Transfer or Transport a Pediatric Patient

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals have pediatric emergency physicians, other specialists and subspecialists available 24/7 to consult on cases. As one of three American College of Surgeons – verified level I pediatric trauma centers in the region, we are among the nation's leaders in positive pediatric trauma outcomes, with the highest-volume pediatric trauma center in Northern California.

Advantages of bringing patients to UCSF for care include:

• Calls are answered by experienced pediatric critical care nurses.
• Transfers are efficient, with rapid acceptance and dispatch fully managed by our team.
• Expedited pediatric and neonatal transport is available.
• Referring physicians are updated throughout the process.
• Inpatient teams deliver comprehensive intensive care at the highest levels.

To transfer or transport a patient to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, please contact our Pediatric Access Center. The center is available 24/7 to connect you with attending physicians and experienced nurses from the relevant service, to facilitate transport to UCSF, and to simplify the admission process. High-risk obstetric patient transfers to our San Francisco hospital can also be made by calling the Pediatric Access Center and asking to speak with the attending perinatologist. We have two dedicated 24/7 neonatal transport teams, with one based in San Francisco and the other in Oakland, serving patients across the Bay Area and Central Valley.

Transport by ambulance, plane or helicopter can be arranged. Our attending physician and the transport service staff will work with you to determine the best way to transfer your patient.

Required documents

While preparing for the transfer, please have your staff gather the information listed below. (To expedite the transfer, have the forms completed before the transport team arrives.)

• A copy of the current hospital chart from the time of admission and a transfer summary, plus the maternal chart for a neonatal patient
• Copies of all imaging studies, including X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans and barium studies
• Copies of all consults and subspecialty reports, EKGs, EEGs, surgical reports, pathology reports and slides
• Four copies of the patient face sheet containing demographic and insurance information