Blank Children’s Hosp. Des Moines: Pediatric Care & Info

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Pediatric Hospital Guide · Des Moines, Iowa · UnityPoint Health

Blank Children’s Hospital Des Moines address, phone, pediatric emergency care, services, visitor info, records, billing, and family resources

Blank Children’s Hospital is UnityPoint Health’s dedicated children’s hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. The main hospital is located at 1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, with main phone 515-241-5437.

This guide is built for parents, guardians, caregivers, and referring offices who need practical next steps for pediatric ER care, inpatient units, appointments, MyUnityPoint records, visitor rules, parking, billing, financial assistance, and medical-record requests.

Main: 515-241-5437 1200 Pleasant Street Pediatric ER: 24/7 Des Moines, IA 50309
Call Main Hospital Pediatric ER Info Medical Records Map & Parking
Medical emergency? If your child has trouble breathing, severe allergic reaction, seizure, serious injury, suspected poisoning, severe bleeding, altered mental status, or another emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For Blank Children’s pediatric emergency care in Des Moines, use the Emergency Department at 1200 Pleasant Street.
Hospital name Blank Children’s Hospital

A UnityPoint Health pediatric hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

Main address 1200 Pleasant Street

Des Moines, IA 50309.

Main phone 515-241-5437

Use for general hospital routing and patient navigation.

Emergency Department Open 24 hours

Pediatric emergency care for babies, children, and teens.

Medical records 515-241-6306

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines medical-record requests.

Billing questions 844-849-1260

UnityPoint Health Central Billing Office.

About Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines

Blank Children’s Hospital is the pediatric hospital on the Iowa Methodist/Blank Children’s campus and is part of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines.

Blank Children’s Hospital focuses on care for infants, children, teens, and families. UnityPoint describes the hospital as dedicated to children’s health care needs, with a family-centered care approach that encourages parents and caregivers to be part of a child’s healing and recovery.

For families, the most important first step is choosing the right entry point: emergency department for urgent emergencies, the main hospital for inpatient or campus navigation, outpatient pediatric clinics for scheduled care, medical records for chart requests, and billing or financial assistance for account questions.

Good to know: Blank Children’s Hospital is not the same as a regular pediatrician’s office. For routine checkups, immunizations, school physicals, and non-emergency sick visits, call your child’s pediatrician or an appropriate UnityPoint pediatric clinic before going to the hospital.

Blank Children’s Hospital contact information

Use the correct phone number so your question reaches the right team faster.

Need Phone / route Use it for
Main hospital 515-241-5437 General information, hospital routing, patient navigation, and campus questions.
Fax 515-241-5127 General hospital fax routing when directed by staff.
Pediatric Emergency Department Go to 1200 Pleasant Street or call 911 for emergencies Serious illness, injury, trauma, breathing problems, seizures, suspected poisoning, or urgent pediatric emergency needs.
Medical records 515-241-6306 Requesting records, release-of-information questions, MyUnityPoint record access, and record transfers.
Records fax 515-241-4365 Medical-record request paperwork when directed by the records department.
Medical-record email UPH_DSM_ROI@unitypoint.org Release-of-information questions for UnityPoint Health – Des Moines facilities, including Blank Children’s.
Billing department 1-844-849-1260 Hospital bill questions, itemized bill questions, coverage questions, and payment support.
Financial assistance 1-833-874-4243 UnityPoint financial-assistance application status and help with financial-assistance questions.
Public Safety on campus 515-241-6476 Escorts to car, jump starts, parking help, safety concerns, and Lost and Found support.

Pediatric emergency care at Blank Children’s Hospital

The Emergency Department is designed for pediatric emergencies and is open 24 hours a day.

When to use the ER

Use the pediatric ER for severe breathing trouble, major injury, seizure, serious allergic reaction, suspected poisoning, dehydration, severe pain, significant bleeding, head injury, or a child who looks dangerously ill.

What makes it pediatric-focused

UnityPoint describes the emergency team as specializing in the needs of babies, children, teens, and families, with pediatric specialists, social workers, and Child Life specialists involved when needed.

Trauma level

The hospital’s pediatric Emergency Department is described by UnityPoint as Iowa’s first Level II Pediatric Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons.

Express care areas

UnityPoint notes pediatric express care areas for some ER patients who need emergency-department care but can be assessed more quickly.

