Children’s Memorial Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

On June 9, 2012, Children’s Memorial Hospital moved from its former Lincoln Park hospital campus to a new downtown Chicago facility and became Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Pediatric Cardiology / Heart Center

Direct division number: 312-227-4100.

Pediatric Neurology

Direct division number: 312-227-3550. Epilepsy: 312-227-3540.

Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Direct division number: 312-227-4200.

Cancer & Blood Disorders

Main division number: 312-227-4090.

General Pediatric Surgery

Direct division number: 312-227-4210.

Pediatric Urology

Direct division number: 312-227-6340.

Why there is no single doctor fee

The amount billed for a pediatric specialty visit can depend on the specialty, complexity of the visit, procedures, testing, facility services, insurance contract, deductible, copayment and coinsurance.

Emergency-room charges

A pediatric emergency encounter may include a physician evaluation, hospital facility resources, laboratory testing, X-rays, CT/MRI, medication, procedures, trauma services, specialist consultation or hospital admission. For this reason, there is no reliable single dollar amount that can be labeled “the Lurie Children’s ER fee.”

What to ask before a planned procedure

1. What CPT/service is being scheduled?
2. Is the hospital in network?
3. Is the treating physician in network?
4. Is prior authorization required?
5. Will anesthesia, pathology or radiology be billed separately?
6. What is the current deductible?
7. What coinsurance or copayment applies?
8. Can Lurie Children’s provide a patient-specific estimate?

How to enter the Emergency Department

The Emergency Care Center is off the second-floor lobby. Families can reach it:

1. From the Reyes Lobby on the second floor, or
2. From the first-floor lobby near the Superior Street entrance, using the elevators near the security desk that go directly to the Emergency Care Center.

When Lurie Children’s recommends emergency care

Examples published by the hospital include severe breathing difficulty, severe asthma, serious allergic reaction, severe dehydration, complex/open fractures, serious burns, poisoning, seizures, sudden neurologic changes, loss of consciousness and serious safety concerns.

Huron-Superior garage

Valet hours: Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m.–9 p.m.

Families can also use the Erie-Ontario garage a few blocks away. For extended inpatient stays, ask the nurse or social worker about additional parking and shuttle options.

CTA train stations

• Red Line: Chicago station at Chicago and State.
• Brown/Purple Line: Chicago station at Chicago and Franklin.

CTA buses near the hospital

Routes published by Lurie Children’s include: #3, #10, #26, #66, #125, #157, #146, #147 and #151.

Free shuttle: downtown hospital ↔ Lincoln Park

Main-hospital pickup/drop-off is at the southeast corner of the driveway near the Emergency Department entrance.

• Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–6 p.m.: about every 20 minutes.
• Monday–Friday, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.: about every 60 minutes.

Free shuttle: hospital ↔ Ronald McDonald House

Shuttle service runs between the hospital and Ronald McDonald House at 211 E. Grand Avenue.

Current schedule: 7 a.m.–11 p.m. daily, approximately every 30 minutes.

Inpatient visitor policy

• Two healthy parents/guardians may be present at all hours.
• Four additional healthy adult support persons may visit during 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Adult support visitors are considered age 16 and older for this policy.
• Support persons may be changed every 48 hours.
• One additional clergy/spiritual support person may be added.
• Healthy siblings may visit during regular visiting hours when isolation rules allow.
• Two non-sibling child visitors may be permitted outside the NICU.

How many people can be in the room?

Government ID and background check

Adult visitors age 18 and older must show valid government-issued ID and are subject to the hospital’s electronic visitor-management background check. Approved visitors receive a hospital-issued photo badge that must be worn during the visit.

Illness restrictions

Visitors with fever, sore throat, cough, sneezing, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea or exposure to certain communicable diseases may not be permitted to visit.

Lurie Children’s participates in many commercial and Illinois Medicaid plans, but the exact product matters. Families should verify both the hospital and the treating specialist before elective care.

Major commercial networks currently listed

Illinois Medicaid managed-care plans

Lurie Children’s currently identifies the following Medicaid plans as including the hospital:

• Aetna Better Health
• Blue Cross Community Family Health Plan
• CountyCare
• Meridian Health Plan
• Molina Healthcare
• YouthCare

Insurance questions: 312-227-1230.

Who may qualify?

Eligibility is based on income, family size, residency and available third-party resources. The standard service area for the program is:

• Illinois residents, or
• Residents of Lake, LaPorte or Porter counties in Indiana.

