Transfer a patient
Transfer a patient to a Penn Medicine hospital
Patient transfers are a “one-call” process at Penn Medicine. Our team is available 24/7 to coordinate the transfer of your patient to a Penn Medicine hospital.
Call 877-937-7366 to speak directly with a provider for triage and access to rescue programs and specialized care.
Requesting patient transport
When you call our provider-only hotline, our official transport team is included early in the triage process to assess and arrange your patient’s flight or ground transport needs. No additional calls are needed.
PennSTAR
A national leader in air medical safety and patient care, PennSTAR is the non-profit critical care flight and ground transportation service of Penn Medicine. Have additional transport-related questions for the PennSTAR team? Call the number below.
Transfer information by hospital
See more information about rescue and specialized care programs by location.
Specialized services:
- Cardiac catheter lab
- Intensive care unit and critical care services
- Cardiac and vascular surgery
Heart and vascular rescue
Offers heart rescue (STEMI) for patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction, as well as care for acute NSTEMI’s, cardiac arrest and therapeutic hypothermia, cardiogenic shock, and aortic dissection.
- Aortic rescue
- Cardiogenic shock rescue (including ECMO support)
- Heart rescue (STEMI)
- PERT rescue - Rapid, comprehensive and advanced care to patients with acute pulmonary embolism
Neuro rescue*
- Neurocritical care rescue
- Neurosurgery rescue
- Stroke rescue
*The Joint Commission: Comprehensive Stroke Center
Oncologic rescue
- Acute Leukemia rescue
Transplant rescue
- Liver rescue
- Lung transplant evaluation rescue
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center.
Heart rescue
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital offers heart rescue (STEMI) for patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction, as well as care for acute NSTEMI's, cardiac arrest and therapeutic hypothermia, and cardiogenic shock.
- Aortic rescue
- Cardiogenic shock rescue (including ECMO support)
- Heart rescue (STEMI)
- PERT rescue - Rapid, comprehensive and advanced care to patients with acute pulmonary embolism
Neuro rescue*
- Neurocritical care rescue
- Neurosurgery rescue
- Stroke rescue
- NICU
* The Joint Commission: Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is a Level 1 Trauma Center.
Heart and vascular rescue
Heart rescue patients can immediately access tertiary/quaternary cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery services at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center through a rapid referral program.
- Aortic rescue
- Cardiogenic shock rescue (including ECMO support)
- Heart rescue (STEMI)
- PERT rescue - Rapid, comprehensive and advanced care to patients with acute pulmonary embolism
Lung rescue
The lung rescue program offers Mobile ECMO, a lifesaving treatment option to support patients with severe but potentially reversible respiratory failure, such as acute respiratory distress system from flu, pneumonia, drowning, or pancreatitis.
- Emergency pulmonary rescue
Trauma rescue
- Chest trauma – Complex rib (including slipping rib) and sternal fractures, flail chest, scapula and clavicle fractures, pulmonary parenchymal injury, esophageal and tracheal/bronchial injury
- Head trauma
- Oral and maxillofacial trauma, including eye trauma
- Lower extremity trauma*
- Thoracic spine injury
*Including Penn Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center
Specialized services:
- Bloodless medicine
- Cardiology
- Solid oncology
- Medical intensive care unit (MICU)
- Surgical intensive care unit (SICU)
- Neonatal intensive care
- Neurosurgery and spinal surgery
- Vascular surgery
Behavioral health emergencies:
- Call 888-437-1610 (option 1) for transfer to inpatient campus at Princeton House Behavioral Health
Specialized services:
- Medical intensive care unit (MICU)
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- General surgery
- Therapeutic hypothermia
Inpatient transfers for behavioral health emergencies
Princeton House Behavioral Health
To coordinate inpatient transfers to Princeton House Behavioral Health, including those for crisis stabilization care, detox care for alcohol, or benzodiazepine abuse, please call 888-437-1610 (option 1).
Penn Rescue App for EMS teams
Whether it’s used to make one touch calls to Medical Command and ER, or for quick directions to a trauma center, the Penn Rescue app was made to move as fast as you do.
Created specifically for EMS providers in southeast Pennsylvania, the Penn Rescue app quickly gives you key resources, including:
- Alphabetical and color-coded directory of area hospitals (including trauma centers)
- One touch directions to the closest hospital
- Direct dial for Medical Command, notification and ER
- EMS medications cross-referenced to protocols
- Pennsylvania ALS and BLS protocols
- Tools for patient assessment and care
- References for social services
Download Penn Rescue app in Apple App Store or Google Play.
App feedback? Email Penn-Rescue@uphs.upenn.edu.