Thank you for choosing Huntsman Cancer Institute for your care. You are in good hands.
The time spent waiting for your first appointment can be full of questions and concerns. The information here will help you prepare.
Getting a Second Opinion
All patients can benefit from getting a second opinion from one of our cancer specialists. Make an appointment online today or call 801-587-7000.
Preparing For Your First Appointment
Preparing for your first appointment can be overwhelming. To best support our patients, you will work with an oncology patient coordinator to verify your current insurance benefits and determine next steps, if needed. You will also be assigned a patient financial advocate who will work with you to determine the cost for treatment and payment options.
Oncology Patient Coordinators
This is your first point of contact at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Oncology patient coordinators help you with these important services:
- Arrange appointments with your health care team
- Check your insurance coverage
- Set up appointments with financial counselors
- Make sure all paperwork and medical records are collected and on file
- Let you know our current visitor policies
If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you can learn more about questions to ask your doctor about cancer before your appointment.
Need an Interpreter?
Huntsman Cancer Institute is dedicated to making sure all patients receive the same level of care and get answers to all of their important questions, no matter what language they speak. Interpreters are available for patients and visitors that need assistance in languages other than English.
If a patient needs an interpreter for an appointment, please notify the clinic when scheduling an appointment.
Call 801-581-7169 (1-7169 from a hospital phone) any time of day for Spanish or other language interpreters.
Your First Appointment
Please plan at least one hour for your appointment. Some first-time visits may last a few hours.
- Step-by-step driving instructions and maps
- Options for buses, taxis, and more
- If you are coming from a long distance, find places to stay or contact one of our dedicated lodging team members at HCILodging@hci.utah.edu or 801-646-4305
Please note: For the safety of our cancer patients, children under age 14 are not allowed in clinic areas. But they are always welcome in public spaces such as the first floor lobby and sixth floor restaurants.
What You Should Bring
Being prepared can help make your first appointment at Huntsman Cancer Institute as easy and stress-free as it can be. Here's a list of things to bring:
- Photo ID and insurance cards
- Copayment if your insurance requires one via one of the following payment types:
- Cash
- Checks
- VISA
- MasterCard
- American Express
- You can also make payments via MyChart
- List of current prescription and over-the-counter medications and their dosages, including vitamins and herbal remedies (or just bring the bottles if it’s easier)
- Your completed New Patient Form that will be sent to you via email or MyChart
- Reply to the message with your completed form or print it and bring it with you
- Any questions you have for your care team
- Read Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Cancer for ideas
- An adult family member or friend for support, if you'd like, as you will receive a lot of information on the first visit
- A notebook or voice recorder
- A copy of your advance health care directive if you have one
Advance directives tell your care providers and loved ones your wishes in case you are in a medical situation where you can't speak for yourself. If you would like help filling out your advance directives please contact a member of our Patient and Family Support Team.
Once You Arrive
Wait Time
Occasionally, you may have some time before and between appointments, while waiting for lab work, or during treatments. Huntsman Cancer Institute offers many ways to help pass the time:
- Stop by the Cancer Learning Center, which has thousands of books and audio resources you may borrow for free.
- Visit our dining options, including two restaurants and a Starbucks coffee shop.
- Connect to free Wi-Fi throughout the building.
- Patients and visitors can connect using the UGuest wireless network by joining from their devices and following the onscreen prompts. Employees or faculty members should connect using UConnect.
- Watch the informational digital screens to learn about cancer screening, upcoming events, and other important information.
- Visit the labyrinth on the fourth floor. A labyrinth is an outlined path used for walking meditation.
If you need to leave between appointments, please inform the front desk.
Who you Will Meet
Our cancer care teams bring specialists from different disciplines together. They work side-by-side to develop the care plan that is best for each person. You and your loved ones are an important part of this decision-making partnership.
Learn more about our Care Teams and the roles of each team member. You may meet many of them on your first day, including doctors, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists, and more.
Search for your physician's profile to learn more about them.
Communicating With Your Care Team
Clear communication helps everyone. Here are some helpful tips to assist in communicating clearly.
- Bring a friend or family member with you to take notes at your appointment. That way, you can focus on listening. Use the notes as a reminder later.
- Ask your nurse or doctor to explain medical terms in simple language. Your team needs you to understand, and they will be happy to help you.
- After your doctor or nurse gives you instructions, repeat back what you have heard.
- Ask questions about anything you don’t understand. If you hear something that makes you feel scared, say so. More information from your doctor may help you ease fears.
- Tell your health care team about anything you have done that has helped with your symptoms or made them worse. Your doctor will want to be sure they do not interfere with your treatments.
- Sign up for MyChart.
- MyChart is the best way to communicate with your care team members for non-urgent requests or medication refills. For emergencies, call the clinic or 911.
Lab or Diagnostic Services
Your cancer care team orders the tests needed to help them create your treatment plan. During and after treatment, these tests help your care team check your condition and watch for side effects:
- Blood tests
- Imaging tests such as X-rays, ultrasound, and CT, MRI, and PET scans
- Pathology and gene tests on biopsy tissue
Pharmacy
Pharmacists work with your doctors and nurses to create your medication plan. They compound and dispense the medicines your doctors prescribe. They can give you a lot of information about the drugs you are taking.
The pharmacy at Huntsman Cancer Institute is a certified specialty pharmacy with expertise in cancer-related treatments and insurance options. Our pharmacy is convenient, cost-effective, and offers many services.
- $4 generic medications list
- Flu, pneumonia, COVID-19 and shingles vaccinations
- Most primary and secondary insurances accepted using online billing
- Medicare Part D and medication copay assistance screenings available
- Easy online refills
Our pharmacy is located on the first floor of the Huntsman Cancer Institute hospital. Prescriptions can be filled at the time of your appointment.
Hours
Weekdays: 8 am-7 pm
Saturdays: 8 am-4 pm
Sunday: 10 am-2pm
View Holiday Hours
Contact Us
Phone: 801-585-0172
Toll free: 1-877-724-9291
Locations and Hours
Your appointment could be scheduled at the Huntsman Cancer Institute hospital or one of our community outpatients clinics, based on specialty or diagnosis.
Outpatient Clinics
- Huntsman Cancer Institute Hospital
- Farmington Health Center
- South Jordan Health Center
- Sugar House Health Center
Infusion Centers
Patients can receive chemotherapy from all four of our outpatient clinics. Our infusion centers provide the highest quality of patient care and excellent outcomes.
Contact Information & Hours
Phone
801-587-7000
Toll-free: 1-866-275-0243
Hospital & Clinic Hours
Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm,
except holidays
Infusion Center Hours
Mon-Fri 7 am-5 pm
Saturday and Sunday 7 am-2 pm
Open some holidays
After Your Appointment
Our dedicated team of providers are here for our patients beyond your first appointment. Patients with additional questions after their visits can communicate with their care team through MyChart.
Huntsman Cancer Institute is guided by three core principles of putting patient and community first, coming together for a united effort, and excellence in all we do. Our providers and health care workers strive to meet these principles at each visit with our patients.
After each appointment, you will be sent a patient survey to tell us how we did. Our patients are at the center of everything we do. We value your feedback and want to learn about your experience. We utilize the information shared with us to improve all areas of the patient experience from communication between patients and providers to enhancing programs and services. Comments provided about specific doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants are posted on the provider’s profile page as reviews.