Registration and Pre-Admission Process

For your convenience, we designed our registration process to be as simple and as fast as possible.

When your physician notifies us that you are scheduled to come to USC University Hospital, our registration representative will begin the pre-registration process by obtaining your demographic and insurance information from your physician's office or, if it's not available, directly from you.

We will then contact your insurance company regarding insurance benefits. Please click here to see the list of insurance plans accepted at the hospital. We also encourage you to contact your insurance carrier in advance to clarify your healthcare benefits and to arrange for any needed pre-authorization prior to your admission.

After talking with your insurance carrier, our registration representative will let you know what documents you need to bring. Please make sure to prepare your family / referring physician contact information to help our specialists work effectively with your physician regarding your treatment and care.

In addition, you may be requested to make a deposit based upon the estimated cost of services and your insurance benefits such as deductibles and co-pay. If you anticipate difficulty in paying your bill promptly, please advise the registration representative before admission to assist you in making satisfactory arrangements. For your convenience, the hospital accepts personal checks and all major credit cards, as well as cash and money orders.

Arrangements for transportation upon your discharge should be made prior to admission.

Your physician may request routine tests to be done prior to admission. Our staff will contact you to arrange appointments to have these tests performed on the outpatient basis.

Many of the physicians and surgeons at USC University Hospital have the special expertise required to administer transfusion-free medicine and surgery. These physicians are faculty members and leaders in their fields, offering advanced health care services.

Please see Transfusion-Free Medicine and Surgery page of this site for more information on how to make arrangements for transfusion-free care at our facility.

The hospital offers special services for patients requiring blood transfusions. These services include autologous (self) blood donation, designated donor and blood replacement donation programs. For further information about donor programs, eligibility, appointments and locations, please contact the USC Blood Donor Center at (323) 442-5433.

Accommodations

The type of hospital accommodations offered depends upon your physician's request, the type of care needed, your preference and its availability. During your stay, a room change may be necessary as your needs change. Please discuss your preferences with us and we will make every effort to satisfy your accommodation requests throughout your stay. Please notify us if you do not wish to receive visitors or phone calls during your hospitalization.

To make yourself as comfortable as possible, all patients should follow these guidelines. We suggest bringing the following personal items:

Inpatient Clothing: pajamas/nightgown, bathrobe and slippers. Comfortable casual clothing and shoes with non-skid soles are recommended for patients undergoing rehabilitation therapy. Each patient is provided a closet for accommodation of a limited quantity of personal articles. Please bring only those items necessary during your stay.

Inpatient Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, etc. Electrical equipment such as hair dryers, radios or razors and other personal appliances are permitted only after the equipment has undergone a safety check by our engineering department. Such equipment is not permitted in any of the intensive care areas.

Personal Items: eyeglasses, dentures and hearing aids. Denture cups are available upon request. Take care not to leave any of these items on your meal tray or on your bed as they may be lost.

Cash for Incidentals: No more than $20 is usually needed; however, be sure to bring enough cash to cover your parking fees, if applicable. Weekly parking passes are available through the cashier. Although the hospital itself does not offer check cashing, we provide an ATM on the premises, next to Security on the lower level.

Proof of Insurance Coverage: Medicare and other insurance identification are needed to verify your eligibility for claims filed by the hospital.

Advance Healthcare Directive: If you have one, please bring it with you. You can establish one at the hospital as well.

Referring or Family Physician Information: Name, address and telephone number.

We encourage you to leave all valuables, such as large sums of money, jewelry and credit cards, at home. If necessary, money and small valuables may be kept in the hospital safe and reclaimed upon your discharge. An itemized receipt claim ticket will be provided. If your stay includes time in a critical care unit, non-essential belongings will need to be sent home during that time.

Please click here for the map, parking information and driving directions to USC University Hospital.