Children’s Philadelphia Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

CHOP describes its Main Building as the nation’s first hospital devoted exclusively to children. Families with complex pediatric conditions travel to Philadelphia from across the United States and internationally for specialty and subspecialty care.

Key Philadelphia Campus buildings

CHOP’s Philadelphia Emergency Department is on the first floor of the Main Building and is staffed by clinicians trained specifically in pediatric emergency medicine. On-site radiology is available, and the department can provide sedation for appropriate procedures.

If someone is dropping you off

A patient may enter through the Main Hospital front entrance at 3401 Civic Center Boulevard or may be dropped at the Emergency Department walk-in entrance in the ambulance-bay area near Civic Center Boulevard and East Service Drive.

Emergency parking

Families arriving by car for the Emergency Department should use Main Hospital Parking Garage A. Garage A is intended for Emergency Department and same-day surgery families.

What happens in the ER?

Emergency fee

CHOP does not publish one fixed “ER visit price” because emergency costs depend on the services actually required. An emergency bill may include:

• Emergency physician evaluation
• Hospital/facility services
• Laboratory work
• X-rays or other imaging
• Medication
• Procedures
• Sedation
• Specialty consultation
• Observation or admission
• Insurance deductible, copay or coinsurance

Common specialty appointment numbers

What should you bring to an outpatient appointment?

• Doctor’s name, department and building/location
• Referring physician name and phone
• Primary/family physician information
• Insurance card
• Required insurance referral or prior authorization
• Immunization records when relevant
• Requested outside medical records
• Requested X-rays or laboratory results
• Current medication list
• Questions for the specialist
• State ID for adult visitor badging

CHOP does not publish one hospital-wide consultation price that applies to every physician, because a patient’s actual cost depends on the specialty, service, location, insurance contract, deductible, copay, coinsurance and any additional testing or procedures.

How to get an estimate before scheduled care

Emergency costs

There is no single fixed CHOP ER fee. Emergency care may involve facility services, professional evaluation, imaging, laboratory testing, medication, procedures or hospital admission.

CHOP participates with many commercial, Medicaid and other health plans, but participation may vary by product, provider, state and service. Current examples on CHOP’s participating-plan information include:

Behavioral-health insurance can be different

CHOP publishes a separate behavioral-health participating-plan list because mental-health network participation can differ from medical benefits.

Core current eligibility requirements

CHOP’s current financial-assistance summary states that a family generally must:

• Have household income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
• Be uninsured or insured by a health plan that participates with CHOP.
• Reside within CHOP’s Primary Service Area.
• Cooperate with applications for Medicaid, CHIP or other state programs when potentially eligible.
• Complete the CHOP Financial Assistance Application and provide required documents.

Family Health Coverage Program

Family Health Coverage coordinators can help uninsured and underinsured families explore Medicaid, CHIP, CHOP financial assistance and other available programs.

Online bill payment

CHOP allows families to pay eligible hospital, physician and Home Care bills online. Hospital and physician bill lookup generally uses the child’s Guarantor Number. Home Care bill lookup uses the child’s Medical Record Number.

MyCHOP users can also view statements and other billing information inside the portal. Guest payment is available for eligible bills without creating a MyCHOP account.

MyCHOP is Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s secure patient portal. Families can use it for many routine healthcare and administrative tasks.

Two-step authentication

CHOP uses multifactor authentication. After the password is entered, MyCHOP may send a one-time code by text message or email.

On a trusted personal device or browser, selecting the option to skip the verification step next time can prevent another security-code prompt for approximately 90 days.

What HIM handles

CHOP’s Health Information Management department handles records for inpatient services at the Philadelphia and King of Prussia campuses, Emergency Department records, many 23-hour-or-longer stays, urgent care, same-day surgery and specified rehabilitation services.

Records from some outpatient, specialty and primary-care visits may need to be requested directly from the department or CHOP location where care was provided.

Current medical-record copy fees

Radiology images

Mental-health records

CHOP uses a separate process for inpatient or outpatient mental-health records: 267-426-1323, email CEDROI@chop.edu. Additional consent rules can apply, particularly for patients age 14 and older.

Garage A

Main Hospital Parking Garage A is reserved primarily for Emergency Department and same-day surgery families.

When traveling east on Civic Center Boulevard, enter Driveway A at the Main Hospital and follow signs for Garage A.

