Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s: Pediatric Care & Info

Lurie Children’s Trauma Center is staffed and equipped for the most seriously injured children. The trauma program treats children from throughout Chicago and the surrounding region.

Injuries commonly treated include

• Head injuries and concussions.
• Serious cuts and wounds.
• Fractures and dislocations.
• Chest and abdominal trauma.
• Burns.
• Drowning-related injury.
• Falls.
• Motor-vehicle injuries.
• Pedestrian and bicycle trauma.
• Dog bites.
• Fireworks injuries.
• Non-accidental trauma.

How to enter the ER

The Emergency Care Center is located off the second-floor Reyes Lobby.

Families arriving from street level can use the Superior Street entrance. Elevators near the first-floor security desk go directly to the Emergency Care Center.

Second opinions

Families with a serious or complex diagnosis can request a second opinion from Lurie Children’s specialists through the appointment system.

The Heart Center treats children from before birth through adulthood with congenital and acquired heart disease.

Heart programs include

• General pediatric cardiology.
• Fetal and neonatal cardiology.
• Congenital heart surgery.
• Cardiac catheterization.
• Electrophysiology.
• Cardiac MRI and CT.
• Pulmonary hypertension.
• Heart failure.
• Ventricular-assist-device care.
• Heart transplantation.
• Adult congenital heart disease.

Regenstein Cardiac Care Unit

The current Regenstein Cardiac Care Unit has 50 beds and can provide intensive care in the same private room throughout a child’s hospitalization.

Cardiac intensivists are available 24 hours a day.

Neurological programs include

• Epilepsy.
• Headache and migraine.
• Neuromuscular disorders.
• Movement disorders.
• Neurogenetics.
• Leukodystrophy.
• Neuro-oncology.
• Complex pediatric neurological conditions.

Pediatric neurosurgery includes

• Brain tumors.
• Hydrocephalus.
• Epilepsy surgery.
• Spina bifida.
• Fetal neurosurgery.
• Pediatric spine surgery.
• Craniofacial conditions.
• Neurovascular disorders.
• Skull-base surgery.
• Spasticity surgery.

Sandi K. Lam, MD, MBA currently serves as Division Head of Neurosurgery.

Programs include

• Leukemia and lymphoma.
• Solid tumors.
• Brain tumors / neuro-oncology.
• Sickle cell disease.
• Thalassemia.
• Bleeding disorders.
• Thrombosis.
• Stem-cell transplantation.
• Cellular therapies.
• CAR T-cell therapy.
• Cancer predisposition.
• Pediatric surgical oncology.
• Survivorship care.

Current cancer leadership

Robert I. Liem, MD is the current Division Head of Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation.

Amy L. Walz, MD serves as Section Head of Oncology and Clinical Practice Director for the Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders.

Conditions and programs include

• Fractures.
• Orthopaedic trauma.
• Sports injuries.
• Scoliosis and spine deformity.
• Hip disorders.
• Clubfoot.
• Hand and upper-extremity disorders.
• Limb differences.
• Neuromuscular orthopaedics.
• Orthopaedic oncology.

Erik C. King, MD, MS currently leads the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine.

Before the visit

• Ask whether prior imaging should be transferred.
• Bring a current medication list.
• Confirm insurance referral rules.
• Confirm the exact clinic location.

Surgical services include

• General pediatric surgery.
• Cardiovascular-thoracic surgery.
• Neurosurgery.
• Orthopaedic surgery.
• ENT surgery.
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery.
• Urologic surgery.
• Transplant surgery.
• Pediatric surgical oncology.
• Colorectal surgery.
• Minimally invasive surgery.

Before surgery

• Follow the surgery team’s fasting instructions exactly.
• Ask which prescription medicines should be taken or held.
• Bring parent/guardian identification.
• Bring insurance information.
• Bring guardianship documents when applicable.
• Confirm arrival time and floor.
• Arrange transportation after anesthesia when instructed.

Lefkovsky Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

The PICU provides care for critically ill children who need close monitoring, ventilator support or advanced treatments.

Available critical-care therapies include:

• ECMO.
• Continuous renal replacement therapy.
• Advanced ventilation.
• Trauma critical care.
• Complex transplant care.
• Postoperative intensive care.

Level IV NICU

Lurie Children’s current neonatal program describes a 64-bed Level IV NICU, the highest level of neonatal care. The division cares for more than 2,000 infants annually across its neonatal services.

Two bridges connect Lurie Children’s with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital, helping facilitate rapid transfer when newborns require highly specialized pediatric care.

Transplant care includes

• Heart transplantation.
• Kidney transplantation.
• Liver transplantation.
• Intestinal transplantation.
• Stem-cell / bone-marrow transplantation.
• Cellular therapy.

