Dayton Children’s Hosp. Dayton Ohio: Pediatric Care & Info

Level I Pediatric Trauma Center

Dayton Children’s describes its trauma program as the region’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons. This is the highest pediatric trauma-center designation and means pediatric surgery, emergency medicine, orthopedics, neurosurgery, anesthesiology and other specialist resources can be mobilized for seriously injured children.

Examples of problems Dayton Children’s lists for emergency care

• Difficulty breathing.
• Swallowed objects.
• Severe abdominal/stomach pain.
• Major injuries.
• Broken bones.
• Fever above 100.4°F in an infant younger than 3 months.
• Major decrease in activity level.
• Serious asthma symptoms.
• Concussion or significant head injury.

No appointment is required

Emergency care is available without an appointment. Patients are prioritized based on clinical urgency, not simply by arrival time.

What to bring to the ER when possible

• Your child’s insurance card.
• Parent/guardian photo identification.
• Your child’s Social Security number if available and needed for registration.
• Name and phone number of your child’s pediatrician or primary-care doctor.
• List of allergies.
• Current medication list.

The hospital states that its online wait-time estimates are updated every minute. The displayed number estimates how long it takes for a patient to be placed in an exam room.

There may still be additional waiting after the child enters an exam room before the provider completes the evaluation.

The crisis center is located in the Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness. Trained behavioral-health clinicians assess the child and connect the family with an appropriate level of care, which may include inpatient treatment, day treatment or outpatient services.

Parking

Dayton Children’s directs families to the free surface parking lot directly in front of the Mathile Center at 860 Valley Street.

Central scheduling hours

Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Referral fax

Dayton Children’s publishes 937-641-4500 for referral forms, available 24 hours, and toll-free fax 866-891-6941.

How to confirm the exact day a doctor is at main campus

Infectious Disease Clinic

Dayton Children’s currently publishes the following appointment sessions:

• Monday afternoons
• Tuesday mornings
• Wednesday afternoons

A physician referral is required before scheduling. The clinic number is 937-641-3329. A new-patient visit is described as taking about 45 minutes; follow-up visits are generally around 30 minutes.

Hematology/Oncology Clinic

Current clinic guidance lists appointments: Monday–Friday, 8:45 a.m.–4 p.m.

Appointment changes or cancellations: 937-641-3111. Patients arriving more than 15 minutes late may need to be worked into a later slot or rescheduled.

Outpatient Oncology Infusion Room

Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Phone: 937-641-5559.

Dayton Children’s states that it is the only hospital in the region with board-certified pediatric intensivists available around the clock. The critical-care team works with more than 50 pediatric subspecialties.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

The PICU cares for critically ill or seriously injured children requiring advanced monitoring, respiratory support, complex treatment or intensive nursing care.

Transitional Care Unit

The TCU is designed for children who are medically complex, rely on medical technology or need close observation before they are ready for home.

TCU patients can include children with feeding tubes, ventilators or tracheostomies, children recovering after airway reconstruction, and children recovering from traumatic injury, stroke or frequent seizures.

Important surgery phone numbers

What families should know before surgery

• Confirm whether a pre-surgical physical is required.
• Keep your child’s medication list ready.
• Arrange transportation home when sedation or anesthesia is involved.
• Arrange child care for siblings when needed.
• Follow the exact food/drink fasting instructions provided by the surgery team.
• Tell the surgery team if your child develops fever, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, congestion or rash close to surgery.
• Bring your child’s insurance card.

Dayton Children’s advises families to call 937-641-4269 if they have not received their pre-surgery call by after 4 p.m. on the day before the procedure.

Possible separate surgery bills

Dayton Children’s warns families that surgical care can generate more than one bill, including a hospital bill, surgeon bill and anesthesia-related professional bill.

Why the emergency bill varies

An Emergency Department visit can include:

• Hospital emergency facility charge.
• Emergency physician professional charge.
• Laboratory testing.
• X-rays or other imaging.
• Medication.
• Supplies and procedures.
• Specialist consultations.
• Ambulance services when applicable.
• Observation or hospital admission.

Emergency physician billing

Dayton Children’s states that an ED visit may result in multiple bills. Its emergency-medicine guidance specifically notes that TEAMHealth bills for provider services in the Emergency Department. Questions about a TEAMHealth bill can be directed to 888-952-6772.

