Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt: Pediatric Care & Info

Pediatric Heart Institute — 5th Floor

Main-campus cardiology clinic hours are currently Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Appointments: (615) 322-7447.

Pediatric Neurology — 9th Floor

Main-campus neurology hours are currently Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Appointments: (615) 936-5536.

Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition — Doctors’ Office Tower, 10th Floor

Published main-campus hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Appointments: (615) 322-7449.

Pediatric Endocrinology — Doctors’ Office Tower, 8th Floor

Main-campus clinic hours are currently Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Appointments: (615) 322-7427.

Pediatric Orthopaedics — Suite 4202

Appointments: (615) 343-5875. Orthopaedic services include fractures, sports injuries, spinal deformity, scoliosis, hip problems and other musculoskeletal care.

General & Thoracic Surgery — 7th Floor

Published clinic hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Appointments: (615) 936-1050.

Hematology-Oncology — 6th Floor

Published clinic hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Main number: (615) 936-1762.

Pediatric Emergency Medicine

The Emergency Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Emergency clinicians work rotating clinical shifts, so individual physician days are not represented by the hospital as a fixed outpatient-style schedule.

Is there a fixed Vanderbilt Children’s doctor fee?

There is no single public “doctor consultation fee” that applies to every pediatrician or specialist. The cost can depend on the type and complexity of visit, whether a clinic is hospital-based, insurance network rules, deductible, copay and coinsurance.

Does Vanderbilt publish a fixed emergency-room fee?

No single flat pediatric ER “case fee” is published as the amount every family will pay. An emergency visit can involve the emergency physician, facility services, laboratory work, X-rays, CT/MRI, medication, procedures, specialists or admission. The final bill therefore depends on the care actually required.

How to get a cost estimate

The pediatric emergency team treats major injuries, acute medical problems, poisonings, overdoses, severe complications of chronic illness and other urgent pediatric conditions. The hospital’s trauma program provides around-the-clock access to specialists, operating rooms, CT, MRI and emergency respiratory therapy.

Emergency Department visitor rule

Vanderbilt’s current visitor policy allows four visitors age 16 or older when a child is in the Monroe Carell Emergency Department. Visitors receive identification stickers.

After-hours clinics can evaluate common non-emergency problems and may provide services such as flu/strep testing, breathing treatments, minor stitches and other urgent pediatric care. They are not designed for ongoing well-child care, sports physicals or routine long-term follow-up.

Best entrance for families

Families parking in South Garage can cross into the hospital on the second-floor breezeway. Information desks are available near the first-floor main lobby and near the second-floor South Garage entrance.

Inpatient visitor limits

• Two parent-approved visitors age 18 or older may stay with the child 24/7.
• Up to four people may be in the patient’s room during routine visiting hours.
• People staying overnight should arrive before 8 p.m.
• Visitors with fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, cold symptoms or other contagious illness should not visit patient floors.
• Visitors must clean their hands when entering and leaving patient rooms.

Children visiting patients

Children age 5 and younger who visit the NICU, floors 6A, 6B, 10A or 10C, or a patient following solid-organ transplant require a health screening on each visit. After passing the screening, the child receives an identifying sticker.

Day of surgery

• Up to four parents/caregivers age 16 or older may accompany the child to the surgery waiting room.
• Two parents/caregivers may be with the child in pre-operative holding and recovery areas.
• If the child is admitted, four caregivers may be present during visiting hours and two may stay overnight.

Outpatient clinics

Vanderbilt’s current policy permits two visitors with a child in outpatient clinics and doctors’ offices.

Masks, balloons and smoking

• Masks are optional for most patients and visitors, although patients with respiratory symptoms may be asked to mask.
• Latex/rubber balloons are not permitted; non-latex balloons may be allowed.
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center campuses are smoke-free, including vaping and smokeless tobacco restrictions.

Billing numbers

Call (615) 936-0910 or (866) 488-4677. Detailed statements may also be requested through My Health at Vanderbilt.

Payment plans

Vanderbilt’s billing guidance states that unpaid patient balances are billed during the normal billing cycle and that families can contact customer service to establish an interest-free payment plan when eligible.