Heart transplantation

Lurie Children’s Heart Center operates the only pediatric heart-transplant program in Illinois.

Philip Thrush, MD currently serves as Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Program.

Lurie Children’s Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health provides evaluation and treatment for children and adolescents with psychiatric, emotional and developmental needs.

Programs include care for conditions such as:

• Anxiety disorders.
• Depression.
• OCD.
• Tic disorders.
• Complex behavioral conditions.
• Acute psychiatric illness requiring hospital care.

MRI scheduling

Existing Lurie Children’s MyChart patients may be able to self-schedule eligible MRI examinations through MyChart.

Families without an active MyChart account can call 312-227-4277 to schedule.

Before imaging

• Confirm whether an appointment is required.
• Confirm the provider order is on file.
• Ask about fasting if sedation is planned.
• Tell the team about implanted devices before MRI.
• Bring prior imaging when requested.
• Follow contrast or sedation instructions exactly.

Sweat testing must be scheduled in advance at 312-227-6350.

Pediatric pharmacy services include

• Prescription filling before discharge.
• Bedside prescription delivery.
• Pediatric-trained pharmacists.
• Medication compounding.
• Medication flavoring.
• Help managing medication costs.
• Prescription transfer to a neighborhood pharmacy.

Walgreens also provides 24/7 pharmacist support through its national support channels outside the hospital counter’s published hours.

A hospital bill may include

• Facility services.
• Nursing.
• Laboratory testing.
• Imaging.
• Medication.
• Medical supplies.
• Procedures.
• Surgery.
• Intensive-care services.

Professional charges

Physician, surgeon, anesthesiology, radiology and other professional services may generate separate charges from the hospital facility bill.

Lurie Children’s participates with many commercial health plans, Illinois Medicaid managed-care plans and marketplace products, but coverage varies by exact plan, service and provider.

Before scheduled care, verify

• Is Lurie Children’s Hospital in-network?
• Is the specific Lurie Children’s physician in-network?
• Does the plan require a primary-care referral?
• Is prior authorization required?
• What deductible remains?
• What specialist copay applies?
• What coinsurance applies to hospital outpatient care?
• Will imaging or anesthesia create separate charges?

Lurie Children’s provides several forms of financial support for qualifying families.

Assistance can include

• Help applying for available public aid.
• Referrals to eligible Illinois assistance programs.
• Payment arrangements.
• Payment plans.
• Financial assistance based on documented need.
• Discounts for qualifying uninsured patients.

Application timeline

Families may apply beginning on the date care is first provided and through 240 days after the first post-discharge billing statement for that care.

Who is covered by the policy?

The current policy applies to:

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
• Lurie Children’s Medical Group, Inc.

Huron-Superior Garage

This is the primary connected parking garage for Lurie Children’s families.

Current validated self-parking rates

Valet rates

Current valet hours are Monday–Friday, 5:30 a.m.–9 p.m.. Stays longer than 24 hours incur additional parking charges.

Current inpatient rules

• Two healthy parents/guardians can be present at all hours.
• Four additional healthy adult support people may visit during 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• For this policy, adult visitors are age 16 or older.
• A separate clergy/spiritual-support person may be identified.
• Healthy siblings can visit during regular visiting hours when the patient is not under certain isolation precautions.
• NICU has additional restrictions.

How many people can be in the room?

• Acute-care floors: up to four people total on the floor/in the room at one time.
• Critical-care floors: up to three people total at one time.

Surgery visitors

Two healthy parents/guardians may accompany a surgical patient. Siblings and other children are not permitted in the surgical visit/waiting process under the current policy.

Outpatient appointments

Two healthy parents/guardians may accompany the child. Healthy patient siblings may also attend outpatient visits.

Ways to access records

• View available information through MyChart.
• Submit an Authorization for Release of Patient Information.
• Fax the authorization.
• Mail the authorization.
• Submit it in person to Health Information Management when appropriate.

How long does a record request take?

Lurie Children’s asks families to allow approximately 3–5 business days for processing of many requests and notes that copies are typically completed within 10 business days.

Copies sent to another healthcare provider

Personal copies may be subject to legally permitted copy charges.

Parent proxy access

Parents or legal guardians can request MyChart proxy access for children under age 18.

Ages 0–11

Eligible parents/guardians generally receive access to the available portal features and clinical information.

Ages 12–17

Parents receive standard proxy access because state and federal privacy laws restrict certain adolescent information. Enhanced access requires additional consent.

Teen account

Patients ages 13–17 can request their own Teen MyChart account through their clinic.

International patients

International Patient Services can coordinate clinical review, financial arrangements, appointments and travel planning after the patient is accepted for treatment.