Seattle Children’s Hosp. &: Pediatric Care & Info

Yes. Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center was the hospital’s official name beginning in June 1997. In September 2008, the organization adopted its current name, Seattle Children’s.

The current hospital remains a regional pediatric referral center serving families across Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho and beyond.

Referral fax

Seattle Children’s Emergency Department provides emergency care for babies, children, teens and young adults up to their 21st birthday. An attending pediatric emergency physician is present 24 hours a day.

The ED also has round-the-clock access to Seattle Children’s specialists in more than 30 pediatric specialties and hospital diagnostic services such as MRI, CT and X-ray.

Where to park for the Emergency Department

• Use Forest Garage level P1.
• Take the Forest Garage elevator up to the Emergency Department.
• If your child needs immediate access, families experiencing an emergency may use the curbside ED driveway.
• Emergency/Forest B entrance is open 24 hours.
• Parking is free.

Seattle Children’s asks families to schedule Urgent Care before arriving because walk-in care cannot be guaranteed when demand is high. Same-day appointment slots are released beginning at midnight.

For an in-person Urgent Care visit, arrive approximately 15 minutes before the appointment for check-in.

Why the doctor bill can be different

Seattle Children’s explains that a hospital-based clinic facility charge pays for items such as exam rooms, equipment, supplies and hospital staff. The medical provider’s professional service is billed separately.

What if your child has more than one clinic appointment on the same day?

Seattle Children’s says there is generally only one clinic facility charge per day for multiple clinic appointments. The published multiple-provider facility rate is $200.

What about Medicaid or financial assistance?

Seattle Children’s states that Apple Health/Medicaid and approved Seattle Children’s financial assistance cover the full clinic facility charge, so eligible families do not have a balance for that facility charge.

How much is the Emergency Department?

There is no single fixed Seattle Children’s ER fee that accurately predicts every visit. Emergency costs depend on the level of care, physician services, tests, imaging, medication, procedures and insurance benefits. Seattle Children’s specifically notes that Urgent Care facility charges are much lower than Emergency Department charges.

Seattle Children’s updates its machine-readable standard-charge file approximately twice per year, usually in April and October. The hospital emphasizes that a standard charge is not the same as a family’s expected out-of-pocket cost.

Seattle Children’s participates with many commercial, employer and Medicaid plans, but network status can vary by exact product, benefit tier and service.

Examples currently listed by Seattle Children’s

For certain plans, such as Kaiser, NPN, HMSO or TRICARE, Seattle Children’s tells families to make sure required authorization is in place before scheduling.

Full financial assistance

Seattle Children’s says families at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for full financial assistance when the program requirements are met.

Partial financial assistance

Families with qualifying income from 401% through 599% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for partial assistance. Current discounts range from 55% to 80% of original charges, depending on income level.

Self-pay discount

Seattle Children’s currently offers a 25% self-pay discount on healthcare services when a patient does not have insurance or insurance specifically excludes the service the child needs.

Payment plan

Interest-free monthly payment plans are available. Seattle Children’s says families do not have to complete a credit application and a credit score is not checked to establish the hospital payment plan.

Financial assistance decision

After an application is received, Seattle Children’s says the applicant should receive a letter within approximately 14 days stating whether the application was approved, denied or needs more information.

Free valet

Arriving at night

Forest B remains open 24 hours and is staffed by Security at night. Families arriving after other entrances close should park in Forest Garage and use the Forest lobby from the garage elevators.

2026 campus construction

Seattle Children’s provides a free wheelchair-accessible Guest Services shuttle for eligible patient families traveling between the hospital/Bellevue clinic and major Seattle transportation points including:

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
• Amtrak station.
• Seattle ferry terminals.
• Boeing Field.
• Major intercity bus terminals.

Medicaid transportation

Medicaid-approved families may qualify for transportation help such as taxi rides, bus tickets or gas vouchers. Seattle Children’s recommends contacting the appropriate Medicaid transportation broker at least 5 days before the visit when arranging transportation from home.