Current discount rules

For eligible uninsured families at or below 600% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the current policy also limits total payment during a 12-month period to no more than 20% of family income, subject to continued eligibility.

What services are generally covered?

• Emergency medical care
• Medically necessary inpatient care
• Medically necessary outpatient care
• Professional fees billed by Lurie Children’s or Lurie Children’s Medical Group

Common exclusions

• Cosmetic/non-medically necessary services
• Unaffiliated outside laboratory services
• Durable medical equipment
• Eyeglasses, contacts and hearing aids
• Certain self-pay package-priced services
• Some non-formulary discharge medications

Application timeline

• Applications may be submitted through the applicable 240-day application period.
• Completed applications are reviewed within about 10 business days.
• Complete determinations are generally communicated within about 14 business days.
• If information is missing, families may receive up to 60 days to provide it.
• An approved determination remains effective for about six months before reapplication is required.

Where to submit

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Admitting Office, 12th Floor
225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611

Phone: 877-924-8200
Fax: 312-227-9501

Financial-assistance phone service hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m..

Where records can be requested

• Through portions of MyChart
• By fax
• By mail
• In person

Mailing address

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

Processing time

Lurie Children’s says many record requests are processed in approximately 3–5 business days, while its FAQ advises allowing up to 10 business days for copies.

Medical-record copy fees

There is no charge when records are released directly to another healthcare provider at the provider’s address.

Medical imaging copies

Imaging copies are generally sent by secure electronic link. Allow approximately 3–5 business days. Digital Health questions: 312-227-3516.

Parent and teen access

Parents/guardians can request proxy access for patients under 18. For patients age 12–17, additional consent rules apply for enhanced access because of adolescent privacy protections. Proxy access automatically changes when a patient reaches age 18.

Services

• Prescription pickup before leaving the hospital
• Bedside medication delivery
• Pediatric medication flavoring
• Pediatric-trained pharmacists
• Medication compounding
• Medication-cost assistance
• Prescription transfer to a neighborhood pharmacy

Walgreens also provides 24/7 pharmacy support through 1-800-WALGREENS (1-800-925-4733).

Family Services / Social Work

Call 312-227-1200. Social workers help families with practical, emotional and community-resource issues related to a child’s illness or hospitalization.

Interpreter services

Interpreter services are free. Call 312-227-3290.

• In-person Spanish interpretation: 7 a.m.–midnight, seven days a week.
• In-person interpreters may be available for many other languages.
• Telephone interpreting is available at all times in more than 180 languages.
• Video interpretation supports languages including ASL, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Polish, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
• Sign-language interpreters can be arranged in person or by video.

Family Great Rooms

Inpatient floors 12–22 have Family Great Rooms with seating, television, sibling space, microwaves, refrigerators, vending and family information.

Panda Cares Center of Hope

Main inpatient-family respite space on the 12th floor.

Current hours:
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 9 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m.

Phone: 312-227-3940.

Interfaith chapel

The Anne Searle Bent Interfaith Chapel is on the 12th floor and is open 24 hours for prayer, meditation and quiet time.

Crown Sky Garden

The indoor Crown Sky Garden on the 11th floor is available to patients and families as a quiet healing space next to the Sky Café.

Patient room service

Patient meal ordering is available from 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m.. Meals are generally delivered within about 45 minutes or at a requested time. Families can order from outside the hospital at 312-227-5190.

Sky Café — 11th Floor

Potbelly — 1st Floor

Published hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
Phone: 312-837-4896.

Gift Shop — 11th Floor

Phone: 312-227-3400.

Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

The gift shop sells toys, books, stuffed animals, activities, non-latex balloons and Lurie Children’s merchandise.

• Child’s insurance card
• Parent/guardian government-issued photo ID
• Referral or authorization if required
• Medication list including dose and frequency
• Outside records or imaging if requested
• Previous test results relevant to the specialty
• List of questions for the doctor
• MyChart login if using electronic check-in
• Parking information and correct clinic floor/location

• Use 225 E. Chicago Ave.—not an obsolete Children’s Memorial Hospital address.
• Confirm the doctor and exact location because specialists may work at several sites.
• Verify insurance network status and referral requirements.
• Ask for a cost estimate before planned high-cost services.
• Complete MyChart registration/e-check-in before arrival when possible.
• Bring government-issued ID for adult visitors.
• Allow extra time for downtown traffic and parking.
• Validate Huron-Superior parking at the second-floor concierge desk.
• Use the Superior Street/second-floor route for pediatric emergency care.
• Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.