Patient and Visitor Guide FAQs

We have temporarily revised our family and guest policy due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please note that only one visitor per adult patient is allowed, and no children are allowed under age 16, except under exceptional circumstances.

We understand these are unusual circumstances and that these actions may cause hardship for our patients. However, our top priority is the safety of our patients and of our staff. We believe these efforts will reduce chances of infection spreading.

To see the complete list of updates, go to the Visitor page on UofMHealth.org.

Your health care provider and insurance company can give you information about what to bring for your appointment. Here is a list of the basics:

• Blue U-M Registration Card - if you have one (see below)
• Health insurance cards
• Medical records - including immunization records - from other institutions or other doctors' offices
• Test results and copies of X-rays or imaging studies (CT scans, sonograms, etc.)
• List of current medications, including dosage amounts and renewal needs. Include over-the-counter and herbal medications.
• Any medical forms that need to be completed by your health care provider
• A referral, if required
• List of your questions

To help you prepare for your hospital stay, we’ve prepared the following basic list of items to bring with you. Please check with your doctor to find out if there are specific items you should or shouldn’t bring in addition to those listed below:

• Health insurance cards or documentation that includes the insurance company name and policy number
• Copy of referral, if appropriate
• Picture identification
• A list of over-the-counter and prescription medications you have recently, or are currently, taking. Be sure to include the medication names, dosage amounts and number of times taken. Please do not bring in the medications themselves. They will be sent home or stored in Security.
• A phone card to use when making long-distance calls.
• Please feel free to bring any toiletry items from home that would make your stay more comfortable. There are basic toiletries available, if needed.
• We discourage patients from bringing along personal electronic devices such as laptops, iPods, MP3 players, etc., because there are times when you will not be in your room and will not be able to secure them properly. If you do bring the items, please clearly label them with your name and information. UMHS is not responsible for loss of such items.
• If you are using an MP3 player, video game or laptop with sound, please make sure to bring and use headphones to help us maintain an environment that is respectful to all patients and visitors.

Whether you're coming by bus, by car, or even RV, you'll want to get to know your way around before you get here. We are served by two comprehensive public transportation systems and have plenty of parking available for our patients and visitors. Follow this link to find the cost of parking.

As always, build a few minutes extra into your schedule to make sure you're headed in the right direction. Looking at these maps will help.

As a new or returning patient please allow at least 30 minutes to navigate the parking structure and walk to your appointment. If you use an assistive device,  you may want to allow longer. Also remember Valet  Parking is an option.  Please take a few minutes to view this video if you are unsure how to arrive to the medical center.

Several of our locations have valet parking for a fee.  Note: Valet parking at the Emergency Department is always free.

You can see where the structures are located on our Medical Center Maps page and our Maps & Directions page.

MLabs offers adult and pediatric blood drawing services at our University of Michigan Health System locations. When you arrive, you must present your completed MLabs requisition to the receptionist. If you do not have one, check with the receptionist to see if it is available in an online system or is otherwise available. No appointment is necessary for routine services, but please call ahead to schedule glucose tolerance testing. Hours are subject to change without notice. Lab results are available only through your physician's office. Please do not contact the specimen collection facility or blood drawing station for test result information. Patients may drop off non-blood specimens (urine and stool samples) at all MLab sites for transport to U-M hospital for testing. The specimen must be accompanied by a completed MLabs requisition. Visit here for a list of MLab locations.

Questions regarding medical records may be directed to the Release of Information Unit at 734-936-5490. Your medical record includes the following:

• results of all laboratory tests, X-rays, other diagnostic studies, and medical treatment you received while you were hospitalized or treated as an outpatient
• physician reports from examinations, surgery, treatment and medications
• observations by nurses and other members of your health care team 

University of Michigan Health System accepts most insurance plans including various managed care plans. We recommend that you check with your health plan to determine health care coverage at the University of Michigan before scheduling your hospital or clinic visit.

If we have a contract with your insurance plan, you will be asked to pay for any out of pocket costs such as co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles and non-covered services (Insurance contracts change periodically, and we recommend you check with your insurance benefit to see if they include us in their network). Your insurance company will have the most accurate information related to your benefits.

If your insurance is not one of the Participating Insurance Plans listed below, we will send your insurance plan a bill as a courtesy, but any amounts your insurance company does not pay will be your responsibility.

Patients and their families often experience a wide variety of issues and concerns when they are dealing with a health care situation. The Guest Assistance Program (GAP) was created to alleviate many of those issues by assisting with non-medical needs for both adult and pediatric patients. Our dedicated social workers problem-solve, research community resources, and assist with the coordination of various needs that arise during medical treatment. Our centralized program is unique, with a dedicated team all working in a single location with all of our resources compiled in one place, within the Department of Social Work. We focus solely on barriers to care – things that would keep patients from maintaining treatment or appointments that would impact their health.

Call 800-888-9825 to connect to one of our friendly and informative team members.

Free, public wireless Internet access is available in nearly all U-M Health System facilities, including:

• Main Medical Campus, including all hospitals and outpatient centers, the Cancer Center, the Cardiovascular Center and MedInn
• East Medical Campus
• Many Domino's Farms clinics
• Some U-M Health Centers in nearby communities.

Through this network, you can use your laptop or mobile device to access the Internet from patients' hospital rooms, waiting areas, cafeterias and other locations.

University of Michigan Health System has two chapels. The University Hospital chapel is located on the second floor of University Hospital, room 2A215. The Mott Children’s and Voigtlander Women’s Hospital chapel is located on the second floor, room 2780. Both are open 24 hours a day.

Our chaplains are clinically trained clergy/religious leaders who specialize in offering spiritual and emotional care and support to patients and their families and hospital caregivers.They represent a variety of religions and faith traditions and are deeply sensitive to differences in culture, religion and lifestyles.

Do not use cell phones within one foot of a medical device. This guideline includes two-way radios and push-to-talk functions.

Cell phones may be used in hospital lobbies, on patient floors and in patient rooms. Cell phones may not be used in the ICU except in waiting areas.

Cell phones may be used in hospital lobbies, on patient floors and in patient rooms. Cell phones may not be used in the ICU except in waiting areas. Public phones are located on several floors of our hospitals. Ask for directions at any Information Desk, or ask a Unit Host. More information about phones.

We are a smoke-free environment indoors and out in the interest of our patients, families, visitors and staff. Information about our Smoke-Free Campus including a map of the outdoor smoke-free areas, is available online or at any information desk.

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Access to Respectful Care
• Involvement in Care Decisions
• Your Medical Records
• Information About Care or Service
• Information about Billing

HIPAA, the notice of Privacy Practices, describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please read it carefully.

This Notice of Privacy Practices (Notice) applies to all information about care that you receive from the following:

• University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) which includes our hospitals, doctors, home health services, pharmacy services, laboratory services, and other related health care providers
• Portions of the University of Michigan that provide health care services (UM Providers) such as University Health Service, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, etc.
• UMHS and its organized health care arrangements where the UMHS participates in quality improvement and assessment activities as part of an organized health care arrangement where the providers work jointly to help improve the quality of your care. Visit here for examples of current Organized Health Care Arrangements in which the UMHS participates.