Calling the Transfer Center
Available 24/7
Phone: 816.691.1584
Fax: 816.346.7196
When referring physicians call North Kansas City Hospital to transfer a patient, they now are connected 24/7 via a three-way call with a Transfer Center registered nurse and the accepting emergency physician or hospitalist. After-hours transfer calls will no longer go to the hospital’s director of clinical operations.
For Emergency Department Medical Director Douglas Ham, DO, having one dedicated phone number for transfer calls, which are recorded, has created a more seamless process for direct patient admissions and transfers from other facilities.
“Because the referring physician shares the patient’s report directly with the emergency physician or hospitalist, all the information needed about the patient is gathered at one time, providing the fastest and most efficient care possible,” said Dr. Ham, an emergency medicine physician with Midwest Emergency Medical Services.
For patients who require specialized care, the accepting physician may consult in a three-way call with the Transfer Center nurse and a specialist, such as a cardiologist, gynecologist, orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon.
“By having every referring physician call our 24/7 Transfer Center, we are better able to get very sick patients accepted and stabilized in the ED and then to the right area right away, including STEMI, stroke and trauma patients,” Dr. Ham added.
The Transfer Center will need the following patient information for a direct patient admission:
- Name, date of birth and Social Security number
- Insurance information
- Medical history
- Priority of transfer/date of transfer
- Level of care/bed type needed
- Admitting diagnosis
- Location of the patient and call back number
- Transportation method
- Specialty physician
- Primary care physician
Douglas Ham, DO
Dr. Ham earned his medical degree from Kansas City University. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Illinois.