Buffalo General Hospital Buffalo, New York contact details, emergency care, patient portal, records, parking, and visitor information
Buffalo General Hospital is commonly searched under that name, but the official hospital name is Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, part of Kaleida Health in downtown Buffalo, New York.
Use this guide to find the correct address, main phone number, emergency care options, MyChart access, medical records, appointment routing, parking, visitor guidance, billing resources, and practical steps before a hospital visit.
Part of Kaleida Health and commonly searched as Buffalo General Hospital.
Buffalo, NY 14203, on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
Use for main hospital routing, phone directory, and general patient/visitor questions.
Kaleida Health uses MyChart for secure online health management.
BGMC Medical Records is listed at 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203.
Official pages highlight cardiac, vascular, neuroscience, orthopaedic, bariatric, and cancer-related services.
Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute overview
A practical patient and visitor guide for the hospital commonly searched as Buffalo General Hospital in Buffalo, New York.
Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute is Kaleida Health’s downtown Buffalo hospital campus for advanced adult hospital care. It is closely associated with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and serves patients needing emergency care, inpatient care, surgery, cardiovascular services, stroke and neuroscience care, orthopaedics, weight-loss surgery, rehabilitation-related services, and other specialty programs.
Because the facility shares the Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute identity, patients may see different names on hospital pages, maps, physician referrals, discharge papers, bills, and appointment instructions. If you are unsure where to go, confirm the exact building, entrance, floor, suite, and parking plan before leaving for the hospital.
Buffalo General Hospital phone numbers and contact points
Use these official and practical contact routes for main hospital questions, records, portal support, referrals, and billing.
| Need | Contact | Use this for |
|---|---|---|
| Main hospital | 716-859-5600 | General routing, hospital directory, visitor questions, department transfers, and main campus help. |
| Medical Records | 716-859-2759 | Release of information, copies of hospital records, medical record request questions, and ROI status. |
| MyChart support | 716-305-7300 | MyChart login problems, activation codes, locked accounts, proxy access, and portal help. |
| Adult referral / Access Center | 716-859-CARE or 716-859-2273 | Physician referral routing and adult clinical access coordination. |
| Patient Financial Services | Kaleida Health billing resources | Bills, payment questions, charity care, financial assistance, insurance, and hospital account questions. |
| Urgent medical condition | 911 or nearest ER | Chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe trauma, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, or other emergency symptoms. |
Emergency care at Buffalo General Medical Center
For emergency symptoms, use 911 or emergency department care, not routine appointment lines or portal messages.
Use emergency care now
Call 911 for chest pain, signs of stroke, severe shortness of breath, major trauma, heavy bleeding, sudden weakness, fainting, severe allergic reaction, seizure, overdose, severe confusion, or a medical crisis.
ER video visit option
The official Buffalo General site links to Emergency Room Video Visit information. Use virtual options only when the situation is not immediately life-threatening and the service says it is appropriate.
Heart and stroke care
Buffalo General/Gates Vascular Institute is strongly associated with cardiac, vascular, stroke, and neuroscience care. Call 911 for suspected heart attack or stroke symptoms.
Bring key details
If safe to do so, bring medications, allergy list, recent discharge papers, test results, insurance card, photo ID, and contact information for your primary doctor or specialist.
Where should patients go: ER, video visit, specialist, primary care, or records office?
The right route depends on the severity of symptoms and whether you need care, documents, billing help, or a scheduled test.
| Situation | Best route | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing trouble, major injury, sudden confusion, severe bleeding | Call 911 or go to the emergency department | Do not drive yourself if symptoms are severe or sudden. |
| Possible ER need but not immediately life-threatening | ER video visit if eligible, urgent care, or doctor guidance | Follow the clinician’s instruction if you are told to seek in-person emergency care. |
| Routine follow-up, medication question, test result, appointment reschedule | MyChart or the clinic that ordered the service | Use direct clinic numbers when the question is tied to a specific specialist or procedure. |
| Need hospital records, discharge summary, imaging report, or proof of care | Medical Records / Release of Information | Ask whether the record is available in MyChart or requires a signed authorization. |
| Need billing, charity care, payment plan, or insurance help | Patient Financial Services or Kaleida billing resources | Have the account number, date of service, insurance card, and bill ready. |
| Need a doctor referral or hospital transfer | Access Center or referring physician line | Ask your doctor to send records, imaging, diagnosis, reason for referral, and urgency level. |
Appointments, tests, surgery, and check-in tips
Hospital appointments may involve multiple departments. Confirm every detail before arrival.
Featured departments and hospital services
Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute is known for adult hospital care and several advanced specialty programs.
Cardiac and vascular care
Gates Vascular Institute is closely connected with cardiac, vascular, and interventional care on the same downtown medical campus.
Stroke and neurosciences
The hospital’s official materials highlight stroke, neuroscience, vascular, and neurological care as major service areas.
Orthopaedics and spine
Featured services include orthopaedic and spine-related care, including surgical and inpatient recovery pathways.
Weight loss and bariatric surgery
Buffalo General materials list weight loss surgery and bariatric care among highlighted services.
