Duke Children’s Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

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Pediatric Hospital Guide · Duke Health · Durham NC

Duke Children’s Hospital pediatric care, phone numbers, emergency room, appointments, visitor info, records, billing, and parking

Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center is located at 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705. Patient Information is 919-684-2410, and General Information is 919-684-8111.

The hospital is a pediatric “hospital within a hospital” on the Duke University Hospital campus, with pediatric and neonatal intensive care units, specialty clinics, pediatric emergency care, procedure areas, infusion care, surgery support, and family-centered visitor resources.

Call Patient Information Call General Information Emergency Dept. Appointments
Emergency warning: For a life-threatening condition, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. The Duke University Hospital Emergency Room at 2301 Erwin Rd is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and includes a dedicated pediatric emergency area. Call 919-684-2413 for Emergency Department information.
Hospital address 2301 Erwin Rd

Durham, NC 27705.

Patient Information 919-684-2410

Use for patient location and hospital information questions.

General Information 919-684-8111

Main Duke University Hospital campus information line.

Emergency Department 919-684-2413

24/7 emergency department with pediatric emergency area.

Medical records Authorization required

Health Information Management handles official record release.

Patient portal My Duke Health

Appointments, records, bills, test results, and secure messages.

About Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center

A practical parent-focused guide for hospital visits, clinic visits, emergencies, records, billing, and campus navigation.

Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center serves children and families through inpatient pediatric care, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, specialty clinics, pediatric emergency support, outpatient procedures, surgery-related care, infusion services, and coordinated Duke Health specialty access.

The Duke Children’s Health Center is adjacent to Duke University Hospital and includes specialty clinics, a pediatric endoscopy and procedure suite, a pediatric perioperative suite, an outpatient pharmacy, and the Jim Valvano Day Hospital for children and adolescents receiving chemotherapy and other outpatient infusions.

Use the right entrance and phone number: Duke Children’s services are connected to the Duke University Hospital campus. For a scheduled clinic or procedure, follow the instructions in your appointment message. For emergency symptoms, use the Emergency Department route.

Duke Children’s Hospital phone directory

Use the correct number so your question reaches the right team faster.

Need Phone / route Use it for
Patient Information 919-684-2410 Patient location, hospital information, and general patient-related routing.
General Information 919-684-8111 General Duke University Hospital campus information.
Emergency Department 919-684-2413 Emergency Department information. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.
Appointments for new primary care access 855-855-6484 Duke Health appointment support for patients without a primary care provider.
Medical records help 919-384-7119 Health Information Management help with release forms and record requests.
Billing customer service 919-620-4555 or 1-800-782-6945 Bills, itemized statements, payment plans, financial assistance, refunds, and billing review.
Patient Relations 919-681-2020 Care concerns, suggestions, compliments, and help after discussing issues with the care team.
Duke Parking Services 919-684-7275 Oversized vehicle passes, parking services, and campus parking questions.
Call routing tip: For urgent symptoms, do not use portal messaging. Use the emergency route, your child’s clinic phone instructions, nurse triage instructions, or 911 depending on severity.

Pediatric emergency and urgent care guidance

Duke Children’s pediatric emergency care is tied to the Duke University Hospital Emergency Room.

Emergency Department

The Duke University Hospital Emergency Room at 2301 Erwin Rd is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. It includes a dedicated pediatric emergency area with pediatric emergency medicine specialists and nurses.

When to use the ER

Go to the ER or call 911 for severe breathing trouble, major injury, seizure, severe allergic reaction, poisoning, heavy bleeding, serious burns, trauma, unconsciousness, or other life-threatening symptoms.

Urgent care

For non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries that should not wait for a regular clinic visit, Duke Health urgent care locations may be more appropriate than the ER.

Specialty coordination

If your child already sees a Duke specialist, bring medication lists, diagnosis information, recent discharge papers, and the specialist’s clinic details.

Safety rule: Online articles cannot triage your child. If symptoms feel dangerous, sudden, severe, or rapidly worsening, call 911 or go to the closest emergency department.

