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

• All visitors will have a health screen on entry and daily on the unit where their child is assigned.
• Only healthy visitors are allowed to visit.  
  • If a parent is unwell, we strongly suggest the parent recovers at home prior to visiting. If a parent who is ill must be present, please: 
    • Wear a mask at all times.
    • Remain in patient room and do not visit hospital common areas.
  • All other visitors with symptoms of illness or recent exposures to communicable diseases will not be permitted to visit until their illness has resolved or the incubation period from their exposure has expired.
• Please use soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands before entering and after exiting the child’s room.
• Adult visitors (18 & older) will be required to show a valid government ID & will receive a hospital-issued badge with photo.
• Visitors not on the approved list will be asked to contact families directly and show their support in other ways – Skype, FaceTime, send a free email greeting card, etc.

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.

Para ver esta información en Español