Admissions

Finding out that you or a loved one has to stay overnight in the hospital can be very difficult emotionally. You probably have many questions about what comes next. We hope the information we provide here will help ease your feelings of uncertainty and tell you what you need to know.

• If you are a new patient or a patient returning after 90 days, you must be registered. Our Outpatient Registration staff will make every effort to contact you by phone before your appointment.
• Once you have registered, you are ready to begin the admissions process.
• Please review what to bring to the hospital and to review instructions of how to prepare for surgery. This will help the admissions process go more quickly and smoothly.

Where is admissions?

UF Health Shands Hospital

UF Health Shands Hospital admissions is on the first floor. It is located between the atrium and east entrances. It is open from 7 a.m. to midnight every day.

UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital

The UF Health Shands Cancer admissions office is off of the lobby. It is open from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Patient Iinformation

Talk with your doctor about any special steps you might need to take before you are admitted or before you have surgery. Please follow all your physician’s instructions or your surgery may have to be canceled.

In some cases, you may be admitted to the hospital from the Emergency Room (E.R.) and may not be able to make arrangements ahead of time. If this happens, keep in mind that:

• It may take some time before you can be moved out of the E.R. to a bed on one of the inpatient units.
• Our admitting staff will locate a bed in the most appropriate unit for you.
• E.R. doctors will communicate with the admitting doctors and specialists to ensure good transition of care from the E.R. to the hospital. The E.R. nursing team also will provide a report to the nursing team who will be taking care of you once you move to your room.

We have policies and procedures in place to help you and your family work with the doctors, nurses and staff to get the most from your hospital stay. Please take a few minutes to review these guidelines with your loved ones.

More information

Please call (352) 265-0236 if you have any questions about:

• Pre-admission
• Admission
• Pre-certification
• Insurance