Visiting Policy
To protect all of our patients, families and staff, we will be screening everyone for flu-like symptoms at all hospital entrances. If you have a patient coming for a scheduled surgery or clinic appointment, we encourage you not to bring siblings.
Read more about H1N1 flu (swine flu) safety.
We consider parents and legal guardians to be part of the health care team. We encourage you to be with your child any time, day or night.
During your absence, an adult relative or friend may be able to be present, or we can try to arrange for a trained volunteer to visit your child during the day. Talk to your child's nurse to make plans.
Adults and children who are ill or have recently been exposed to someone with a cold, flu or other contagious illness are asked not to visit.
Staying overnight
Children are reassured and comforted when a parent can stay in the hospital with them. Most patient rooms have sleeper chairs or sofas for at least one parent or legal guardian.
Patient visiting hours
Siblings, family and friends may visit between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Children under 12 must be with an adult at all times. Children between the ages of 12 and 18 must come with an adult who remains in the building. The charge nurse on the patient's unit can make exceptions to this policy and approve an after-hours visitor pass.
Number of Visitors
Most units allow up to three visitors at a time. Additional visitors may wait in the Cafeteria/Sound Cafe, Family Resource Center, or ask your child's nurse about shared family spaces on the unit.
Badges and identification
For the safety of our patients, Children’s now issues photo name badges to everyone age 12 and older at hospital entrances. When you arrive at the hospital, you will be directed to a greeter who will make you a badge.
To make your badge, greeters can scan a driver's license or another photo ID, or take your picture. We only use your information to make a hospital badge. We do not share it with anyone, as part of our promise to keep your information private. If you are coming for an appointment, give yourself a few extra minutes to get your badge.
Only entrust your child to a staff member or volunteer wearing a Children’s photo ID badge.
Flowers and Balloons
Gift deliveries from outside vendors are delivered to the hospital greeter desks, where the delivery is accepted and logged in at the desk. When available, a volunteer will bring the delivery to the patient room from the desk.
If there are questions about the receipt of a delivery, please call the greeter supervisor at 206-987-1510. Visitors to patients may take gifts directly to the patient when visiting.
Some units restrict what gifts may be accepted by patients on those units:
- Intensive Care Units: No live flowers or any kind of balloon. A small stuffed animal is a good option for gifts to patients in these areas.
- Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Unit: No live flowers.
Deliveries made to the hospital that cannot be allowed in the units will either be kept at the Intensive Care unit coordinator's desk, or will be placed in a storeroom near one of the greeter desks, once the patient's family has been notified of the gift delivery.
Mylar (foil type) balloons are allowed in all units except in the intensive care unit and may be purchased in the hospital gift shop on the 1st floor of the Giraffe zone. Latex balloons are not allowed due to allergy and choking hazards. For health reasons, some units do not allow live plants or cut flowers.