Hospital-bill questions

Dayton Children’s Patient Accounts: 937-641-3555.
Ohio toll-free: 800-228-4594.

Doctor consultation fees

A pediatric cardiology consultation, new gastroenterology visit, surgical consultation, therapy visit and routine follow-up can all use different billing codes. Your out-of-pocket amount depends on the service and insurance benefits.

Before a planned appointment or procedure

1. Ask the clinic for the exact service/procedure being scheduled.
2. Ask whether physician and hospital/facility fees are separate.
3. Check the child’s insurance network and authorization rules.
4. Ask Dayton Children’s for an estimate when available.
5. If the amount is unaffordable, speak with a financial counselor before cancelling needed planned care.

Multiple bills after the ER

Dayton Children’s explains that families may receive separate bills from different parties depending on the services used, including the attending physician, radiology or ambulance provider.

Before paying a bill you do not understand

1. Match the service date to the hospital or clinic visit.
2. Compare it with your insurance Explanation of Benefits.
3. Determine whether it is a hospital or professional-provider bill.
4. Call Patient Accounts for a breakdown if necessary.
5. Ask about payment arrangements or financial assistance if affordability is a problem.

MyChart also offers online bill-payment functionality for eligible guarantor accounts.

Current assistance scale in the hospital policy

The hospital policy also states that uninsured patients above 400% FPL may qualify for a discount. Eligibility depends on the current policy, family size, income, insurance status and other program requirements.

Important exclusions

The hospital policy says some charges may not be covered by its Financial Assistance Policy, including certain:

• Physician fees.
• Copays.
• Anesthesiology fees.
• Radiology interpretation fees.
• Elective services such as some cosmetic procedures.

How to apply

Financial assistance application contact

Mail:
Dayton Children’s Hospital
Patient Family Financial Advocate
Department 1A
One Children’s Plaza
Dayton, OH 45404-1815

Fax: 937-641-6101
Email: FinancialAdvocates@childrensdayton.org

The policy states that translated Financial Assistance Policy materials are available in English, Spanish and Russian.

MyChart support

877-355-3155 for technical support, usernames, passwords, activation links and lockouts.

Dayton Children’s states that MyChart messages generally receive a reply within 1–3 business days, so it should not be used for urgent problems.

Families can begin with MyChart when they need information that is already available electronically. A formal authorization may be required for records being sent to a different provider, school, lawyer, insurer or another person.

Hospital information on current authorization forms

When a signed release is especially important

• Sending medical information to another provider.
• School forms or school-health communication.
• Legal requests.
• Insurance/disability requests.
• Release to a person who is not otherwise legally authorized.
• Records containing specially protected information.

Mathile Center parking

For mental-health services at 860 Valley Street, park in the free surface lot in front of the building.

Main hospital campus navigation

Dayton Children’s official campus materials identify:

• Main hospital entrance.
• Separate Emergency Department entrance.
• Free visitor parking garage.
• Free emergency parking.
• Welcome Center.
• Admitting.
• Imaging.
• Laboratory.
• Pharmacy.
• Cafeteria/food areas.
• Gift shop.

Dayton Children’s inpatient family guidance encourages parents and legal guardians to stay with their hospitalized child when possible.

Published inpatient visitor guidance

• Family/friend visiting hours are generally listed as 8 a.m.–8 p.m. in published inpatient guidance.
• Visitors should check in and obtain an ID badge.
• Bring photo identification for visitor badging.
• Visitors coming outside normal hours should use the main entrance and check with the nursing unit.
• Do not visit when sick.
• Unit rules can become more restrictive during contagious-disease outbreaks.

Overnight stay for parents

Dayton Children’s encourages a parent or caregiver to stay with an inpatient child when appropriate. Inpatient rooms may provide sleeper accommodations for one caregiver, depending on the unit and clinical situation.

Published inpatient guidance states that siblings are not allowed to stay overnight in inpatient units.

Ronald McDonald House location

555 Valley Street, Dayton, OH 45404, across from the Dayton Children’s main-campus area.

Families traveling the greatest distance or caring for a seriously ill child may receive priority when space is limited.