Chicago Lurie Children’s Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

Diagnostic appointment numbers

How to enter the Emergency Department

The Emergency Care Center is on the second floor. Families can reach it:

• From the Reyes Lobby on the second floor.
• From the first-floor lobby near the Superior Street entrance using the elevators beside Security.

Examples of conditions appropriate for emergency care

• Infant under two months with fever of 100.4°F or higher.
• Severe trouble breathing.
• Severe chest pain.
• Loss of consciousness or fainting.
• Coughing or vomiting blood.
• Severe asthma attack.
• Major trauma or serious head injury.
• Severe dehydration.
• Serious burns.
• Poisoning or suspected ingestion.

Emergency-room fee

Lurie Children’s does not publish one fixed ER total. Emergency charges depend on the child’s clinical evaluation, tests, imaging, medications, procedures, specialist consultations and whether hospitalization is required.

The trauma program treats approximately 1,000 trauma patients per year, ranging from newborns through age 16, with pediatric subspecialists available for complex injuries.

Common trauma cases include

• Head injuries and concussions.
• Serious wounds and lacerations.
• Broken bones and dislocations.
• Chest and abdominal trauma.
• Burns.
• Drowning injuries.
• Falls.
• Vehicle crashes.
• Dog bites.
• Firework injuries.
• Non-accidental trauma.

The Heart Center treats the full range of congenital and acquired heart disease from fetal diagnosis through childhood and adult congenital-heart follow-up.

Programs include

• Congenital heart surgery.
• Cardiac catheterization.
• Electrophysiology.
• Fetal cardiology.
• Advanced cardiac MRI and CT.
• Heart failure care.
• Pediatric heart transplantation.
• Ventricular assist devices.
• Pulmonary hypertension.
• Preventive cardiology.
• Adult congenital heart disease.

Lurie Children’s treats more children with cancer and blood disorders than any other hospital in Illinois. The downtown hospital contains inpatient and outpatient oncology/hematology services plus an ambulatory infusion center.

Clinical programs include

• Leukemia and lymphoma.
• Solid tumors.
• Brain tumors / neuro-oncology.
• Sickle cell disease.
• Hemophilia and bleeding disorders.
• Stem cell transplantation.
• Cellular therapies.
• Cancer-predisposition care.
• Survivorship programs.

Current division leadership includes Robert I. Liem, MD, while Amy L. Walz, MD leads oncology clinical practice and Angela Waanders, MD leads neuro-oncology.

Neurosurgery programs include

• Brain Tumor Program.
• Complex Spine Surgery.
• Epilepsy Surgery.
• Neurovascular Disease and Stroke.
• Spina Bifida Center.
• Hydrocephalus care.
• Chiari malformation treatment.
• Skull-base surgery.
• Functional neurosurgery.
• Brachial Plexus Program.

Current neurosurgical leadership includes Sandi K. Lam, MD, MBA, with surgeons including Tord Alden, MD; Robin Bowman, MD; Michael DeCuypere, MD, PhD; and Jeffrey Raskin, MD.

Operations and programs include

• Appendectomy.
• Gallbladder surgery.
• Neonatal surgery.
• Colorectal surgery.
• Chest-wall surgery.
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
• Esophageal surgery.
• Pediatric surgical oncology.
• Robotic surgery.
• Thyroid surgery.
• Transplant and hepatobiliary surgery.
• Cardiovascular surgery.
• Neurosurgery.
• Orthopedic surgery.

The PICU treats critically ill infants, children and adolescents requiring intensive monitoring and life-support technology.

Advanced PICU therapies include

• ECMO heart/lung support.
• Continuous renal replacement therapy.
• Advanced mechanical ventilation.
• Transplant critical care.
• Sepsis treatment.
• Respiratory-failure care.
• Critical neurological care.
• Postoperative intensive care.
• Major trauma intensive care.

Current Critical Care division leadership includes Raj K. Basu, MD, MS.