Call 911 when needed: Do not drive a child yourself if the situation is life-threatening or unsafe to transport. For poison questions, use Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Pediatric services, units, and specialty care

Blank Children’s Hospital includes inpatient pediatric care, emergency care, intensive care, oncology/hematology, neonatal care, therapy, surgery, and outpatient specialty services.

Service area What it helps with Helpful note
Pediatric Emergency Department Emergency care for babies, children, and teens with serious illness or injury. Open 24 hours at 1200 Pleasant Street.
Pediatric inpatient floors General medical and surgical pediatric hospital care, including specialty care during admission. Blank 3 hospital unit phone listed by UnityPoint: 515-241-5031.
Hematology/Oncology Unit Cancer treatment and hematology care for children and families. Blank 4 hospital unit phone listed by UnityPoint: 515-241-8100.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Critical care for seriously ill or injured infants, children, and teens. UnityPoint describes the PICU as a 12-bed, private-room facility staffed by pediatric critical-care doctors.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Care for premature and critically ill newborns. Ask your baby’s care team about family access, discharge planning, and home-care arrangements.
Child Life Preparation, coping support, play, education, emotional support, and developmentally appropriate hospital support. Ask your nurse or care team if Child Life support is available for a procedure or hospitalization.
Pediatric Surgery Evaluation and care for babies, children, and teens who need surgery. Surgery-related registration may use specific campus entrances or surgery-center instructions.
Pediatric Therapy Physical, occupational, and speech therapy for children in hospital or clinic settings. Ask whether the service is outpatient, inpatient, referral-based, or insurance-authorized.
Blank Children’s Pediatrics Primary care office for patients from birth through age 21. Main phone listed by UnityPoint for Blank Children’s Pediatrics: 515-241-8923.
Developmental and specialty clinics Developmental assessments, specialty evaluations, neurology, psychology, cancer and blood disorders, and other pediatric specialty needs. Many specialty clinics require referral, records, insurance authorization, or pre-visit forms.
Referral tip: For a specialist visit, ask your child’s primary care provider whether a referral is required and whether records, growth charts, test results, imaging, school reports, or therapy notes should be sent before the appointment.

Appointments, check-in, and what to bring

Hospital visits, emergency visits, surgery visits, and outpatient pediatric clinic visits may use different check-in routes.

Confirm the exact location before leaving home. Blank Children’s services may be on the main hospital campus, in a nearby medical plaza, or at another UnityPoint pediatric location.
Bring insurance and identification. Bring the child’s insurance card, guardian identification, referral or authorization paperwork, medication list, allergies, and relevant discharge or test records.
Use the right entrance. Emergency patients should follow Emergency Department signs. Outpatient testing, surgery, and clinic visits may use separate registration areas.
Ask about fasting or medication rules. For surgery, imaging, sedation, lab work, or procedures, confirm whether the child can eat, drink, take medication, or bring formula.
Plan for family needs. Bring chargers, comfort items, glasses, hearing aids, specialty formula, feeding supplies, a current medication list, and school/work notes if needed.
Confirm follow-up before discharge. Ask for diagnosis, medications, warning signs, follow-up appointment, portal instructions, school restrictions, and who to call if symptoms worsen.

Visitors, family stay, security, and patient safety

Blank Children’s emphasizes family-centered pediatric care, but children’s units also use safety controls.

Unit access
UnityPoint states doors to patient units at Blank Children’s are locked for safety. Parents and guests check in and out at the front desk.
Parent/guardian bands
Parents and guardians receive a wristband to wear until the child goes home. Other family and guests receive name badges.
Children staying in room
UnityPoint guidance says the child should stay in the room unless out with a parent/guardian or a team member wearing a UnityPoint photo name badge.
Family spaces
Family space is available in each patient room and on each floor. Quiet spaces are available at the end of halls.
Public Safety
Public Safety Officers are on campus 24 hours daily and may help with escorts, jump starts, parking, and Lost and Found.
Visitor rule reminder: Visitor rules can change for infection-control, unit safety, patient condition, age restrictions, flu season, respiratory illness, or special circumstances. Confirm with the child’s care team before bringing siblings or extra visitors.

MyUnityPoint patient portal for Blank Children’s Hospital

MyUnityPoint is the main portal route for many UnityPoint Health record, messaging, billing, and care-management tasks.

