Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

Monroe Carell is the only verified Level I Pediatric Trauma Center within roughly 200 miles of Nashville. The hospital describes itself as one of the country’s busiest verified pediatric Level I trauma centers.

24-hour pediatric resources

• Board-certified pediatric emergency physicians.
• Pediatric trauma specialists.
• Operating rooms.
• On-site CT and MRI.
• Emergency respiratory therapy.
• Pediatric critical care.
• Child Life specialists.
• Social workers.
• Pediatric surgical subspecialists.

Pediatric stroke response

The Emergency Department has a rapid-response pediatric stroke process that can bring together specialists from Neurology, Radiology, Hematology, Critical Care and other services.

Current ER visitor rule

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

Fast Track inside the Emergency Department

Monroe Carell operates a Fast Track area for selected minor illnesses and injuries. Vanderbilt currently reports an average room-to-discharge time of about 60 minutes for patients treated through Fast Track.

Vanderbilt Children’s also operates After-Hours Clinics for illnesses or injuries that need prompt pediatric evaluation but do not require emergency-level resources.

How the appointment waitlist works

When a cancellation creates an earlier opening, eligible families can receive a My Health notification. Vanderbilt currently gives the patient about two hours to claim an offered earlier slot before it is made available elsewhere.

Pediatric cardiology and heart surgery

Pediatric neurosurgery

Pediatric cancer and blood-disorder providers

Other current provider examples

The Pediatric Heart Institute treats congenital and acquired heart disease from fetal diagnosis through childhood and transition into adult congenital heart care.

Heart services include

• General pediatric cardiology.
• Fetal cardiology.
• Cardiac MRI and CT.
• Heart catheterization.
• Arrhythmia evaluation and ablation.
• Pacemakers and defibrillators.
• Cardiomyopathy.
• Mechanical circulatory support.
• ECMO.
• Pediatric heart surgery.
• Heart transplant.
• Pulmonary-hypertension care.

Urgent cardiology consultations

The Cardiology Clinic states that it can often schedule children with urgent needs within one to two days, depending on the condition and available appointments.

Monroe Carell’s Pediatric Cancer Program works with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and treats leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors, sarcoma, solid tumors and many rare childhood cancers.

Blood-disorder services include

• Sickle cell disease.
• Anemia.
• Thrombosis and clotting disorders.
• Bone-marrow failure.
• Vascular anomalies.
• Immunologic disorders.
• Blood transfusion.
• IV medication infusions.

Cancer treatments include

• Chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy.
• CAR T-cell therapy for eligible diagnoses.
• Stem-cell transplant.
• Radiation therapy.
• Surgery.
• Clinical trials.
• Palliative and psychosocial support.

Neurology programs include

• Comprehensive Epilepsy Clinic.
• New Onset Seizure Clinic.
• EEG and EMG.
• Neuromuscular disease.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Leukodystrophy.
• Neurovascular/stroke care.
• Ketogenic diet program.
• Movement disorders.

Neurosurgery treats

• Brain and spinal-cord tumors.
• Hydrocephalus.
• Epilepsy requiring surgery.
• Congenital brain and spinal conditions.
• Craniofacial disorders.
• Spasticity.
• Peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injuries.
• Neurovascular disorders.
• Brain trauma.

The Pediatric Critical Care Unit combines general pediatric intensive care with a dedicated Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

PCICU team

The 23-bed PCICU cares specifically for critically ill children with heart disease, including patients recovering from cardiac surgery. The team includes cardiac critical care physicians, advanced-practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, case managers and Child Life specialists.

Vanderbilt describes Monroe Carell’s Level IV NICU as the highest level of neonatal care in the state and the only Level IV NICU in Middle Tennessee.

The Neonatology division reports more than 1,400 NICU admissions annually.

NICU care includes

• Extremely premature infants.
• Complex congenital conditions.
• Advanced respiratory support.
• Neonatal surgery.
• ECMO for eligible babies.
• Specialty cardiac, surgical and neurologic care.
• Family-centered rooming and participation.
• NICU Bridge to Home for selected infants.

NICU Bridge to Home

Selected medically appropriate babies can transition home sooner while remaining connected to Vanderbilt’s neonatal team through remote monitoring and telehealth. Vanderbilt reports that eligible families using the program leave the NICU about nine days earlier on average.

Current hospital reporting describes 21 operating rooms across three surgical locations.

Pediatric surgical specialties include

• General and thoracic surgery.
• Cardiac surgery.
• Neurosurgery.
• Orthopaedic surgery.
• ENT / head and neck surgery.
• Plastic and craniofacial surgery.
• Urology.
• Ophthalmology.
• Hand and upper-extremity surgery.
• Gastrointestinal procedures.

Pediatric anesthesia

Vanderbilt states that surgeries at Monroe Carell are staffed with fellowship-trained, board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists experienced in providing anesthesia specifically for children.

