The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a teaching hospital and a tertiary facility, meaning that it offers general, specialty and subspecialty care in a range of medical fields.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Health Care Policy and Research offers the following checklist for choosing a hospital. Look for a hospital that is

• Covered by your health plan.
• Experienced with your condition.
• Successful when dealing with your condition.
• Constantly improving its quality of care.
• Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
• Rated highly by state, consumer or other groups.
• One where your doctor has privileges, if that is important to you.

What Should I Find Out About a Hospital?
It is likely that you may live in an area served by multiple hospitals. It is easy to be confused about which one to go to, especially in large cities that probably have many to choose from. Here are suggested questions to ask a hospital. (UT Medical Center answers in italics follow each question.)

• Is your doctor affiliated with the hospital? Use Find-A-Doctor to locate UT Medical Center doctors or call University Physician Referral Service at 865.305.9640.
• Does the hospital meet your needs? For example, does it have a cancer center if you need one? For UT Medical Center information, call 865.305.9640.
• Is there an infection control practitioner on staff? Yes.
• Is there a patient representative or ombudsman on staff? Yes.
• Does the hospital have social workers? Yes.
• Does the hospital offer pre-admission testing on an outpatient basis? Yes.
• Are operating rooms available at all hours? X-ray and emergency services? Yes, UT Medical Center offers all three.
• Does the hospital offer high quality patient-centered care? Yes.
• Is the hospital clean? Yes.
• Does the hospital accept Medicare patients? Yes.
• Does the hospital offer education programs for the community? Yes.
• Which type(s) of follow-up care does the hospital provide after discharge? UT Home Care Services and Rehabilitation Services, including cardiac and pulmonary rehab, are available as prescribed by your doctor.

The Center for Women’s Health offers HealthCare Coordination, which is available by calling 1.877.UT.CARES (1.865.882.2737) Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

It is important to select your hospital before something happens. A little research into the experience, quality and services of a hospital will help you make an educated decision for you and your family.

The University of Tennessee Medical Center has a rich history in the community of providing patient-centered care and remaining at the forefront of research, technology and community education. UT Medical Center attributes its well-respected standing within the community to the exceptional people that dedicate themselves to patient care excellence.