Records access

UnityPoint describes MyUnityPoint as a secure online portal where patients can access medical records and manage health-care tasks.

Care-team messaging

Portal messaging may be useful for non-urgent questions. Do not use portal messages for emergencies or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Bill payment

UnityPoint states patients can pay bills through MyUnityPoint or online billing links.

Proxy access

Parents or guardians may request access to a child’s information through MyUnityPoint, but access can depend on age, privacy rules, and record type.

Portal safety: If your child is having urgent symptoms, call the clinic, call 911, or go to the emergency department. Portal messages are not a substitute for emergency care.

Medical records, records release, and transfer requests

Use MyUnityPoint for many record needs, or contact UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Medical Records for formal releases.

Record need Best route What to prepare
View common records MyUnityPoint portal Portal login, proxy access if applicable, child’s information, and any provider instructions.
Full medical-record copy UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Medical Records Patient name, date of birth, dates of service, records requested, where to send them, and guardian authorization if needed.
Send records to another provider Medical Records / release-of-information process Receiving provider name, fax or secure delivery method, visit date, clinic name, and specific record types.
School, camp, or sports forms Child’s pediatrician or outpatient clinic Form deadline, immunization needs, physical requirement, school instructions, and parent signature.
Billing records or itemized bill MyUnityPoint or UnityPoint billing department Guarantor name, account number, date of service, insurance information, and itemized-bill request.
Medical Records contact: UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, Attn: Medical Records, 1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309. Phone: 515-241-6306. Fax: 515-241-4365. Email: UPH_DSM_ROI@unitypoint.org.

Billing, itemized bills, insurance, and financial assistance

Hospital billing may involve facility charges, physician charges, insurance processing, deposits, deductibles, copays, and financial-assistance screening.

Question Who to contact Important detail
I need help understanding a bill. UnityPoint Billing Department: 1-844-849-1260 Billing hours listed by UnityPoint are Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–7 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Central Time.
I need an itemized bill. MyUnityPoint or billing department UnityPoint provides itemized-bill request steps through MyUnityPoint.
I need help paying. Financial Assistance: 1-833-874-4243 UnityPoint allows financial-assistance requests through MyUnityPoint or by contacting the financial-assistance team.
I am worried about insurance coverage. Your insurer plus UnityPoint billing Ask whether the hospital, physician, specialist, anesthesia, radiology, lab, or clinic is in network.
The clinic is provider-based. UnityPoint billing and your insurer UnityPoint explains that provider-based clinics may result in both hospital and physician charges.
Billing tip: Before a scheduled non-emergency visit, ask your insurer about deductible, co-pay, co-insurance, facility charge, prior authorization, and whether the doctor and hospital are both in network.

Location, parking, directions, and map

Blank Children’s Hospital is on the Iowa Methodist/Blank Children’s campus near downtown Des Moines.

Blank Children’s Hospital
1200 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Main: 515-241-5437

Visitor parking is available on the north and south sides of the Iowa Methodist/Blank Children’s campus and in the west-side parking ramp. Follow hospital signs for Emergency, Patient Registration, Surgery Center, or the specific clinic you are visiting.

From I-235

UnityPoint directions say to exit at Keo Way south, follow Keo Way to 12th Street, then turn right on 12th Street and continue up the hill to the campus.

From the south / airport area

UnityPoint directions describe taking Fleur Drive north to Ingersoll Avenue, turning right on Ingersoll, left on 15th Street, then right on Pleasant Street.

Parent and caregiver checklists

Use these checklists to reduce stress before an ER visit, admission, scheduled appointment, or discharge.

Bring to the ER

  • Child’s full name and date of birth
  • Insurance card and guardian ID
  • Current medication list and allergies
  • Relevant discharge papers or specialist notes
  • Comfort item if safe to bring

Ask before discharge

  • What diagnosis or working diagnosis was given?
  • What symptoms mean “come back now”?
  • Which medications changed?
  • When should the child follow up?
  • Where will records appear in MyUnityPoint?

Before surgery or procedure

  • Confirm fasting instructions
  • Ask which medicines to give or hold
  • Confirm arrival entrance and registration area
  • Ask how long recovery may take
  • Confirm who may stay with the child

For records and billing

  • Keep date-of-service notes
  • Save discharge instructions
  • Ask for an itemized bill if needed
  • Use MyUnityPoint for portal access
  • Call medical records for formal releases

Official source checklist for Blank Children’s Hospital

Use these official UnityPoint and hospital pages for final confirmation before making care, billing, visitor, or travel decisions.