General and minimally invasive surgery
Hospital programs include advanced surgery, robotic surgery, endoscopy-related care, and surgical specialty services.
Cancer and specialty care
The official hospital page lists cancer care among featured service areas and connects patients to Kaleida’s broader care network.
Kaleida Health MyChart: portal, test results, refills, messages, and support
Kaleida Health has moved patient portal access to MyChart for secure online health management.
Medical records, release forms, imaging, and proof of care
Medical-record access may be handled through MyChart, Medical Records, or a formal authorization form, depending on what you need.
| Record need | Best route | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Recent results or visit summary | MyChart | Login details, date of service, provider name, and visit location. |
| Full hospital record | BGMC Medical Records | Patient name, date of birth, date range, type of records, delivery method, and signed authorization if required. |
| Records for another doctor | Medical Records or your clinic | Receiving provider name, fax/address, records needed, and urgency of appointment. |
| Imaging report or image copy | Ordering department, imaging records, or Medical Records | Exam type, date, body part, ordering doctor, and whether you need report only or images too. |
| Legal, disability, work, school, or insurance proof | Medical Records or treating department | Exact form, due date, authorization, claim number, employer/insurer contact, and what must be certified or signed. |
Visitor information, patient rights, cafeteria, and hospital conduct
Visitor rules may vary by unit, patient condition, infection-control status, and hospital policy updates.
Visiting rights
Kaleida Health states patients have the right to decide who may and may not visit, including a spouse, domestic partner, family member, friend, or other support person.
Policy changes
Visitor restrictions can change for infection control, isolation, critical care, emergency department crowding, patient safety, or unit-specific needs.
Before visiting
Call the unit or main number to confirm current visiting rules, quiet hours, entry screening, mask requirements, and whether visitors may rotate.
Cafeteria and support
Kaleida’s patients and visitors page links to cafeteria menus, phone directory resources, translation services, health care proxy information, and patient rights.
Buffalo General parking, campus directions, and map
Parking and entrance choice can affect how quickly you reach the right department.
Hospital location
Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute
100 High Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
Main: 716-859-5600
- Confirm your appointment’s exact entrance before leaving.
- Ask if your visit is at Buffalo General, Gates Vascular Institute, a clinic, imaging, or a connected medical office.
- Allow extra time for downtown traffic, parking, elevators, registration, and wayfinding.
- For mobility needs, call ahead about drop-off, wheelchair assistance, valet availability, and closest entrance.
Billing, insurance, financial assistance, and price questions
Hospital bills may come from the facility, doctors, labs, imaging, anesthesia, emergency physicians, or outside professional groups.
| Question | Who to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Is Buffalo General in network? | Your insurance plan and the scheduling team | Coverage can vary by facility, physician group, service, referral, and authorization. |
| Do I need prior authorization? | Insurance plan, referring doctor, and hospital scheduling | Surgery, imaging, procedures, and specialty services may require approval before the appointment. |
| Why did I get multiple bills? | Patient Financial Services and your insurance plan | Facility, physician, lab, radiology, emergency, anesthesia, or specialist charges may bill separately. |
| Can I get financial assistance? | Kaleida financial assistance or charity care resources | Eligibility may depend on income, household size, insurance, residency, service type, and documentation. |
| Can I pay online? | Kaleida online bill pay or MyChart billing tools | Online payment may require account number, guarantor information, or MyChart access. |
Doctor referrals, hospital transfers, and second opinions
For specialty care, transfer coordination, or second opinions, complete records and clear routing save time.
Official source checklist for Buffalo General Hospital patient info
Use these official resources for final verification because phone routing, portal tools, visitor rules, billing, and department instructions can change.
| Official source | What it verifies | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute | Official hospital identity, featured services, MyChart access, ER video visit link, and hospital updates. | Use first for hospital-specific patient and visitor information. |
| About Buffalo General/GVI | Campus role, hospital overview, specialty program context, and hospital facts. | Use when explaining what the hospital is known for. |
| Kaleida Patients & Visitors | Visitor links, MyKaleida/MyChart, phone directory, billing, financial assistance, translation services, health care proxy, and patient rights resources. | Use for patient-support links and general visitor resources. |
| Kaleida Health MyChart | MyChart login, scheduling, test results, refills, messaging, proxy access, account support, and help desk information. | Use for portal access and technical help. |
| Kaleida Visiting Hours | Systemwide visitation rights and visitor nondiscrimination language. | Use before visiting a patient, then confirm with the unit. |
| Medical Records Authorization | Authorization process and BGMC Medical Records mailing address and phone. | Use when requesting complete hospital records or sending release forms. |
| Find a Doctor | Provider search and Kaleida Health doctor access tools. | Use to find a physician or confirm provider details. |
| Provider / Access Center resources | Access Center routing for adult and pediatric referrals, provider resources, and physician support contacts. | Use for referral or clinician-to-clinician routing context. |
Buffalo General Hospital Buffalo New York FAQs
Common questions about contact information, patient records, emergency care, MyChart, visitor rules, billing, parking, and hospital services.