge: Contact & Patient Info

Advocate describes Lutheran General as a Level I pediatric and adult trauma center with 24-hour specialty care. The Emergency Department handles complex life-threatening injuries and illnesses and is specially equipped for pediatric emergency patients.

What happens when you arrive?

ER visitor rules

• Remain in the patient’s treatment room or Emergency Department waiting area.
• Do not gather near nursing desks or in clinical hallways.
• Generally no more than two visitors can accompany one emergency patient.
• Children should not be left unattended.
• Weapons and disruptive behavior are prohibited.
• Ask staff before a patient eats or drinks because testing or procedures may require fasting.

Emergency parking

The restricted Emergency Department lot is located south of the hospital next to the back drive and is reserved for emergency patients and ER visitors. Parking is free.

An ER bill can depend on the severity of the visit, diagnostic testing, CT or other imaging, medications, procedures, supplies, observation and whether the patient is admitted. Insurance deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and network rules then affect the patient’s actual responsibility.

How to check a price before planned care

Heart and vascular doctors

Other currently named specialists

Hospital medical leadership

Lutheran General also performs a large volume of surgery. Advocate states that its surgical services complete nearly 20,000 inpatient and outpatient procedures annually and involve more than 100 board-certified surgical specialists.

Current Advocate information says Lutheran General’s Heart Institute performs more than 82,000 heart and vascular procedures each year.

Specialized heart clinics include

• Anticoagulation Clinic.
• Lipid Clinic.
• Community Cardiovascular Care.
• Vascular Clinic.
• Valve Clinic.
• Interventional cardiology.
• Electrophysiology and heart rhythm care.
• Cardiovascular surgery.
• Cardiac rehabilitation.

Cancers treated

Advocate lists treatment for breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, head and neck, gynecologic, bladder, brain and spine, bone, cervical, esophageal, kidney, leukemia, liver, pancreatic, lymphoma, ovarian, skin, stomach, testicular, thyroid, uterine and other cancers.

Caldwell Breast Center hours

• Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Friday: 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Saturday: 7 a.m.–3 p.m., screening only.

The Breast Center provides screening and diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, biopsy, breast MRI and coordinated breast-cancer care. Advocate states that same-day mammogram results can be provided by email.

Cancer Survivorship Center

The Cancer Survivorship Center is at 1999 Dempster St. and provides free support to patients, caregivers and family members during and after cancer treatment. Phone: 847-723-5690.

The Lutheran General Brain & Spine Institute treats complex neurological and spinal conditions using neurology, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, neuro-oncology and advanced imaging.

Brain and spine services include

• Minimally invasive brain surgery.
• Awake craniotomy.
• Brain-tumor surgery.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery.
• Endovascular neurological procedures.
• Minimally invasive spine surgery.
• Spinal fusion and reconstruction.
• Artificial disc replacement.
• Scoliosis surgery.
• Spinal cord stimulation.
• Discectomy and laminectomy.
• Stroke diagnosis, emergency treatment and rehabilitation.

Comprehensive Stroke Clinic

Lutheran General is a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. The outpatient stroke clinic is at 1700 Luther Lane, Suite 1170. Call 847-723-2078.

Second opinion

Patients considering brain or spine surgery may request the hospital’s expedited second-opinion program. Call 844-376-3876.

The Digestive Health Center is on the first floor at 1775 Dempster St.. For the GI Lab nursing station, call 847-723-5300.

GI procedures and patient flow

Advocate’s GI Lab has eight procedure rooms and performs diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and related procedures for adults and children.

Lutheran General’s orthopedic program performs more than 4,500 orthopedic surgeries each year according to Advocate.

Procedures include

• Total and partial knee replacement.
• ACL and meniscus surgery.
• Hip replacement and hip arthroscopy.
• Revision hip and knee surgery.
• Spine and neck surgery.
• Shoulder replacement and arthroscopy.
• Ankle replacement.
• Foot and ankle reconstruction.
• Joint reconstruction.

The Orthopedic Center is listed at 1775 Dempster St., 8th floor. To find or schedule an orthopedic specialist, call 800-323-8622.

After orthopedic surgery

Advocate says follow-up with the surgeon is commonly scheduled about one to two weeks after surgery, although the surgeon’s instructions control the actual appointment timing.

Where to go for labor

From 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., go directly to Labor & Delivery: take Elevator B to the third floor and turn right — Advocate summarizes this as “B to 3.”

From 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., enter through the Emergency Department on the south side of the hospital because the front doors are locked. Tell ER staff you need Labor & Delivery.

Parking for childbirth

During the day and evening, use the main garage directly in front of the hospital. Main-hospital valet is available during weekday daytime hours.

Advocate’s maternity-specific instructions currently state that Emergency Department valet parking is available 24/7 at no charge for overnight maternity arrivals. This is a maternity-specific instruction; the general visitor page separately notes that routine ER valet is not currently available.

Typical maternity stay

Advocate says an uncomplicated vaginal birth commonly involves approximately 24-48 hours in the birthing center, while a C-section generally requires about 48-72 hours. Clinical complications can require a longer stay.