Appointments, referrals, check-in, and cancellation steps

How families can plan clinic visits, specialty visits, follow-ups, and procedure-day check-ins.

Use My Duke Health if you are already connected to a provider. Existing Duke patients may see available slots and schedule certain well, sick, primary care, urgent care, or specialty return visits through My Duke Health.
Call appointment support if you do not have a Duke provider. New patients can call 855-855-6484, Monday through Friday during Duke’s posted appointment-support hours, or search DukeHealth.org for a provider.
Confirm whether a referral or authorization is needed. Pediatric specialty care may require a physician referral, insurance authorization, records transfer, imaging, lab results, or prior clinic notes.
Bring the right information. Bring photo ID for the parent/guardian when needed, insurance card, medication list, allergies, prior records, vaccine records, imaging, and guardianship or custody papers if relevant.
Cancel or reschedule early. Duke Health asks patients to cancel or reschedule 24 hours before the appointment when possible, through My Duke Health or by calling the office.
Parent checklist: Ask whether your child’s visit is in the hospital tower, Children’s Health Center, Duke Clinic, Duke Medicine Pavilion, Duke Cancer Center, or another Duke pediatric location before you park.

Pediatric services and care areas at Duke Children’s

Duke Children’s includes hospital care, emergency care, specialty clinics, procedures, intensive care, and coordinated pediatric subspecialty support.

Care area What it may include Practical family note
Pediatric inpatient care Hospital stays, nurse care, physician rounds, specialty consultation, child and family support, and discharge planning. Ask the care team about rounds, discharge criteria, medication changes, and home-care instructions.
NICU and PICU Neonatal and pediatric intensive care units for critically ill infants, children, and adolescents. Visitor, infection-prevention, and overnight rules may be stricter in intensive care units.
Pediatric emergency area A dedicated pediatric emergency waiting area, pediatric emergency specialists, and emergency equipment for children. Use ER for emergencies. Use urgent care or clinic routes for non-life-threatening needs.
Specialty clinics Pediatric specialty visits across multiple disciplines, including cardiology, pulmonary, neurology, hematology/oncology, surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, rheumatology, infectious disease, allergy, nutrition, and adolescent care. Specialty visits may need referral notes, insurance authorization, imaging, lab work, and prior records.
Procedures and surgery support Pediatric endoscopy, bronchoscopy, perioperative suites, procedure-day check-in, sedation, and surgical specialty coordination. Follow fasting, medication, arrival-time, and parent/guardian instructions exactly.
Infusion and oncology support Jim Valvano Day Hospital services for chemotherapy and outpatient infusions for children and adolescents. Ask about visit length, lab timing, pharmacy timing, food, schoolwork, and caregiver needs.
Outpatient pharmacy Medication support for hospital and clinic patients when available through the Children’s Health Center setting. Check whether prescriptions are ready before leaving campus and confirm insurance coverage.

Visitor information, patient mail, family support, and hospital stay tips

Visitor rules can change, especially during respiratory illness seasons or unit-specific infection-prevention periods.

Visitor rules
Review current Duke Health visitor guidelines before coming. Some units, ICUs, isolation rooms, and procedure areas may have different rules.
Waiting areas
Duke Children’s visitor information describes family-centered waiting areas with Kid Zone and Teen Zone spaces.
Patient mail
Mail can be addressed with the patient’s name and room number to Duke Children’s Hospital, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710. Mark letters clearly as “Patient Mail.”
Flowers
Duke notes that flowers are not allowed on some intensive care units. Ask the unit before sending flowers or gifts.
Language help
Duke Health provides interpreter services for patients who prefer to communicate in a language other than English.
Before visiting: Confirm the patient’s room, unit, visitor age rules, badge/check-in requirements, and whether symptoms such as fever, cough, vomiting, rash, or exposure should keep you home.

My Duke Health portal for pediatric families

My Duke Health is the secure Duke portal for scheduling, records, test results, billing, messages, and proxy access.

Appointments

Use My Duke Health to view available appointment slots when supported by the provider or clinic, including certain well, sick, return, urgent care, and specialty visits.