Financial assistance income rules

Vanderbilt’s current financial-assistance policy covers eligible emergency and medically necessary care for qualifying uninsured, underinsured and medically indigent patients. Eligibility is evaluated using household adjusted gross income and family size.

As of April 30, 2026, Vanderbilt reports an Amounts Generally Billed percentage of 24% of total billed charges for eligible Vanderbilt University Medical Center services, corresponding to a 76% discount from gross billed charges for financial-assistance-eligible care.

Applications can generally be evaluated within about 30 days after the required information is received. Vanderbilt lists customer-service help for financial assistance Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (615) 936-0910.

Parent access to a child’s account

Vanderbilt provides parent/legal-representative proxy access to pediatric accounts. Access rules depend on the child’s age. For younger children, the parent or legal representative may need identity verification. Teen accounts have additional privacy and consent requirements, and the teenager may need to agree to parental access.

For formal release-of-information requests, call (615) 322-2062. Vanderbilt’s quick-reference materials also publish a medical-record release fax of (615) 936-8700.

Records families commonly request

• Clinic notes and hospital records
• Vaccination and medication information
• Laboratory and diagnostic reports
• Discharge summaries
• Records to send to another physician or hospital
• Billing documentation

Some information can be viewed directly through My Health at Vanderbilt. A formal authorization may still be required for a complete record release or transfer to an outside organization.

Outpatient pharmacy

Food at Children’s Way Café area

Family Resource Center

The Junior League Family Resource Center is on the second floor and is generally open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. Call (615) 936-2558.

Interpreter and accessibility communication

• Limited-English-proficiency interpreter services: (615) 322-7378.
• Deaf/hard-of-hearing assistance: (615) 248-8828.
• Free hospital Wi-Fi is available; technology help: (615) 343-4357.

Social Work

Pediatric Social Work can help with crisis intervention, counseling, community resources, family advocacy, financial resources, discharge needs and care coordination. The office number is (615) 936-2113, generally Monday through Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.. A social worker is available on call for emergencies, nights, weekends and holidays.

Spiritual Care

Interfaith chaplains are available through (615) 936-0425. The hospital chapel is on the second floor and is open 24 hours a day for prayer, meditation and quiet time.

Playrooms and sibling space

Vanderbilt provides age-based playrooms, a teen room and a sibling play area. Current published schedules vary by age and day. The second-floor sibling playroom is intended for siblings age 18 months and older, and upper-floor spaces serve different pediatric age groups.

Ronald McDonald House Family Room

The hospital’s Ronald McDonald House Family Room is on the fifth floor behind the greeter’s desk. Vanderbilt lists general hours of 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily when volunteers are available.

Child Life support before a procedure

Child Life specialists can help explain an upcoming procedure in an age-appropriate way and assist children and siblings with coping. Call (615) 936-4575.

Family lodging

Vanderbilt’s Family Accommodations Service can help families find nearby hotels and participating lodging options, including medical-rate rooms when available. The Monroe Carell accommodations desk is at the first-floor Information Desk and is published as open 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Monday–Friday.

Vanderbilt’s goal is for medically ready children to leave before 11 a.m. on the day of discharge, although the actual discharge time may change based on test results, treatment needs and arrangements made by the care team.

Before your child leaves

• The nurse reviews written discharge instructions.
• Families receive medication instructions.
• Diet and activity restrictions are explained.
• Warning symptoms and when to seek additional care are reviewed.
• Follow-up appointments are listed or arranged.
• Case managers/social workers can coordinate home nursing, rehabilitation, equipment or other services when required.

Patient transport and discharge lounge

Patient Transport can help the child and family reach their vehicle and can provide a wheelchair when needed. If a room must be released before the family’s transportation arrives, Vanderbilt may use its Discharge Lounge as a waiting area.

• Confirm the exact clinic, floor and provider before leaving home.
• Verify whether a primary-care referral is required.
• Ask your insurer about both the hospital and physician network status.
• For planned care, request an out-of-pocket estimate if cost matters.
• Park in South Garage unless your appointment instructions specify another location.
• Save the direct specialty phone number rather than only the hospital switchboard.
• Bring requested insurance, medical and medication information.
• Review current visitor rules if your child will be admitted.
• Use the Emergency Department—not a routine clinic—for a life-threatening emergency.