Food during maternity stay

Patient meals included with the stay may be ordered from the bedside menu between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m..

Valet parking

Current general visitor information says valet is available at the Main Hospital entrance and Yacktman Outpatient entrance Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and currently lists no charge for those valet services.

Free campus shuttle

Complimentary round-trip shuttle service connects the hospital, Parkside Center and Center for Advanced Care. Use the marked shuttle stops.

Visitors should bring identification. Advocate uses a visitor-identification system and issues temporary badges for use while on campus.

Visitor practical information

• Information desks are in the main lobby and Parkside Center.
• Campus and floor maps are available near information desks and the south-building entrance.
• Visitors should check with nursing staff before bringing food or drinks to a patient.
• Specialty units such as ICU, NICU, behavioral health and maternity may use additional rules.
• The entire hospital campus, including parking lots, is smoke-free.

Family overnight accommodation

A limited number of Patient Support Rooms are available in apartments across from the hospital for families who need to remain near a hospitalized patient. Call 847-723-5475 for availability and current pricing.

Where to check in

Scheduled inpatients should use Patient Intake/Admitting in the main lobby during:

• Monday-Friday: 5 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Saturday: 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
• All other hours: use Emergency Department registration.

Information Advocate asks patients to bring

• Insurance card and policy information.
• Pre-certification number if required by the health plan.
• Physician referral form if required.
• Payment method for copays or noncovered services.
• Current medication and allergy list.
• Medicare or Medicaid card when applicable.
• A copy of any advance directive you want included in your hospital record.

Why an appointment may have more than one cost component

A hospital-based appointment or procedure can involve a facility charge plus professional charges from the physician or other clinicians. Tests, imaging, pathology, anesthesia, medication or procedures can add separate charges.

How to avoid an unexpected bill

1. Ask for the exact service/procedure name and code.
2. Confirm the hospital and physician are in network.
3. Check whether prior authorization is required.
4. Request an Advocate estimate.
5. Ask whether professional charges are included in the estimate.
6. Save the estimate and insurance authorization information.

Bills can be viewed and paid through Advocate’s LiveWell account.

Financial Assistance Scoring

Illinois residents who are uninsured and have lower-balance hospital outpatient or Advocate Medical Group accounts may be evaluated automatically through Advocate’s Financial Assistance Scoring program. Qualifying accounts can receive 100% financial assistance without a separate application.

Hardship Discount Program

Patients who do not qualify through ordinary income-based assistance may still be reviewed for a hardship discount. Advocate states that a remaining balance generally must exceed 10% of total household income to meet the hardship threshold.

How to apply

Applications are available through LiveWell, at hospital registration and Emergency Departments, or by calling 630-645-2400. Current Advocate contact information also lists 847-795-2300 for billing and financial-assistance support.

Completed applications may be mailed to:

Advocate Health Care
P.O. Box 3039
Oak Brook, IL 60522

Financial-assistance fax: 630-645-4691.

Advocate’s hospital-specific contact page also lists the Lutheran General local records office at 847-723-6150 and the email SRCO-LGH-ROI@aah.org.

Mailing/in-person record address:

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Health Information Management / 3 South
1775 Dempster St.
Park Ridge, IL 60068

Radiology images

For X-ray, CT, MRI or other radiology image copies on film/CD, call Radiology Informatics at 847-723-5016. Fax: 847-723-9800.

Birth certificates

The hospital does not issue replacement certified birth certificates. Advocate directs people born at its hospitals to the Illinois Department of Public Health for certified copies.

Advocate uses LiveWell as its patient-facing app and website. Patients can use it for many routine tasks without calling the hospital.

Top Deck Cafeteria

The Top Deck Cafeteria is on the 10th floor of the main hospital. Current hospital visitor information lists daily meal periods as:

• Breakfast: 6 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
• Lunch: 11 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
• Dinner: 4:45 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Panera Bread

The Panera location on the first level of the bed tower, across from the gift shop, is listed as open daily from 6 a.m.–10 p.m..

The Parkside satellite Panera is listed as open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.–4 p.m..

Service League Gift Shop

• Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Phone: 847-723-6129.

The shop carries convenience items, magazines, clothing, gifts, toiletries and stamps, and can arrange delivery of eligible items to patient rooms.

Chapel and spiritual care

The A.D. Johnson Memorial Chapel is on the first floor near the east/front portion of the hospital and is open day and night for meditation and prayer.

Chaplains are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 847-723-6395.

Advocate provides free language-assistance services for patients who need an interpreter, including spoken-language and sign-language assistance.

Patients who need an interpreter or another communication accommodation can tell the care team during scheduling or registration. For hospital-specific assistance, Patient Relations can be reached at 847-723-6011, option 2.

Wheelchair assistance

Wheelchair assistance is available at:

• Main hospital entrance.
• Parkside Center.
• Emergency Department.
• Center for Advanced Care.
• South entrance of Yacktman Pavilion.

Call Guest Services at 847-723-5624 to make arrangements.

Accessible parking

Accessible parking is available in patient/visitor lots and the general valet area at no parking charge.