Cook’s Children’s Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

Where is the emergency entrance?

The ER entrance is on the east side of the medical center at the northeast corner of Terrell Avenue and 6th Avenue. Look for the red emergency signs and red awning.

Where should ER families park?

Cook Children’s instructs emergency families to park directly across from the Emergency Department in the emergency parking garage/area near 6th Avenue and West Terrell Avenue. After parking, cross the street and use the ramp to the red-awning patient entrance.

Level II pediatric trauma care

The Fort Worth Emergency Department is a Level II trauma center with 24-hour pediatric and surgical care and rapid access to experts from more than 60 pediatric specialties.

What happens after the visit?

Before discharge, the emergency team provides instructions explaining the child’s health problem, signs or symptoms to watch for, what the family should do at home and when the child should return for additional care.

Emergency physician fee

There is no single flat Cook Children’s ER fee. The final cost depends on the severity of the condition, physician evaluation, hospital emergency services, laboratory testing, imaging, medication, procedures, trauma services and whether the child is admitted.

Cook Children’s billing information states that families may receive emergency-department physician charges in addition to hospital ER charges.

Cook Children’s also provides urgent care in Fort Worth for appropriate non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

Use the Emergency Department instead for serious trauma, severe breathing problems, loss of consciousness, major bleeding, a potentially life-threatening reaction or another condition that may cause permanent harm.

Cook Children’s specialty appointments are generally scheduled directly through the relevant pediatric specialty rather than through one universal hospital appointment number.

Is there one Cook Children’s consultation fee?

No. Cook Children’s does not publish one fixed consultation charge that applies to every cardiologist, neurologist, surgeon, endocrinologist or other specialist.

Patient cost can depend on:

• New-patient vs. follow-up visit.
• Specialty.
• Hospital outpatient facility charge.
• Physician professional charge.
• Laboratory testing.
• Imaging.
• Medication.
• Procedures.
• Insurance network status.
• Copay.
• Deductible.
• Coinsurance.

Specialty-clinic billing

Cook Children’s specifically states that some specialty-clinic visits generate two bills: one for the physician and one for hospital outpatient services such as staff, supplies, procedures, laboratory services and equipment.

Emergency fee

ER care may include both an Emergency Department hospital charge and a physician charge. There is no single flat ER price that accurately represents every visit.

Patient estimate tool

Cook Children’s provides an official patient estimate tool for hospital and facility charges. The tool warns that the estimate:

• is not a guaranteed final price;
• covers estimated hospital/facility charges;
• may not include separately billing physicians or professionals;
• can change based on actual services provided;
• should be reviewed alongside insurance deductible and benefit information.

Estimate/billing questions: 682-885-4432.

Dodson outpatient surgery valet fee

Cook Children’s explicitly states that Dodson valet parking is free for outpatient surgery. Enter the valet ramp from Cooper Street in front of Dodson Specialty Clinics.

Regular garage parking fee

Cook Children’s current public Fort Worth parking pages identify which garage to use but do not publish a stable general garage rate table that can safely be quoted here as the current price.

Wheelchairs and wagons

Families needing a wagon or wheelchair for patient transport can ask at Information Desk B or D or call 682-885-6200.

Security escort

Security can provide an escort to parking areas at any time. Call 682-885-1047.

Current general visitor rules

• Visiting hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Parents and primary caregivers have unlimited access to the hospitalized child.
• Parents/primary caregivers may sleep at the bedside.
• Parents participate as partners in the child’s care.
• Siblings and other children may visit during regular visiting hours.
• Visitors with fever or illness should not visit.
• Hands should be washed before and after the visit.

PICU, NICU, transplant, oncology and other high-risk units may use more restrictive visitor rules based on infection risk and the child’s clinical condition. Confirm the specific unit’s current rule before bringing additional visitors.

Services performed at Dodson

• General pediatric surgery.
• ENT surgery.
• Urology.
• Plastic surgery.
• Gynecologic procedures.
• Dental procedures.
• Pain procedures.
• Abdominal and gastrointestinal surgery.
• Minimally invasive laparoscopy and thoracoscopy.
• Hernia repair.
• Thoracic/chest procedures.
• Tumor-related procedures.

Surgery-day parking

Outpatient surgery families should use the valet parking ramp on Cooper Street directly in front of Dodson Specialty Clinics. Valet is free for outpatient surgery.

Before surgery

• Confirm exact arrival time.
• Bring parent/legal guardian photo ID.
• Bring current insurance card.
• Bring referral/authorization if required.
• Bring the child’s medication and allergy list.
• Complete any required pre-operative testing.
• Follow individualized medication instructions.
• Follow the exact eating/drinking instructions from the anesthesia team.

Potential separate surgery bills

Surgery can generate separate charges from the hospital/facility, surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist, pathologist and laboratory.

Parents are integral members of the care team, but NICU/PICU bedside sleeping, sibling visits and additional visitor rules can differ from standard inpatient-unit policy.

Main Medical Center Retail Pharmacy

Main pharmacy services

• Fill prescriptions before leaving the hospital or clinic.
• Pediatric medication compounding.
• Injectable medications.
• Free prescription flavoring.
• Over-the-counter medicines.
• Pharmacist consultations.
• Phone and portal refills.
• Prescription transfer assistance.
• Room or clinic delivery in many cases.
• Insurance prior-authorization coordination.
• Payment assistance for eligible families.

