Children’s Chicago Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

Lurie Children’s pediatric Emergency Department is staffed around the clock by pediatric emergency medicine specialists and is supported by pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists.

The Emergency Care Center treats more than 60,000 pediatric emergency visits per year and supports the hospital’s Level I pediatric trauma program.

Examples of symptoms requiring urgent ER evaluation

• Newborn under 2 months with a temperature of 100.4°F or higher.
• Severe breathing difficulty.
• Severe asthma attack.
• Passing out or loss of consciousness.
• Severe chest pain.
• Major trauma.
• Uncontrolled bleeding.
• Seizure with serious or worsening symptoms.

How to reach the ER inside the hospital

Families can reach the second-floor Emergency Care Center from the Reyes Lobby. From the first-floor area near the Superior Street entrance, elevators near the security desk provide direct access to the Emergency Care Center.

Both new and existing patients can use Lurie Children’s online scheduling workflow. Telemedicine may appear as an option when appropriate for the child’s specialty and care needs.

Before the first appointment

• Review registration in MyChart or call KIDS DOC at least 24 hours before the visit.
• Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early.
• If registration is incomplete, allow about 15-30 extra minutes.
• Bring the child’s medication information.
• Bring outside medical records, laboratory results and imaging.
• Bring insurance-required referrals.
• Bring insurance card and required copayment.

The Heart Center manages conditions ranging from common heart murmurs to complex congenital heart defects, lymphatic disorders and heart failure requiring transplantation.

Advanced services include

• Pediatric heart transplantation.
• Ventricular assist devices.
• Aortic valve repair.
• Pulmonary artery reconstruction.
• Pulmonary vein stenosis repair.
• Complex biventricular repair.
• Vascular-ring repair.
• Tracheal reconstruction.

Lurie Children’s neurologists treat epilepsy, movement disorders, neuromuscular disease, migraines, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, neurogenetic disorders, POTS and other complex pediatric neurologic conditions.

Current Neurology leadership includes Leon G. Epstein, MD, while Neurosurgery is led by Sandi K. Lam, MD, MBA.

Lurie Children’s says its Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders treats approximately 220 new childhood cancer patients each year and provides care for cancer plus complex blood disorders such as sickle-cell disease, hemophilia and thalassemia.

Current leadership includes

• Robert I. Liem, MD — Division Head.
• Amy L. Walz, MD — Section Head, Oncology.
• Rukhmi V. Bhat, MD — Section Head, Hematology.
• Sonali Chaudhury, MD — Section Head, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies.
• Angela Waanders, MD, MPH, MS — Section Head, Neuro-Oncology.

Programs include

• Fracture Clinic.
• Scoliosis and spine care.
• Sports Medicine.
• Clubfoot.
• Bone Health.
• Neuromuscular orthopedics.
• Spina Bifida Center.
• Brachial Plexus Program.

The current division head is Erik C. King, MD, MS.

Lurie Children’s is designated a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons and was the first children’s hospital in Illinois to receive the designation.

Procedures include

• Appendectomy.
• Hernia repair.
• Chest-wall surgery.
• Bowel surgery.
• Liver and pancreatic surgery.
• Feeding-tube procedures.
• Endocrine surgery.
• Transplant surgery.
• Surgical oncology.
• Minimally invasive surgery.

The division reports more than 14,000 patient visits and approximately 1,500 endoscopic procedures annually.

Specialty programs include

• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Eosinophilic GI disease.
• Motility disorders.
• Chronic abdominal pain.
• Feeding and swallowing disorders.
• Intestinal rehabilitation.
• Liver disease and transplantation.
• Short bowel syndrome.
• Pediatric pancreatic disorders.

MyChart provides secure access to many parts of a child’s Lurie Children’s health record.

Families can use MyChart to

• Complete E-check-in.
• Update insurance information.
• Complete questionnaires.
• View results and visit notes.
• Message participating care teams.
• Manage eligible appointments.
• Review and pay bills.
• Use the hospital’s cost-estimate workflow.

Teen and parent access

• Parents/guardians can request proxy access for patients under 18.
• For ages 12-17, enhanced proxy access requires a consent process.
• Teens age 13-17 can receive their own Teen MyChart access.
• Parent proxy access is automatically revoked when the patient turns 18.
• An adult patient can later re-authorize proxy access through the Sharing Hub.

Additional support visitors

• Up to four additional healthy adult support people during regular visiting hours.
• Regular visiting hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m..
• The inpatient tower closes to new visitors at 8:30 p.m..
• Adult support visitors are defined as age 16 or older.
• One additional clergy/spiritual-support person 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 visitor identification

Visitors age 18 and older must show a valid government ID and are processed through the hospital’s electronic visitor-management system. Approved visitors receive a photo visitor badge that must be worn in the hospital.

Huron-Superior Garage

The preferred family/visitor garage is the Huron-Superior Garage. Use the Huron Street entrance, take the garage elevator to the second floor and cross the pedestrian bridge into Lurie Children’s.

Valet

Families may also use the Erie-Ontario garage a few blocks from the hospital.

Current hours

• Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Services include

• Prescription pickup before discharge.
• Bedside prescription delivery.
• Pediatric medication flavoring.
• Medication compounding.
• Medication-cost assistance.
• Transfer to a neighborhood pharmacy.
• Pediatric-trained pharmacists.

Walgreens also provides 24/7 pharmacist support through its national phone/online service.

Family support can include

• Social work.
• Child Life specialists.
• Creative arts therapies.
• Chaplains and spiritual care.
• ParentWISE and PeerWISE peer support.
• School services.
• Facility and therapy dog programs.
• Help with discharge and community resources.

Patient Relations

For feedback or an unresolved patient/family experience concern: 312-227-4940.

Families living more than 15 miles from the hospital can ask a hospital social worker about referral for a room. Patient families receive priority access, subject to availability.

The current Lurie Children’s lodging guidance identifies a suggested donation of $10 per night rather than a mandatory hotel-style rate.

A shuttle connects Ronald McDonald House and the hospital for patient families.

Current services include

• In-person Spanish interpreting 7 a.m.-midnight, seven days a week.
• In-person interpreting in many additional languages when available.
• 24-hour phone interpretation covering more than 180 languages.
• Video interpretation.
• American Sign Language support.

Why you may receive more than one charge

Hospital outpatient care can generate both hospital/facility and physician-related charges. Even a diagnostic test such as an X-ray may involve a hospital charge plus professional interpretation.

Insurance counselor

For questions about whether an insurance plan is accepted: 312-227-1230.

Families with HMO coverage or other referral requirements should confirm authorization before a scheduled visit.

Lurie Children’s can help eligible families through:

• Financial assistance based on documented need.
• Uninsured-patient discounts when eligibility criteria are met.
• Payment arrangements.
• Payment plans for deductible, coinsurance and other patient-responsibility balances.
• Public-aid application support for appropriate inpatients.
• Referral to Illinois programs when appropriate.

Application deadline

Families can apply beginning on the date the patient receives care and up to 240 days after the first post-discharge billing statement for the care.

Submit formal records requests

Health Information Management
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
225 East Chicago Avenue, Box 11
Chicago, IL 60611

• Fax: 312-227-9733
• Phone: 312-227-5220

Processing

Current instructions advise allowing approximately 3-5 business days for many requests, while the detailed FAQ notes that record copies are typically processed within up to 10 business days.

There is no charge when health information is released directly to another healthcare provider at the provider’s address. Patient/family copy charges may apply according to the hospital’s current records fee schedule.