University Health Univ. Hospital: Contact & Patient Info

University Hospital is a large academic medical center in San Antonio and works closely with UT Health San Antonio. University Health describes the facility as one of the nation’s leading teaching hospitals and South Texas’ premier Level I trauma center.

The main campus at 4502 Medical Drive now includes both University Hospital and the separate University Health Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Patients should pay attention to which building their service is in because children’s emergency care, obstetric emergencies, labor and delivery, NICU and many women’s services are in the Women’s & Children’s Hospital.

University Hospital serves as a major regional Level I trauma center for San Antonio and South Texas. Serious injuries arriving by ambulance or transfer can be managed by trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, intensive-care clinicians, operating-room teams, imaging specialists and other subspecialists available through the academic medical center.

Adult vs. pediatric emergency care

Pregnancy and OB/GYN emergencies

OB/GYN emergency triage is in the Women’s & Children’s Hospital on the Ground Floor. University Health’s directory lists 210-358-4390 and 210-358-9822 for OB/GYN emergency triage.

Selected physicians currently listing University Hospital as a practice location

This table is intentionally a practical selection rather than a fabricated “complete” physician roster. University Health’s physician directory contains a very large and changing group of physicians, advanced-practice clinicians and UT Health San Antonio faculty. Provider assignments, accepting-new-patient status and clinic calendars can change.

Why your final cost can be different from an estimate

• Different tests or procedures are ordered after examination.
• The physician bills separately from the hospital.
• Anesthesia, radiology or pathology professional fees are separate.
• Your insurance deductible has not been met.
• Coinsurance or copayment applies.
• The physician or service is outside your plan’s network.
• The medical complexity is different from what was anticipated.

Where is the visitor garage?

The Visitor Parking Garage is next to the Women’s & Children’s Hospital and has three entrances:

• Main entrance off Medical Drive
• Entrance across from the Emergency Room parking lot
• Entrance directly across from the Women’s & Children’s Hospital

Which garage level connects to the hospital?

Use Level 1 — Blue. Patients and visitors enter the hospitals via the Bill Greehey Way Bridge.

Extended inpatient parking pass

Families and visitors of patients with longer inpatient stays can purchase a $10 parking pass good for up to 10 exits.

Passes are sold at the Cashier’s Office in University Hospital Rio Tower, Sublevel, Elevator D. Published Cashier’s Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m..

University Health encourages patients’ families to participate in the healing process. Patient rooms include a sleeper sofa for a family member, and families may be able to stay overnight depending on the clinical unit and patient situation.

Quiet-hours detail

Incoming calls are not permitted directly to patient rooms between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.. Calls during that time are routed through the hospital operator.

Contacting a patient

If you do not know a patient’s unit or room, call the hospital at 210-358-4000 or visit the Patient Information Desk in Sky Tower, Level 1. Patient privacy preferences may limit what information can be released.

Admissions hours

• Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Sunday: 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
• After hours: admissions assistance is available through the Emergency Department.

Operating-room waiting areas are on Sky Tower Levels 2 and 3. The current directory lists 210-743-0467 for the operating-room waiting area.

What may be collected at the visit?

University Health may request payment of:

• Insurance deductible
• Copayment
• Coinsurance

Additional charges can appear after discharge because all services may not be known or processed when you leave the hospital.

Who may send a separate professional bill?

• Anesthesiologist
• Cardiologist
• Emergency physician
• Hospitalist
• Neonatologist
• Primary-care physician
• Pathologist
• Radiologist

Itemized bill

Patients can request an itemized hospital bill showing the individual charges. University Health states that an itemized copy can be sent within 10 business days after a request.

Questions to ask your insurer

• Is University Hospital at 4502 Medical Drive in network?
• Is my physician in network?
• Do I need prior authorization?
• Do I need a referral?
• What is my deductible?
• What copayment or coinsurance applies?
• Will I receive separate professional bills?

Basic CareLink eligibility

• Income at or below 250% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Bexar County residency
• No health insurance or other qualifying coverage
• Other program documentation/eligibility requirements

New CareLink applicants may need to show proof of Bexar County residency for the previous 12 months.

Call 210-358-3350 for CareLink enrollment or financial-assistance help.

Submit a records request

Walk-in copy allowance

University Health states that a courtesy copy of up to 10 pages of medical records may be obtained at its walk-in Medical Records locations.

MyChart support

Call 210-358-4980 or email MyChartSupport@uhtx.com.

What eCheck-In can do

• Verify personal information
• Update insurance details
• Upload insurance-card photos
• Review medications
• Review allergies
• Answer questionnaires
• Electronically sign documents
• Pay an appointment copayment when supported

Outpatient laboratory

The outpatient laboratory is in University Hospital, Rio Tower, Level 1. Phone: 210-358-2790.

Imaging contacts

University Health’s discharge instructions identify an Outpatient Pharmacy on the first floor of University Hospital in Rio Tower, past the B elevators.

Patients treated in the Emergency Department may use the After-Hours Pharmacy on the Ground Floor of Rio Tower near Elevator D.

Free language assistance

University Health provides language-assistance services at no extra cost to patients. For language assistance or auxiliary communication services, call 210-358-0600.

University Health also provides reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids for patients with disabilities. Relay Texas is available by dialing 711.

Patient complaint process

1. Start with the nurse or staff member directly involved in the care.
2. If unresolved, ask for the clinical director or nurse manager.
3. If still unresolved, contact Patient Relations at 210-358-0600.

Gift Shop Café items

University Health lists options such as:

• Starbucks brewed coffee
• Sandwiches
• Sushi
• Pastries
• Desserts
• Grab-and-go snacks

ATM locations

• Sky Tower, Level 1, main lobby
• Rio Tower, Level 3, near the cafeteria dining area

University Health lists both ATM locations as available 24 hours a day.

Family overnight comfort

Inpatient rooms are designed with private bathrooms and a sleeper sofa that can allow a family member to stay overnight when permitted by the patient’s unit.

Healing gardens

Sky Tower includes two healing gardens intended as quiet spaces for patients and families.

Spiritual care

The Peveto Center for Pastoral Care is on the first floor across from Elevator B. Spiritual-care services welcome patients and families of different faith traditions.

If you get home and realize that an important discharge detail was missed, University Health advises calling 210-358-4000 and giving the operator the floor or unit where you stayed so you can be transferred to the appropriate nursing unit.

• Confirm the appointment date and exact arrival time.
• Confirm whether the appointment is actually at 4502 Medical Drive.
• Know the tower, level and elevator.
• Bring photo ID.
• Bring current insurance cards.
• Bring referral or authorization if required.
• Bring medication and allergy information.
• Bring outside imaging or medical records when requested.
• Allow extra time for the parking garage and indoor navigation.
• Use Level 1-Blue of the garage for the Bill Greehey Way Bridge.
• Complete MyChart eCheck-In if available.
• Ask for a cost estimate before elective or scheduled services when price is important.