Test results and records

The portal provides access to portions of the medical record, including health summaries, preventive care information, past and current appointments, medications, and many test results.

Secure messages

Use secure messages for non-urgent questions. Do not use portal messages for emergency symptoms or rapidly worsening concerns.

Proxy access

Parents and caregivers should review Duke’s proxy-access rules, especially for adolescent patients, because access may change as children age.

Portal support: For My Duke Health questions, Duke lists Customer Service at 919-620-4555 or 1-800-782-6945.

Medical records, privacy, release forms, and school or specialist paperwork

Use Duke Health Information Management for official records, especially when another hospital, school, agency, or specialist needs documentation.

Use written authorization. Duke states that written authorization is required for medical records from Duke University Hospital and must be submitted to Health Information Management.
Bring accepted identification for in-person requests. Duke lists accepted ID examples such as driver’s license, passport, DMV ID card, military ID card, or government-issued ID.
Allow time for older or complex records. Same-day service depends on availability, request volume, age of records, format requested, and additional approvals.
Use the correct records contact. Health Information Management can answer release-form questions at 919-384-7119.
Protect sensitive pediatric information. Do not post medical records, portal screenshots, diagnosis details, school records, insurance numbers, or minor-child information publicly.
Mailing route listed by Duke: Duke University Hospital, Health Information Management, Release of Information, PO Box 3016, Durham, NC 27710. Confirm current instructions before mailing any form.

Billing, insurance, facility charges, payment plans, and financial help

Children’s hospital and specialty care can involve physician charges, hospital charges, facility charges, insurance authorization, and separate bills.

Billing topic What Duke guidance says Family action step
Paying a bill Duke lists online payment through My Duke Health, mail payment by check, and guest payment by loved ones or caregivers. Keep the statement, visit date, account number, guarantor name, and insurance explanation of benefits together.
Due date Duke’s pay-my-bill page says payment is due 15 days after receiving a bill. Call billing if you need an itemized statement, review, payment plan, or financial assistance.
Billing support Duke Customer Service is listed at 919-620-4555 or 1-800-782-6945. Use Customer Service for refund questions, itemized statements, disputes, and payment plan questions.
Insurance coverage Duke advises patients to confirm coverage and patient responsibility directly with the insurance company. Ask your insurer about network status, referral rules, authorization, copay, coinsurance, deductible, and facility charges.
Hospital-based clinics Some Duke Children’s Health Center clinics are hospital-based outpatient departments and may have additional facility charges. Ask before the visit whether there may be separate hospital and physician charges.
Financial assistance Duke billing resources include payment plans and financial assistance options. Call early if the balance is unaffordable rather than waiting until multiple bills arrive.
Billing caution: A scheduled visit does not guarantee insurance payment. Confirm plan coverage, referral requirements, prior authorization, and out-of-pocket responsibility before non-emergency specialty care.

Parking, garage choices, transit, and arrival tips

Duke’s medical campus has multiple entrances and parking areas. Choose the one tied to your appointment location.

Parking or transit option Best for What to know
CHC parking lot Appointments at Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center Duke clinic guidance lists CHC parking off the Duke University Hospital entrance for $8. Enter the lobby traffic circle from Erwin Road and follow signs.
Duke Hospital Garage Duke University Hospital, Emergency Department visitors, and Duke Children’s access through the Erwin Road hospital entrance Located across Erwin Road from Duke University Hospital with a climate-controlled walkway under Erwin Road.
Duke Medicine Circle Garage Duke Clinic, Duke Medicine Pavilion, and Duke Cancer Center Duke lists a rate of $2 per hour or maximum $14 per day for this garage.
Discounted parking passes Frequent appointment or admitted-patient visits Duke lists one-use and five-use passes for eligible patients and visitors. Ask an information desk for current rules.
Oversized vehicles Vans, oversized vehicles, special parking needs Duke Parking Services is listed at 919-684-7275.
Public transportation Families using local bus routes or Duke Transit Duke Health lists GoDurham, GoTriangle, and Duke Transit options for the medical campus.
Arrival tip: Leave extra time for parking, walking, check-in, security/visitor steps, and elevators. Bring appointment instructions with the exact building, floor, clinic name, and provider name.

