When support is needed, REACH.
A free, voluntary 24/7 service that coordinates acute medical care transfers for Arizona's rural, Indian Health Service, tribally operated (PL 93-638) and critical access hospitals.
One call. We take it from there.
Referring teams make one call. Our coordinators handle the rest.
1
We find the bed
We make the placement calls and follow up until your patient is placed.
2
We connect practitioners
We connect practitioners so your team can stay at the bedside.
3
We match the specialty
We go to your preferred destination, or start with the closest available facility that has the specialty your patient needs.
4
We report back
We give referring hospitals reporting on their transfer trends and unmet needs.
Impact at a glance
23,762
transfer requests coordinated
90%
accepted (21,360 requests)
1.5 hrs
median time to secure placement
30
eligible hospitals across Central, Northern, Southern and Western Arizona
As of Sept. 30, 2026, program to date since Dec. 13, 2022. Source: AZ REACH Quarterly Report, Q1 FY2026-27.
Born from the Arizona Surge Line
AZ REACH grew out of the Arizona Surge Line, the centralized transfer center that load-leveled Arizona hospitals and moved patients to the care they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center (AZPDIC) at the University of Arizona developed AZ REACH so rural hospitals could keep that support for every condition, not just COVID.
COVID-19 pandemic
The Arizona Surge Line balances patient loads across Arizona hospitals.
Dec. 2022
AZ REACH begins coordinating transfers for rural, tribal and critical access hospitals.
2026
AZ REACH passes 20,000 transfer referrals.
Latest news
Feb. 17, 2026
AZ REACH passes 20,000 transfer referrals
Aug. 19, 2025