Can patients choose their own hospital for surgery?

So, there’s a legitimate chance I might end up on the operating table. I have an abdominal ultrasound scheduled for next week. Since I have some polyps on my gallbladder, if they’ve grown beyond the 7mm mark seen earlier this year to over 10mm, surgery will be required. At least, that's what my doctor told me during my initial scan back in January.

I’m hoping it doesn't come to that, but if it does—and frankly, I don't have much faith in the local specialists here in Tampa—do I have the right to request that the procedure be performed at a major medical center in Washington, D.C.?

You got

You have the right to seek treatment at any hospital in the US, provided that your referral is specifically addressed to that facility.

Who needs to issue me that referral? A specialist?

The way it works is your primary care physician handles all the referrals, including anything surgical, based entirely on what the specialist puts in their report. Once the specialist recommends a procedure, you just head back to your GP and tell them, "I'd like to have this done at Mayo Clinic," or whatever hospital you've chosen, and they'll issue the referral for that specific facility.

The referral slips don't even list the specific hospital where you're supposed to go🤷
At least, not on the ones my doctor hands me...
It’s enough to just show up at whichever hospital you want with the referral in hand.

You think I wouldn't?
I mean, my profile used to say "Varaždin Hospital"—and there was just no way I could, you know, caricature that into Rib...

Unfortunately, in practice—take Washington, D.C., for example—there’s this rigid division based on city districts. I’ve actually heard stories where people were basically turned away from their way home, being told, "You don't belong to this hospital's jurisdiction because of where you live."

dustymarlin10 said:She's asking how that works?
For example, mine listed "Varaždin Hospital"—and I couldn't, sorry, transfer over to the Mayo Clinic...

Are you asking them to leave it blank, or just list the department if they really insist on putting something down?

Angela Wright said:Unfortunately, in practice—like in Washington, D.C.—they divide things up by city districts. I've actually heard stories where people were sent home being told, "You don't belong to this hospital based on your residential area."

It’s true they try to brush you off like that, but they aren't in the right!
My usual response is just, "Oh, really? Could you show me where that says that, or at least tell me which law it is? I mean, not just some internal receptionist rulebook."
Supposedly that municipal thing only applies to emergency rooms, but even then, nobody ever sent me home when I showed up at the wrong hospital!

fadedmarlin402 said:You have the right to receive treatment at any hospital in the US, but the referral must be addressed to them.

That isn't necessary. That hasn't been the case for years.

jadesailor14 said:It’s true they kick you out like that, but they aren't exactly in the right.
My internal reaction is always just, "Oh really? Well then, why don't you show me—or at least tell me where it says that exactly in actual law? I'm talking about legal statutes, not some random internal policy from a hospital administrator."
Supposedly, those rules regarding local municipalities only apply to emergency services, but even then, nobody ever sent me home when I accidentally showed up at the wrong hospital.

Give me a break, honey; not everyone is as cynical as you and me.😁
What’s an old man or a grandmother supposed to do when the doctor treats his word like it's the freaking Bible?

jadesailor14 said:Are you asking them to just leave it blank, or should they just list the department if they absolutely insist on writing something?

It’s true they try to shake you down like that, but they aren't actually in the right.
My typical response is just, "Oh, really? Well, could you please show me—or at least tell me—exactly where that's written in the law? I'm talking about actual statutes, not some internal policy manual from the hospital."
Supposedly that rule regarding municipalities only applies to the ER, but even then, nobody ever sent me home, even when I showed up at the wrong hospital by mistake.

lol, why on earth would that apply to the ER🤣? It's not like you get to choose where an emergency happens—whether it's at your grandma's house, on vacation at the beach, or out hiking in the mountains.
For what it's worth, my dentist is in my hometown, but my OB-GYN and my primary care doctor are several hundred miles away in different counties altogether. I've been to five or six different ERs over the years, and I have never once noticed anyone giving a damn about which county I officially reside in.
You can pretty much seek care wherever you want; the only thing is, they'll only cover travel expenses if you truly have absolutely nothing available nearby.
At the end of the day, think about how many people travel from huge cities like New York or Chicago to smaller towns specifically for specialized exams, screenings, or surgeries just to avoid the massive crowds.

Emergency services apply if you're being transported by the US Navy.
Otherwise, you'll just be processed at whatever ER you show up to via private transport.

silverpuma542 said:lol, why on earth would that apply to an ER visit? 🤣It’s kind of like deciding where you'd rather have an emergency happen—would you pick at your grandma's house, out by the coast, or up in the mountains? Personally, I'd take the mountains any day!
.....

I was chatting with Angela Wright earlier, and I totally lost track of time—I completely forgot that some people just need things laid out for them! 😬
Just to give you the full picture—if you show up on your own at the emergency surgery ward at a hospital like Mercy in a neighborhood like downtown, but you actually live over in a suburb like Silver Spring, they’ll just end up sending you straight over to a different facility like Mount Sinai instead!
I'm guessing you weren't sent out on duty from somewhere like Chicago or Phoenix! 😬 But that's just how they handle things within Washington, D.C.!

Angela Wright said:Sadly, in reality—like in Washington, D.C.—they split things up by neighborhood. I’ve actually heard stories about people being sent home because they were told, "You don't belong at this hospital based on where you live."

That's a lie. If you have a referral, you can go wherever. I guess maybe ERs are divided by district, but honestly, only the emergency rooms act like that...

I’ve been admitted everywhere I’ve ever wanted to go, honestly. And those referrals? They never even specified which hospital or facility they were actually for...

slysurfer14 said:That's a lie. Even if you have a referral, they'll direct you wherever they want. Emergency rooms are supposed to be divided by district, but the ER is the only department actually following those rules...

Then you've got oncology patients, who are the glaring exception here. ☕