Before you go: parent and caregiver checklist

Use this checklist for a clinic appointment, hospital admission, procedure day, infusion visit, imaging appointment, or emergency visit.

Bring documents

  • Insurance card and photo ID.
  • Referral or authorization if required.
  • Medication list and allergies.
  • Prior records, imaging, labs, and discharge summaries.
  • Custody, guardianship, or consent paperwork if relevant.

For procedures

  • Confirm arrival time and location.
  • Follow eating, drinking, and medication instructions.
  • Ask what to do if your child becomes sick before the procedure.
  • Bring comfort items allowed by the unit.

For admissions

  • Ask about parent overnight rules.
  • Confirm visitor limits and badge/check-in rules.
  • Bring chargers, glasses, hearing devices, and comfort items.
  • Ask about school, work notes, and discharge paperwork.

For emergency visits

  • Bring medication bottles if safe to do so.
  • Bring recent test results if your child receives care elsewhere.
  • Tell staff about complex conditions, devices, allergies, and specialists.
  • Do not delay emergency care to gather paperwork.

Duke Children’s Hospital map and nearby emergency entrance

Use Duke Health’s official directions for final route and parking details, especially if your visit is in a specific tower, clinic, procedure area, or emergency department.

Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center

2301 Erwin Rd
Durham, NC 27705
Patient Information: 919-684-2410
General Information: 919-684-8111

Use for pediatric hospital, Children’s Health Center, and campus appointment planning. Confirm your clinic or unit location before parking.

Duke University Hospital Emergency Room

2301 Erwin Rd
Durham, NC 27705
Emergency Department: 919-684-2413
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

Use for emergency care. Emergency Department patients may use the ER arrival and parking instructions listed by Duke Health.

Duke Children’s Hospital FAQs

Common questions parents and caregivers ask before a pediatric hospital, clinic, emergency, or specialty visit.

1. What is the address of Duke Children’s Hospital?
Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center is located at 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705.
2. What is the main phone number for Duke Children’s Hospital?
Patient Information is 919-684-2410. General Information for the Duke University Hospital campus is 919-684-8111.
3. Is Duke Children’s Hospital emergency care open 24 hours?
The Duke University Hospital Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and includes a dedicated pediatric emergency area. The Emergency Department phone number is 919-684-2413.
4. How do I make an appointment with Duke Children’s?
Existing Duke patients may use My Duke Health for supported appointment scheduling. New patients can search DukeHealth.org for providers or call Duke appointment support at 855-855-6484.
5. Does Duke Children’s have pediatric specialists?
Yes. Duke Children’s offers broad pediatric specialty care across hospital, outpatient, emergency, surgical, procedure, intensive care, and subspecialty settings. Specialty visits may require referrals, prior records, and insurance authorization.
6. How do I access my child’s Duke medical records?
Use My Duke Health for portal-accessible information. For official medical records from Duke University Hospital, written authorization is required through Health Information Management. Duke lists release-of-information help at 919-384-7119.
7. Where should I park for Duke Children’s Hospital?
For Duke Children’s Health Center appointments, Duke lists a CHC parking lot off the Duke University Hospital entrance. The Duke Hospital Garage across Erwin Road is also commonly used for Duke University Hospital and Duke Children’s access.
8. How do I pay a Duke Children’s hospital bill?
Duke bills can be paid through My Duke Health, by mail using statement instructions, or by guest payment when available. Billing Customer Service is 919-620-4555 or 1-800-782-6945.
9. Are visitor rules the same for every pediatric unit?
No. Duke Health visitor rules can change, and specific units such as intensive care, isolation, surgery, or procedure areas may have special rules. Review current visitor guidelines before visiting.
10. Is this website affiliated with Duke Health?
No. This is an independent informational guide. Use Duke Health, your child’s care team, My Duke Health, billing support, medical records, or emergency services for official decisions and current instructions.