Visiting Hours & Guidelines

Please note all visitor policies will be evaluated based on COVID-19 conditions. To ensure the health and safety of our patients, families and visitors the following visitor restrictions are effective beginning April 24, 2023. 

Please know additional limitations exist in the NICU. Please speak with NICU leadership for further information.

ANY visitation other than described below must be approved by the unit leadership where the child is located.

Inpatient Visitor Policy

• TWO (2) healthy parents/guardians are allowed to be with their child at all hours.
• TWO (2) additional healthy adult support persons may visit during regular visiting hours of 10 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Support persons may be changed once every 14 days.
• ONE (1) additional healthy Clergy/Spiritual Support person may be added at family request. These visitors are welcome during regular visiting hours and may also be changed once every 14 days.
• When a patient does not need isolation precautions, healthy siblings of any age are allowed to visit during regular visiting hours of 10 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. 
• If a patient requires Airborne or Droplet/Contact Plus (e.g., COVID-19, tuberculosis, measles, chickenpox) precautions, only parents are permitted to visit.
  • When a patient requires other types of isolation precautions, only healthy siblings 12 years old and older may visit during regular visiting hours.
• A limited number of people may be on the inpatient floors or in the patient rooms at one time. 
• ALL visitors waiting to visit should wait on the 1^st or 11^th floors as there are no waiting areas located on the inpatient floors.
  • Acute Care Floors (17, 19, 20, 21) a total of FOUR (4) people are allowed on the patient floor and in the patient’s room at one time.
  • Critical Care Floors (16 & 22) THREE (3) people are allowed on the patient floor and in the patient’s room at one time.
• To maintain safety, all children must be supervised by an adult at all times. 

Surgical Services Visitor Policy 

• TWO (2) healthy parents/guardians are allowed to accompany each patient.
• No siblings or other children are permitted to attend the visit.

Ambulatory/Outpatient Services Visitor Policy

• TWO (2) healthy parents/guardians are allowed to accompany each patient.
• Healthy patient siblings may attend the visit. No other children besides healthy siblings are permitted to attend the visit.

Other Important Notices

• Parents/caregivers who are not feeling well are strongly suggest to recover at home before visiting the hospital. If a parent or caregiver who is ill must be present, we ask that you:
  
  • Tell your child’s nurse you are sick.
  • Wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth and wash your hands often.
  • Stay in your child’s room. Please do not visit public spaces in the hospital.
• Anyone with symptoms of a viral illness such as fever, sore throat, cough, sneezing, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea, or recent exposure to communicable diseases such as chickenpox, shingles, measles, tuberculosis, mumps or whooping cough/pertussis will not be allowed to visit until their illness has resolved or the incubation period from their exposure has expired.
• To keep our environment safe, adult visitors 18 and older will be required to show valid government-issued identification and will be subject to a background check. Approved visitors will receive a hospital-issued badge with their photo. This badge must be worn at all times throughout the visit.
  
  • Parents will provide a list of approved visitors and only healthy visitors on that list will be allowed to visit.
  • Visitors not on the approved list will be asked to contact families directly.
• Please use soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands before entering and after exiting the child’s room.

Bringing in Food

Ask your nurse before bringing in any food for your child, because:

• Your child may be on a special diet.
• Your child may be scheduled for a test that must be done on an empty stomach.

If your nurse says you may bring in food:

• Do not store leftovers. All food should be eaten or thrown out.
• Do not share food with other patients or staff.
• Wash your hands before you enter your child’s room and as you leave.

Sharing Support

Family and friends who are unable to visit the hospital can still share their support. Suggestions include:

• Video calls using mobile apps such as FaceTime, Zoom, etc.
• Sending a free e-greeting card
• Calling the hospital gift shop at 312.227.3400 to deliver a surprise. Suggestions include:
  
  • Greeting cards
  • Non-latex balloons
  • Toys, games and books
• Please do not send flowers and plants because these are not allowed in many units.

Electronic Visitor Management System

Lurie Children’s has a year-round visitation policy and an electronic visitor management system. Our goal is to ensure the safety of our patient population and staff consistently year round. 

• Adult visitors (18 and older) will be required to show a valid government ID and will be subject to a background check through the Electronic Visitor Management System. Approved visitors will receive a hospital-issued badge with a photo. This badge must be worn at all times.
• Parents will provide a list of approved visitors and only healthy visitors on that list will be allowed to visit.
• Visitors not on the approved list will be asked to contact families directly.

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Reflecting our commitment to family-centered care and the diversity of our families, we respect the diversity of our families and visitors and do not discriminate with regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, religion or national origin.