Children’s Hospital Nationwide: Pediatric Care & Info

What the pediatric ER treats

Nationwide Children’s directs families to emergency care for serious conditions such as major trauma, respiratory distress, significant burns, seizures, severe pain, serious fractures and very young infants with fever. The hospital specifically recommends the Main Campus ER when admission, major trauma or immediate access to pediatric subspecialists may be necessary.

Security screening at the ER

Patients, families and visitors entering the Main Campus Emergency Department pass through security screening. The hospital states that individuals pass through a metal detector and bags are inspected for items that could be used as weapons.

Items removed by security can be held during the visit, but the hospital says storage is limited and unclaimed items may be discarded after seven days.

When a parent or legal guardian is not present

Children under 18 who arrive with another adult generally need authorization from the parent or legal guardian allowing that adult to seek treatment and sign consent. Families who regularly leave a child with a babysitter, relative, teacher or other caregiver should consider completing the hospital’s consent authorization in advance.

These rates are listed by Nationwide Children’s as correct as of January 1, 2026. The final bill can include additional laboratory testing, imaging, medications, procedures, supplies, physician professional charges and other services.

How to find the doctor’s real appointment day

For a particular doctor, use the hospital’s Find a Doctor profile or call that specialty. Ask: “What are the next available appointment dates with Dr. [name], and at which location is the doctor seeing patients?”

This is more reliable than publishing a static claim such as “Dr. Smith is available every Tuesday,” because pediatric specialists often work across main-campus clinics, regional offices, inpatient services and procedure schedules.

Daily inpatient hospital charges

Common imaging examples

Common laboratory examples

What is the regular pediatric specialist consultation fee?

Nationwide Children’s does not publish one universal “doctor consultation fee” that applies to every specialty visit. Clinic billing depends on the service, provider, complexity, testing, insurance network and whether separate hospital and professional components apply.

For a useful personalized estimate, families should use the hospital’s cost-estimate system or call Patient Accounts at 614-722-2055.

How much does parking cost?

Nationwide Children’s current visitor information describes self-parking as a flat fee or “minimal fee.” A hospital surgery guide currently available from the hospital states a $2 flat self-parking fee for the visitor garage. Because parking prices can change, families staying for an extended period should confirm the current rate at the entrance or pay station.

Valet parking

The hospital currently publishes a $5 valet fee. Valet service is available at several main-campus entrances including the main hospital, Outpatient Care and other designated hospital entrances.

Accessible parking

Accessible parking spaces are available throughout Nationwide Children’s parking areas. Families using high-top accessible vans can contact Patient Relations at 614-722-6593 for additional parking assistance.

Security escort to your vehicle

Hospital Security can provide an escort between the hospital and parking areas. Call 614-722-2128. If you are still in the parking lot, the hospital advises families to call Security and coordinate where to meet.

Nationwide Children’s encourages one parent or guardian to stay overnight with a child when possible. Other family members and friends generally visit during normal visiting hours.

Visitor check-in

Visitors check in at a Welcome Desk and obtain a visitor badge. The hospital uses a Guest Code system; visitors may need the patient’s Guest Code before being allowed onto the unit.

Welcome Desk locations include

• Outpatient Care lobby near the Orange Parking Garage
• Urgent Care parking-lot entrance
• Crossroads area
• Main hospital Atrium

The hospital uses a color/path-based wayfinding system. Families who get lost can use information desks and digital direction boards. The hospital also publishes a directional assistance number at 614-722-3000.

Nationwide Children’s specifically recommends bringing:

• Insurance card
• Current medication list, including vitamins and herbal supplements
• Current immunization record
• Referral or outside medical records when the specialty has requested them
• Relevant imaging or test results when requested
• Parent/legal guardian identification and consent information when applicable

Call the specialty before traveling if you are unsure whether fasting, medication changes, prior authorization or another preparation step is required.

Common commercial plans listed by Nationwide Children’s

• Aetna
• Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
• OSU Health Plan
• UnitedHealthcare of Ohio
• UMR
• Surest
• Other contracted employer plans

Government and Medicaid plans listed include

• Ohio Medicaid
• AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio
• Anthem Ohio Medicaid
• Buckeye Community Health Plan
• CareSource
• Humana Healthy Horizons
• Molina Healthcare of Ohio
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
• Indiana Medicaid
• Selected Michigan and West Virginia Medicaid products
• TRICARE / Humana Military

Nationwide Children’s financial-assistance policy uses household income and other eligibility rules to reduce qualifying patient responsibility for medically necessary and emergency care.

Eligibility and documentation rules apply. Families should contact Patient Accounts at 614-722-2055 rather than assuming a discount will automatically be applied.

Patient Account Representatives are available Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

MyChart is the hospital’s patient portal. It can provide access to appointment information, laboratory results, medications, immunization history and other health information.

Existing patients can also use MyChart to schedule certain follow-up appointments, message care teams and manage billing where those functions are available.

Parent and teen access

Parents and legal guardians can obtain proxy access to a child’s MyChart account. Nationwide Children’s also allows adolescents ages 13–17 to have their own account, with privacy rules affecting which information parents can view.

The hospital’s medical-record request form allows families to request items such as summarized inpatient records, discharge summaries, operative reports, vaccination history, visit dates and the entire legal medical record where appropriate.

Medical-record fees

Nationwide Children’s states that records delivered through MyChart are free. A cost-based fee can be charged for records supplied in other formats, and shipping fees can apply.

For a bill related to medical-record copies, the hospital accepts debit or credit-card payment by phone at 614-355-0777. Cashier’s check or money order instructions are also included on the hospital’s records form.

The hospital campus includes food options, coffee locations, vending, gift shops and ATMs. Huntington ATMs are available in the Outpatient Care area and near the Main Lobby gift shop; the hospital notes that non-Huntington customers may be charged a $1.50 ATM withdrawal fee.

• Confirm whether the appointment is at Main Campus or another Nationwide Children’s location.
• Save the specialty phone number.
• Confirm your doctor and appointment time.
• Ask whether a referral or authorization is required.
• Bring the insurance card.
• Bring current medications, vitamins and supplements.
• Bring immunization records when requested.
• Bring outside records or imaging if the specialty asked for them.
• Choose the correct parking garage before driving to campus.
• Allow extra time for parking, registration and campus navigation.