Do you know:
For answers to these and other common questions, see the frequently asked questions about our general disability resources below. You can also see disability-specific FAQ's by looking below the general FAQ's on this page.
If you have any questions that aren't addressed on this page, please contact us.
No. The health care provider or facility provides accommodations free of charge.
If you require help, ask when scheduling hospital stays or appointments (as well as follow-up appointments):
Hospital Admissions
Surgical Scheduling
Office Visits
If you are scheduling a visit or stay at a UPMC hospital, you can call the Disabilities Resource Center to learn more about taking part in the Let Us Help You (LUHU) program. Through this patient care coordination program, the Center will work with you and the hospital to pre-schedule communication assistance and accommodations ahead of your stay or visit.
Call the Center at 412-605-1483 for more information.
Tell the staff right away if you feel that your disability related needs are not being met, and ask for other help.
MyUPMC
MyUPMC is an electronic portal to help you communicate with your doctor’s office and access your medical records through your computer or tablet.
Ask a person on your health care team, such as the:
Make sure you know who you are asking for help. Not all UPMC employees who are wearing medical scrubs or a uniform are the right people to help you.
If an accommodation is needed to give equal access to public services or to take part in a health care experience, reasonable accommodations will be given at no cost. These may include a sign language interpreter, help with navigation, large print materials, and so on.
What types of communication assistance or accommodation are available at UPMC hospitals?
What types of communication assistance or accommodation are available at UPMC hospitals?
What types of communication assistance are available at UPMC hospitals?
Can I use a family member or a friend as an interpreter?
What else can I do to make sure I get the help that I need?
Accommodation Card - If you have hearing loss, make a HealthBridges Accommodation Card by clicking here. Complete and print the card so you can give it to your health care team in case you can’t communicate due to your medical issue.
Can I bring my assistive technology device or service animal to the hospital with me?
How can I stop getting automated appointment reminders by phone?
Tell the front desk staff if you do not want to get automated messages from AudioCare. MyUPMC is a great way to communicate with your doctor’s office about appointments, prescriptions, and test results.
What types of communication assistance or accommodations are available at UPMC hospitals?
What types of accommodations are available at UPMC hospitals?
UPMC is committed to giving the best care possible to patients who have a service animal, making sure that all patients, visitors, and guests have equal access to health care.
Can I bring my service animal to the hospital with me?
Yes. Service animals are allowed in the hospital unless the animal is not under control and the owner/handler does not take strong, useful action to control it. All service animals must be housebroken.
Can my service animal accompany me in all areas of the hospital?
Yes. Service animals are allowed anywhere the general public is allowed. However, this does not apply to sterile settings such as a Burn Unit, Operating Room or Intensive Care Unit.
Will hospital staff help to care for my service animal?
No. If you are unable to care for the animal yourself, you must choose another person to feed, water, and toilet the animal during your stay. Staff are not responsible.
What if I am unable to care for my service animal and cannot choose another person to do so?
If there is nobody to care for the animal, the animal will have to be taken home or temporarily placed in a kennel. If taken to a kennel, it is at owner’s expense.
Are there any other reasons I may not be able to have my service animal at the hospital?
Yes. If the service animal is aggressive, growling or otherwise not under control of its owner/handler, it will not be permitted to stay. It will also not be permitted to stay if it is not housebroken.
Will staff ask me questions about my service animal?
Yes. Staff will need to verify that your animal is needed because of your disability and will need to know what tasks it has been trained to perform for you.
Does my service animal have to be on a leash or harness?
Yes. Exceptions can be made if leash/harness interferes with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents the use of those devices. In these cases, animal must be controlled through voice, signal or other effective controls.
Who is permitted to bring a service animal to the hospital?
Both patients and visitors with disabilities are permitted to bring their service animals to the hospital.
What types of communication assistance or accommodation are available at UPMC hospitals?