Day-of-surgery visitors

Current visitor policy allows up to four parents/caregivers age 16 or older in the surgery waiting area. Two caregivers may be with the child in preoperative holding and recovery.

Surgery parking

Vanderbilt specifically identifies South Garage as dedicated, convenient parking for main-campus children’s surgery, with free self-parking and free valet service.

What can make an ER bill larger?

• Emergency facility/evaluation level.
• Pediatric emergency physician services.
• Laboratory tests.
• X-rays.
• CT, MRI or ultrasound.
• Medication.
• Procedures and sedation.
• Trauma activation.
• Specialist consultation.
• Operating-room care.
• PICU, PCICU, NICU or inpatient admission.

Why doctor fees vary

A first pediatric cardiology visit, neurology evaluation, oncology consultation, surgeon visit and emergency physician service use different billing codes. Insurance deductibles, copays, coinsurance and network rules further change the patient’s final responsibility.

Vanderbilt’s current 2026 Monroe Carell insurance list includes many national, regional, Medicaid and military products.

Ask your insurance company

1. Is Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in network?
2. Is my child’s specific doctor in network?
3. Does this specialist require a referral?
4. Does the test or procedure require prior authorization?
5. What are our deductible, copay and coinsurance?
6. Will professional and hospital charges process separately?

Current phone payment / bill help by last name

Pay through My Health at Vanderbilt

In My Health, choose Menu → Billing → Billing Summary. Families with authorized access to a child’s account can view eligible balances, statements and payment details.

Mail a payment

Current 2026 charity-care scale

2026 example for a family of four

Vanderbilt’s 2026 guideline lists a four-person household at:

• $0–$74,250: potentially 100% of estimated patient liability discounted for eligible care.
• $74,251–$82,500: potentially 85% discounted for eligible care.

Uninsured patients

Vanderbilt applies an uninsured-patient discount before the first billing statement, regardless of whether the patient ultimately qualifies for income-based charity care.

For patients qualifying under the Financial Assistance Policy, Vanderbilt’s currently published Amounts Generally Billed calculation means eligible patients cannot be charged more for emergency and medically necessary care than the amount generally billed to insured patients.

How to apply

Fastest route

Legal-representative documents

If someone is requesting records for a patient other than their own child, Vanderbilt may require documentation such as guardianship papers, power of attorney, executor documents, a birth certificate or other proof of legal authority.

The pharmacy also carries some personal toiletry items useful to families during an inpatient stay.

South Garage

The most convenient garage for Monroe Carell is South Garage, using the Children’s Way entrance between 23rd Avenue and 24th Avenue.

After parking, follow signs to the hospital end of the garage and use the second-floor connecting bridge into Monroe Carell.

Free valet

Long-term parking

Families staying for an extended admission should call Parking Facilities at 615-936-1215 for current long-term options.

RV parking

Vanderbilt provides authorized RV parking in Lot 75 near Blakemore Avenue and Natchez Trace. Call 615-936-1215, option 3 before arrival.

Hospitality shuttle

On-call shuttle service may be available for families with extended stays, including trips involving Ronald McDonald House and selected nearby lodging. Call 615-936-1215.

Inpatient room

• Two parent-approved visitors age 18+ may stay with the child 24/7.
• Up to four people may be in the room during normal visiting hours.
• Overnight visitors should arrive before 8 p.m.
• People with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, cold symptoms or contagious exposure should not visit patient floors.

Young child visitors

Visitors age 5 and younger who are entering selected high-risk units—including the NICU and certain transplant/immune-sensitive floors—may require a health screening before visiting.

Emergency Department

Up to four visitors age 16+ are currently allowed with a child in the Emergency Department, subject to clinical and space limitations.

Surgery

Four caregivers age 16+ may accompany a child to the surgery waiting area. Two may be present in holding before surgery and recovery afterward. If the child becomes an inpatient, two caregivers may stay overnight.

Outpatient clinics

Current policy permits two visitors with a child in outpatient clinics and doctors’ offices.

Balloons and smoking

• Only non-latex balloons are permitted.
• Latex/rubber balloons are prohibited because of allergy and choking concerns.
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center campuses are smoke-free and vape-free.

Family Resource Center

The Junior League Family Resource Center can help parents research a child’s condition, access computers, printing, fax services and chargers, and organize health information.

Free laundry

Family laundry facilities are available inside the hospital. Ask the child’s nurse for the closest location.

Free Wi-Fi

Wireless internet access is available for families. Technical help: 615-343-4357.

Ronald McDonald House Family Room

The hospital has a Ronald McDonald House Family Room on the 5th floor. Snacks and beverages are available when volunteers are present. Current listed hours are generally 9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily.

Children’s Way Café — second floor

The Friends Shop

Other useful amenities

• ATM near Children’s Way Café.
• Breast-milk pumping rooms.
• Family business centers.
• Playrooms by age group.
• Sibling play area.
• Open-air areas on several floors.
• Spiritual Care: 615-936-0425.