Lurie Children’s NICU serves as a regional referral center and receives patients from more than 45 hospitals. Each baby has a private room.

Advanced neonatal care includes

• ECMO.
• High-frequency ventilation.
• Nitric-oxide therapy.
• Neurocritical care.
• Advanced lung-disease management.
• Genetics support.
• Complex neonatal surgery.
• Therapeutic cooling for selected newborn brain injuries.

Neonatology is led by Aaron Hamvas, MD; the Lurie Children’s NICU medical director is James W. Collins Jr., MD, MPH.

The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health coordinates prenatal diagnosis, pediatric subspecialty consultation, delivery planning and advanced treatment for babies diagnosed with complex conditions before birth.

Evaluation may include

• Fetal ultrasound.
• Fetal MRI.
• Fetal echocardiography.
• Genetic evaluation.
• Pediatric surgical consultation.
• Neonatology consultation.
• Delivery and postnatal-care planning.

Pediatric pharmacy services include

• Pediatric-trained pharmacists.
• Medication compounding.
• Medication flavoring.
• Cost-management assistance.
• Prescription transfer to a neighborhood pharmacy.
• Bedside medication delivery where available.

Current visitor rules

• Two healthy parents/guardians may remain at all hours.
• Four additional healthy adult support persons may visit 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
• Support-person lists may generally be changed every 48 hours.
• One additional clergy/spiritual-support visitor may be added at family request.
• Healthy siblings of any age may visit during regular hours when the patient does not require isolation precautions.
• Adult visitors age 18+ must show valid government ID and use the electronic visitor-management system.
• Approved visitors receive a hospital-issued photo badge.
• NICU restrictions may be more limited; ask NICU leadership.

Best garage for most families

The Huron-Superior Garage at 222 E. Huron Street is directly connected to Lurie Children’s by a pedestrian bridge on the second floor.

Public transportation

• CTA Red Line: Chicago & State.
• CTA Brown/Purple Lines: Chicago & Franklin.
• Buses stopping near the hospital include routes 3, 10, 26, 66, 125 and 157.
• Routes 146, 147 and 151 stop near Michigan Avenue and Huron Street.

Sky Café current meal periods

Hospital family spaces

• Crown Sky Garden — 11th floor.
• Panda Cares Center of Hope — 12th floor.
• Pedersen Family Learning Center — 12th floor.
• Anne Searle Bent Interfaith Chapel — 12th floor.
• Family Great Rooms.
• Ronald McDonald House Family Room for eligible critical-care families.

Major commercial networks currently listed include

2026 Illinois Medicaid managed-care plans listed as accepted

• Aetna Better Health.
• Blue Cross Community Family Health Plan.
• CountyCare.
• Meridian Health Plan.
• Molina Healthcare.
• YouthCare.

Before calling for an estimate

• Ask the doctor for the exact service/procedure name.
• Ask for CPT/procedure codes when available.
• Have the child’s insurance card.
• Confirm whether the service is inpatient or outpatient.
• Confirm whether anesthesia, radiology or other professional services are expected.

Why there can still be more than one charge

A hospital outpatient visit may include:

• A hospital/facility bill.
• A physician professional bill.
• Additional charges for imaging, laboratory work, therapies or procedures.
• Potential independent-provider charges when a clinician is not part of the hospital/medical-group policy.

Copays, coinsurance and deductibles may be requested at check-in.

Financial assistance can include:

• Public-aid application support for eligible inpatients.
• Referrals to state programs.
• Payment arrangements for deductibles and coinsurance.
• Financial assistance based on documented need.
• Discounts for qualifying uninsured families.
• Charity Care.

Current copying fees published by Lurie Children’s

Family Services teams include social workers, chaplains, Child Life specialists, creative arts therapists and other professionals who can remain involved from diagnosis through discharge.

Families generally need to live more than 15 miles from the hospital to inquire about an overnight Ronald McDonald House room. The current official hospital information notes a suggested $10-per-night donation, subject to room availability and referral.