Curbside pharmacy pickup

Use the Pharmacy Pick Up area on 6th Avenue at the green curb, then call 682-885-6914.

Dodson Retail Pharmacy

Email

releaseofinformation@cookchildrens.org

Mailing address

ATTN: HIM Release of Information
Cook Children’s Medical Center
801 Seventh Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76104

Who can authorize records?

• Parent or legal guardian for a minor, unless restricted by court order.
• Patients age 18 or older authorize their own record release.
• Valid government-issued picture ID is required when picking up records.

Request tips

• Specify the exact dates or date range.
• Specify the type of record needed.
• Check the x-ray image box when requesting actual imaging.
• Sign using the full legal signature.
• Incomplete forms may be returned and delay the request.

Medical-record fee

Cook Children’s states that fees may apply for copies of medical records and must be paid at or before release when applicable.

MyCookChildren’s provides secure online access to a child’s Cook Children’s health information.

Portal functions can include

• View selected test results.
• Send secure messages to participating physician offices.
• Print vaccine records.
• Request/refill prescriptions through supported services.
• Complete eCheck-In forms before participating appointments.
• Manage visit information.
• Request medical records electronically.
• Use Guest Pay for hospital bills.

Parent and teen access

A parent or legally authorized representative may request access for a child. Cook Children’s states:

• Parents generally receive full proxy access while the child is 17 or younger.
• At age 14, a child may receive their own portal access when approved by the parent/legal representative and provider.
• At age 18, parent proxy access ends unless the adult patient consents or the parent is legally authorized to act for the adult child.

Cook Children’s states that portal activation codes are generally emailed within approximately two business days after an approved access request.

What the hospital bill can include

• Hospital room charges.
• Medication.
• Operating room charges.
• Laboratory tests.
• Medical supplies.
• Equipment.
• Emergency Department hospital charges.

Separate doctor bills

Families may also receive separate professional bills from:

• Cardiologists.
• Neurologists.
• Pulmonologists.
• Hematologists/oncologists.
• Psychiatrists.
• Surgeons.
• Anesthesiologists.
• Radiologists.
• Pathologists.

Current insurance examples

Cook Children’s current 2026 insurance information includes contracted products from organizations such as:

• Aetna.
• Baylor Scott & White Health Plan.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
• Wellpoint.
• Aetna Better Health.
• Cook Children’s Health Plan.
• Molina Healthcare.
• Superior HealthPlan.
• Texas Children’s Health Plan.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
• Traditional Texas Medicaid.

Cook Children’s states that Healthcare Sharing Ministry plans, practitioner-only products, physician/ancillary-only products, reference-based pricing plans and discount insurance cards are treated as self-pay rather than contracted insurance.

Cook Children’s provides financial assistance for eligible uninsured, underinsured and financially distressed families receiving medically necessary care.

Current income-based discounts

Medical-indigence limits

For qualifying families with high medical bills, the policy may limit the remaining obligation to approximately:

• 5% of family income for certain households in the 400%-500% FPG range.
• 10% for qualifying households above 500%-600% FPG.
• 15% for qualifying households above 600%-700% FPG.
• 20% for qualifying households above 700% FPG.

Primary eligible Texas counties

• Tarrant
• Parker
• Johnson
• Denton
• Hood
• Wise
• Collin

How to apply

Cook Children’s states that a patient approved for financial assistance will not be charged more for emergency or medically necessary care than amounts generally billed to insured patients.

Child Life Zone

The Child Life Zone is on the first floor and publishes weekday hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. It includes creative activities, games, music, crafts and broadcast-studio programming.

Playrooms

Playrooms are available on most inpatient floors except PICU and NICU. Published hours are:

• Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Family Health Library

The Matustik Family Health Library is on the first floor near the 7th Avenue entrance. It is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. Phone: 682-885-3060.

Security and lost property

Hospital Security is on the first floor near the Emergency Department. For escorts, security concerns or lost-and-found help, call 682-885-1047.

Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth can accommodate up to 57 families each night and provides private bedrooms, private bathrooms, meals, laundry and family-support spaces.

Current hospital handbook eligibility details

• Serves families with an ill child age 21 or younger.
• New and returning families require referral from a hospital social worker.
• Adults age 18+ staying overnight must pass a background check.
• Families are placed on a waiting list based on requested check-in date and availability.
• Check-in/check-out is generally 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. unless other arrangements are made.
• Call 817-870-4942 for current room availability.
• Every adult guest must show photo ID at check-in.

Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Cook Children’s

A Ronald McDonald Family Room is located inside Cook Children’s near the PICU and provides:

• Kitchen area.
• Refrigerator and microwave.
• Internet access.
• TV seating area.
• Quiet room.
• Complimentary coffee and snacks.

Patient Representatives can help with

• Patient rights and responsibilities.
• Unresolved service concerns.
• Care-quality complaints.
• Formal grievances.
• Communication with hospital departments.
• Compliments and feedback.

Email: patientrepresentative@cookchildrens.org.

Language assistance

Cook Children’s provides language and interpreter services for families who need help understanding medical information. Tell the clinic, registration desk or care team about language or communication needs as early as possible.

Global / international family support

Cook Children’s Global Health Services helps out-of-state and international families with appointment coordination, travel, accommodations, financial counseling, insurance approval and language support.

Global Health care coordinators: +1-682-303-1376.