“Take me to Mayo” sounds like a complete address. It isn’t. Mayo Clinic’s Phoenix hospital campus, the Scottsdale campus and dozens of clinic buildings are spread across different parts of the Valley. The same thing is true at most of the big health systems here.
Getting dropped off at the wrong building is one of the most common reasons patients end up late, and it’s almost always avoidable. Here’s what we’ve learned from driving to these campuses every day.
Know the building, not just the hospital
When you book, the most helpful thing you can give us is the full address of the building, plus the department or suite number. Your appointment reminder, patient portal or referral paperwork usually lists it.
A few examples of why it matters:
- Banner University Medical Center Phoenix on McDowell Road near downtown has a main hospital, a large outpatient area and multiple parking structures.
- Mayo Clinic Hospital in north Phoenix, off Mayo Boulevard, is separate from Mayo’s clinic buildings in Scottsdale.
- Banner Desert Medical Center on Dobson Road in Mesa includes the hospital and a number of medical office buildings around it.
- HonorHealth runs several hospital campuses in Scottsdale and north Phoenix, and “HonorHealth Scottsdale” can mean Osborn, Shea or Thompson Peak.
If you’re unsure, call the office and ask which entrance to use. They get that question all the time.
Check-in time is not appointment time
Big campuses often ask patients to arrive 15 to 30 minutes early for registration. For imaging, labs or procedures it can be longer. When you book your ride, give us the time you need to be at the check-in desk, not the time on the appointment card. We’ll plan the pickup from there.
Door-to-door, and sometimes further
Parking structures on some of these campuses are a long way from the front door. Being dropped at the entrance saves a lot of walking, but the building itself can still be big. If the department is on the fifth floor at the far end of the hospital, tell us. Our drivers can help riders get inside and to check-in, especially for wheelchair riders and anyone who shouldn’t be walking long hallways alone.
Plan the return trip
Return timing is the hard part at any hospital. Doctors run behind, tests get added, a discharge gets delayed. A few habits make the ride home smoother:
- Keep your phone charged and with you.
- Let the front desk or nurse know a transport is coming back for you.
- Call us when you’re finished or close to finished, so we can send the vehicle.
- For hospital discharges, have a family member or case manager stay in touch with us too.
If you’re being discharged after an inpatient stay, our post on hospital discharge transportation covers what to have ready.
Bring the right paperwork
Carry your photo ID, insurance card, medication list and any orders or referrals. For procedures, bring the pre-op instructions the office gave you. If you’ll be discharged with new prescriptions or equipment, the driver can help carry it to the vehicle.
Skip the parking entirely
One of the least talked about benefits of scheduled transport is not having to deal with hospital parking. No hunting for a spot in a garage, no walking back across the lot in the heat after a long appointment, no parking fees. For family members, it also means they can meet their loved one inside without needing to drop them off first.
We drive to all of them
Saguaro serves hospitals and medical campuses across Phoenix, Tempe and the East Valley, including Banner, HonorHealth, Mayo Clinic, Dignity Health, Valleywise and the VA. For ambulatory, wheelchair or stretcher rides, call (480) 857-5906 or book online.