Families already on campus can visit the transportation desk on Ocean 8, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.. Social Work transportation help: 206-987-2760, option 7.

Visitor identification

• Everyone age 12 and older receives a photo name badge when entering the hospital.
• Families and visitors must wear the badge while in the hospital.
• Sick visitors are not allowed in hospital areas.

How many caregivers can visit?

Seattle Children’s currently says up to 4 parents, guardians or adult caregivers may be designated. Unit restrictions and the patient’s clinical condition can reduce the number allowed at the bedside at one time.

Who can stay overnight?

Depending on the patient’s condition, available room space and safety needs, two parents or adult caregivers may spend the night. Most patient rooms have a sleeper chair or couch.

Siblings younger than 1 year may stay overnight in many circumstances with a caregiver. Older siblings generally may not stay overnight.

Calling a patient

Call the main hospital at 206-987-2000 and ask for the patient by name rather than room number. Seattle Children’s transfers patient calls between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m..

Pharmacy services

• Take-home prescriptions for Seattle Children’s patients.
• Prescription refills through MyChart.
• Washington-state mail-out service when eligible.
• Specialty-medication support in approved states.
• Prior-authorization assistance.
• Medication counseling.
• Medication disposal kiosk near Forest Outpatient Pharmacy.

Ocean Cafeteria

The Ocean Cafeteria is on level 7 in the Ocean zone. It accepts cash and major credit cards.

Starbucks

Family food storage

Family lounges on most inpatient units have microwaves and refrigerators. Additional microwaves are available near the level-7 cafeteria vending area.

Wi-Fi

Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available in inpatient rooms, family lounges, Ocean Cafeteria and the Family Resource Center. Seattle Children’s says no password is required.

ATM

ATMs are available between Ocean Cafeteria and the Ocean 7 entrance desk and near the River 3 vending area. Seattle Children’s does not charge an ATM fee, although the cardholder’s own bank may.

Formal records request

Mailing address for records

Radiology images

Families can request radiology images through the same authorization process. With an active MyChart account, available radiology results may allow download of reference-quality JPEG images and diagnostic-quality DICOM files.

MyChart is Seattle Children’s free secure patient portal. Eligible patients and legal guardians can use it from a computer, phone or tablet.

MyChart is available to Seattle Children’s patients age 13 and older and to eligible legal guardians of patients treated by Seattle Children’s providers. Access may vary because of patient age and Washington privacy rules.

Family Resource Center

The level-7 Family Resource Center serves inpatient, ambulatory and clinic families. Its family room, kitchenette and washers/dryers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Child Life

Wheelchairs, wagons and strollers

Wheelchairs, carts, wagons and strollers are available for patient/family use. Ask at an entrance desk. To reserve a wheelchair before arrival, call 206-987-3360.

Interpreter services

Seattle Children’s provides free interpretation for families who use languages other than English and for Deaf or hard-of-hearing patients and families.

Security is available 24 hours a day.

Security can also provide an escort to your vehicle on request. Families should label personal belongings with the child’s last name.

Seattle Children’s recommends arranging lodging as soon as you know your family will need to travel because some accommodations and financial-support arrangements can take time.

Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House serves qualifying Seattle Children’s families and is located approximately one block from the hospital campus. It offers onsite parking and convenient access to the hospital.

Ronald McDonald House shuttle

A shuttle operates between Seattle Children’s and Ronald McDonald House. Families should request it ahead of time.

• Weekdays 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: Guest Services, 206-987-9330.
• Nights, weekends and holidays: Security, 206-987-2030.

RV / trailer parking

Seattle Children’s has a limited number of reserved RV/trailer spaces with electric and water hookups for eligible current patient families. Eligibility generally includes living at least 45 miles from the hospital and using the RV as the family’s accommodation instead of other lodging.

Call Guest Services at 206-987-9330 to ask about eligibility and availability.