Garage B

Buerger Center Garage B is the general garage for CHOP patients. Its main entrance is accessed from Civic Center Boulevard after passing the Main Hospital.

A rear Garage B entrance from Health Sciences Drive is open Monday–Friday, 6 am–10 pm.

Tall and accessible vehicles

• Garage B accommodates many vehicles between 6’2″ and 6’7″.
• P1 of Garage B can accommodate vehicles up to approximately 8’2″ when entered from Civic Center Boulevard.
• Garage B has 47 disabled van-accessible spaces.

How much does regular CHOP parking cost?

CHOP does not publish one permanent online dollar amount for all regular parking stays. Rates vary with the length of the stay and are posted in the garages.

Parents and legal guardians can obtain a discounted parking rate. Have the ticket validated at:

• The clinic or department check-in desk
• Main Hospital Welcome Desk
• Buerger Center Welcome Desk
• Buerger Center check-in/check-out desks

Parents/legal guardians can also validate their ticket at a Welcome Desk to receive eligible in-and-out privileges.

Payment

Garage payments can be made at garage kiosks or with credit/debit cards at the exit.

Inpatient visitors

Outpatient visits

A patient may generally be accompanied by up to two primary caregivers, in addition to siblings.

Illness screening and masks

• Visitors should be free of fever, cough and other concerning symptoms.
• Visitors are screened for symptoms at each visit.
• Masks are required for people with respiratory symptoms.
• Masks are recommended in waiting areas.
• High-risk or immunocompromised visitors are encouraged to mask.

Service animals

CHOP follows ADA requirements for trained service animals. Emotional-support animals are not permitted as service animals.

Visitor questions or concerns

Family Relations: 267-426-6983
Email: familyrelations@chop.edu

Main Hospital Food Court

Buerger Center Café

Located on the first floor of the Buerger Center and currently open Monday–Friday, 6:30 am–4:30 pm.

Inpatient room service

Guest vouchers can currently be redeemed for a meal package that includes specified menu items such as an entrée, sides, beverage and dessert.

Special diets

CHOP offers kosher food support and kosher pantry resources, as well as halal menu options. Ask Food Services or the inpatient team about dietary restrictions.

Outside food delivery

Food delivery for hospitalized patients can be sent to the Main Hospital Welcome Desk between 8 am and 9 pm. Delivery instructions should include the patient’s last name, unit/room and contact number.

University City Retail Pharmacy

The on-site pharmacy is on the first floor of the Main Hospital near the main entrance. It dispenses CHOP prescriptions as well as many other prescription and non-prescription medications.

Free Wi-Fi

CHOP provides free wireless internet across the Philadelphia Campus. Select the chopguest Wi-Fi network and accept the terms on the sign-in page.

Lactation rooms

Private lactation rooms are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CHOP says rooms include a Medela Symphony pump, sink, sterilizing microwave and seating.

Main Hospital gift shop

ATMs

A Wells Fargo ATM is located on the first floor of the Main Hospital in the cafeteria corridor.

Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House locations in Philadelphia and Camden provide eligible CHOP families with a “home away from home.” CHOP states that rooms are referral-based and generally serve families traveling more than 25 miles from home.

Referrals must be completed by a member of the CHOP care team such as a social worker, care manager, nurse or other medical professional. Room cost and eligibility vary by location.

Hospital hotel discounts

CHOP also maintains a current lodging list for families who need nearby hotels, extended-stay accommodations, accessible rooms, kitchens or long-term stays. Rates change frequently, so hotel prices should be confirmed at booking.

CHOP publishes language assistance for languages including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Gujarati, German, Hindi, Italian, Tagalog, Polish, Vietnamese, French, Portuguese, Nepali, Korean, Russian, Haitian Creole, Ukrainian and Telugu.

• Confirm whether the appointment is in Main Hospital, Buerger Center, Market Street or another CHOP location.
• Save the specialist’s direct phone number.
• Bring adult visitor photo ID.
• Bring insurance cards.
• Confirm referral requirements.
• Confirm prior authorization with the insurer.
• Bring requested outside records, imaging and laboratory reports.
• Bring medication and allergy information.
• Bring the parking ticket inside for validation.
• Request language assistance before the appointment when needed.
• For planned expensive care, call 267-426-1467 for a cost estimate.
• Check the current visitor policy before an inpatient visit.
• Use MyCHOP to review appointment details before traveling.