Official source What it verifies When to use it
Blank Children’s Hospital official page Main address, main phone, fax, 24-hour hospital listing, hospital overview, history, and safe-sleep certification information. Use first for hospital identity, main location, and general hospital routing.
Blank Children’s Emergency Department Pediatric ER purpose, Level II Pediatric Trauma Center description, 24-hour operation, family consultation areas, pediatric treatment rooms, and express care areas. Use for urgent pediatric emergency planning.
Patients and Visitors Family-centered care, patient rights, visitor/security information, dining, family spaces, medical-record review rights, and public-safety help. Use before visiting, staying overnight, or asking about patient rights.
Directions, Parking and Maps Campus directions, parking ramp guidance, visitor parking areas, and registration routing for the Iowa Methodist/Blank Children’s campus. Use before driving to the hospital or a scheduled campus appointment.
UnityPoint Medical Records MyUnityPoint record access, medical-record request options, Des Moines medical-record phone, fax, address, and email. Use for records, transfers, authorizations, and release-of-information questions.
MyUnityPoint Patient portal functions including records access, care-team communication, billing, and online care tasks. Use for portal login, non-urgent messages, records access, and billing tools.
Billing Information Billing department phone, billing hours, itemized-bill route, insurance responsibility, provider-based clinic billing, and payment information. Use for account, bill, itemized bill, insurance, or provider-based clinic questions.
Financial Assistance Financial-assistance application routes, MyUnityPoint application steps, phone, email, and policy documents. Use if you may need help paying for care.
Pediatric Inpatient Units General inpatient floors, hematology/oncology unit, PICU details, unit phone numbers, and family-centered unit features. Use during admission or when preparing for an inpatient stay.
Education and Resources Patient & Family Handbook and practical information for hospital stay, terminology, pain management, discharge, billing, and amenities. Use before or during a child’s hospital stay.
Independent guide notice: This page is informational and is not the hospital, UnityPoint Health, an insurance company, an emergency service, or a medical provider. Use official UnityPoint pages, your child’s care team, and emergency services for final medical, appointment, billing, visitor, and records decisions.

Blank Children’s Hospital Des Moines FAQs

Common questions about location, pediatric emergency care, appointments, parking, records, portal access, billing, visitors, and family resources.

1. What is the address of Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines?
Blank Children’s Hospital is located at 1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.
2. What is the main phone number for Blank Children’s Hospital?
The main phone number listed for Blank Children’s Hospital is 515-241-5437.
3. Is the Blank Children’s Hospital Emergency Department open 24 hours?
Yes. UnityPoint lists the Blank Children’s Hospital Emergency Department as open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
4. When should I take my child to the pediatric ER?
Use the pediatric ER for serious or urgent problems such as trouble breathing, major injury, seizure, severe allergic reaction, suspected poisoning, dehydration, severe pain, significant bleeding, head injury, or a child who appears dangerously ill. Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
5. Where do I park for Blank Children’s Hospital?
UnityPoint says visitor parking is available on the north and south sides of the Iowa Methodist/Blank Children’s campus and in the parking ramp on the west side of the campus.
6. How do I request medical records from Blank Children’s Hospital?
Use MyUnityPoint for many record needs or contact UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Medical Records at 515-241-6306. The medical-record address is Attn: Medical Records, 1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.
7. Can parents access a child’s information in MyUnityPoint?
Parents or guardians may request proxy access to a child’s information through MyUnityPoint, but access can depend on the child’s age, privacy rules, and what information is available in the portal.
8. Who do I call for a Blank Children’s Hospital bill?
For UnityPoint Health billing questions, call the billing department at 1-844-849-1260. You can also use MyUnityPoint for bill-payment and itemized-bill tasks.
9. Does UnityPoint offer financial assistance for Blank Children’s Hospital bills?
UnityPoint Health provides a financial-assistance process. Families can request financial assistance through MyUnityPoint or call the financial-assistance team at 1-833-874-4243.
10. Are visitors allowed to stay with a child at Blank Children’s Hospital?
Blank Children’s uses family-centered care, and UnityPoint patient information describes family space in patient rooms and on each floor. Visitor access can depend on unit rules, safety, infection-control guidance, and the child’s condition, so confirm current rules with the care team.