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.
- We make the placement calls and follow up until your patient is placed.
- We connect practitioners so your team can stay at the bedside.
- We go to your preferred destination, or start with the closest available facility that has the specialty your patient needs.
- 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 hours 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.
Latest news
- AZ REACH passes 20,000 transfer referrals (Feb. 17, 2026)
- AZ REACH recognized through national public health honor (June 8, 2026)
- AZ REACH 2024-25 hospital survey results (Aug. 19, 2025)