Admission Information
Getting Ready for Admission
The hospital provides robes, gowns, slippers, and a kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues and other small items. The checklists below will help you pack for your hospital stay.
Important phone numbers:
- Admissions: 202-865-1201
- Outpatient Testing Center: 202-865-4058
- Financial Counseling: 202-865-1262
- Patient Relations: 202-865-6823
- Physician Referral Service: 202-595-3200
- Patient Accounts: 202-865-3500
What to bring to the hospital:
- Your insurance card
- Referral and/or authorization forms provided by your physician or insurance company
- Photo identification (such as a driver’s license)
- All the medicines you are currently taking and all medications in their original container
- Sleepwear if you desire
- Personal toiletries
- Eyeglasses and case, dentures and prosthetics.
You should only bring essential items. The Hospital does not assume responsibility for the theft or loss of property.
What to leave at home:
- Jewelry, credit cards, wallet and other valuables
- Cellular phones (The use of cellular phones is prohibited inside the hospital)
- Tobacco products. No smoking is allowed in or on the grounds of the hospital.
- Pagers
- Electrical appliance
Directions and Transportation
Howard University Hospital is located at 2041 Georgia Avenue, N.W., and is easily accessible by public transportation. If you are taking the Metro rail to the hospital, exit at the Shaw/Howard University stop on the Green line. You can also reach the hospital by taking the following bus routes: 70, 71, 90, 92 and 96.
Parking is available in front of the hospital and ambulatory care center (Towers Building). Managed by Standard Parking, the lots are open from 6:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m. Remember to carry your parking ticket with you. You will need it to pay for parking before you leave.
Personal Belongings
All valuables should be sent home to protect from theft or loss. If this is not possible, please deposit them with an admissions representative or you may ask your nurse for assistance. The hospital does not assume responsibility for the theft or loss of property. If you wear dentures, ask your nurse to provide a special storage container. To prevent damage or loss, please do not wrap them in tissue; put them on your food tray or in your bed. Dentures and glasses must be removed prior to surgery.
Financial Obligations
Your insurance company may require you to obtain their permission in advance for services, which is identified as a referral. You may receive a call from the hospital staff assisting you with this process.
It is important that you present all forms and documents you receive from your physician or the insurance company to the admitting office staff.
After your discharge, you will receive a hospital bill that covers all services you received during your stay at Howard University Hospital. Any tests or studies ordered by your physician will be listed on the bill as additional services. As a courtesy, the hospital submits bills to your insurance company and will do everything possible to expedite your claim. However, you should remember that your policy is a contract between you and your insurance company, and you have the final responsibility for payment of your hospital bill.
You may also receive a separate bill from your personal physician and other physicians such as an anesthesiologist, cardiologist, neurologist, pathologist and/or radiologist who have provided consultation or direct services. For information regarding these bills, please contact the physician’s office directly using the telephone number on the bill.
You should familiarize yourself with the terms of your insurance policy. This will help you understand the hospital’s billing procedures and charges.
Patient Accounts Office is located on the first floor, near the main entrance. The office accepts payment for hospital services in the form of cash, personal checks, traveler’s checks, money orders and most credit cards. The office is open Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Pre-Admission Testing
In order to do a preliminary evaluation, your physician may request tests before you are admitted to the hospital. If you require tests, an Admissions Office representative will call to arrange for a pre-admission appointment. This is a good time to present or make special requests pertaining to your hospital stay. The hospital is committed to making your stay as comfortable as possible.
The Outpatient Testing Center is located on the first floor of the Towers Building, Room 1800C.
