Planning Your Hospital Stay

When to Arrive at the Medical Center

Ashley River Tower, University Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Rutledge Tower

If you are scheduled for a procedure, a nurse will call you to tell you when you should arrive at the medical center and where you should go when you get there. At that time, you may receive additional instructions and you may ask questions. In some cases, the arrival time will be provided to you at the time of scheduling the procedure.

Patients who are scheduled for admission for therapies and treatments will be contacted by the Admit Transfer Center on the day of admission letting the patient know what time to arrive at the hospital. At that time, you will be instructed where to report for completion of the registration process.

At time of registration, you may be asked to pay your co-pay and/or co-insurance as determined by your particular insurance provider. Payment may be in the form of credit card, cash or check.

Ashley River Tower Admitting Office: 843-876-5677

University Hospital and Children's Hospital: 843-792-9241

Institute of Psychiatry

The Institute of Psychiatry is a dedicated psychiatric facility with an admitting process different than other locations. Patients interested in receiving treatment should call Health Connection at 843-792-1414 for specific details.

Admission Locations

Ashley River Tower (ART)

ART Central Registration is located on the first floor of the Atrium directly across from the cafeteria. This can be reached through either the Courtenay Parking Garage walk-over that enters the building on the mezzanine level or from the front of the building off of Courtenay Drive where valet parking is available.

University Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Rutledge Tower

Central Registration is located on the first floor Main Lobby of University Hospital, for patients being admitted to Children’s Hospital, 5th Floor Interventional Radiology and main hospital scheduled admissions.

4th Floor Surgery Registration is located on the 4th floor of the North Tower. Patients told to report to this area should utilize Elevator E off the Main Lobby or Elevator D off the main hallway.

Rutledge Tower houses the MUSC Outpatient Clinics, Radiology and laboratory area, as well as Ambulatory Surgery and Pre-op Surgery areas. Patients arriving for Ambulatory or outpatient surgery should report to the first floor of Rutledge Tower and proceed down the main hallway.

What to Bring

To ensure that the admission process goes smoothly, please bring the following:

  • Photo ID such as driver’s license or passport
  • Insurance information, including cards, pre-certification documentation and other documentation required by your insurer
  • Copy of advanced directive or living will
  • Complete list of medications that you are currently taking, both prescription and over the counter
  • Any reports your physician gave you to bring to the medical center

You may also to bring personal items such as pajamas, robe, slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap, lotion, reading glasses, books or portable music system. Space is limited in the patient rooms, so please limit personal items.

Valuables

While many rooms now have personal safes to secure your valuables and money, we urge you to leave your valuables at home. We cannot be responsible for the loss or damage to personal property kept in your room. At time of discharge or transfer to another room, you must remember to take any items with you that have been secured in the room safe.

In-room dining information during your medical center stay.

Patient Rights

As a patient at MUSC Health, you have certain rights and protections guaranteed by state and federal law. These exist to help ensure the quality and safety of your hospital care. At time of admission, you will be provided with a copy of these rights. You may also review these rights online. If you did not receive a copy of Patient Rights at time of admission, please contact the Admissions Office and we will see that you receive a copy.

Discharge Day

If you have any questions about your health insurance coverage please call the Admitting Office at 843-792-9241 and ask to speak with a financial counselor. If you have questions about the billing process, please call Medical Center Patient Accounting at 843-792-2311.

If you have health care questions, please speak with your nurse or ask to have your nurse case manager or social worker paged.