Primary Children’s Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

Specialized pediatric emergency care

The Emergency Department is designed specifically for children and teens. Its nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, imaging teams and Child Life specialists have pediatric training.

Trauma capability includes

• Severe injury stabilization.
• Pediatric trauma surgery.
• Emergency imaging.
• Critical-care support.
• Neurological and orthopedic consultation.
• Child Life support.
• Rapid access to pediatric subspecialists.

Pediatric Life Flight

Intermountain’s dedicated pediatric Life Flight team transports seriously ill and injured children. A separate neonatal transport team provides specialized transport for premature newborns and infants younger than 30 days.

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Pediatric general surgery

Orthopedics

Hematology / oncology

William C. Thomsen, MD is a current pediatric hematology-oncology provider affiliated with Primary Children’s. The Sorenson Center can be reached at 801-662-4700.

Heart Center services include

• General pediatric cardiology.
• Congenital heart disease.
• Fetal cardiology.
• Cardiac genetics.
• Cardiac imaging.
• Cardiac catheterization.
• Electrophysiology.
• Congenital heart surgery.
• Heart failure care.
• Heart transplantation.
• Cardiac critical care.
• Neurodevelopmental follow-up.

Neurology programs include

• Comprehensive epilepsy care.
• Headache and migraine.
• Neuromuscular disease.
• Pediatric stroke.
• Dysautonomia.
• Leukodystrophy.
• Neuro-autoimmune disorders.
• Neurogenetics.

Neurosurgery programs include

• Brain tumors and neuro-oncology.
• Chiari malformation.
• Epilepsy surgery.
• Craniofacial disorders.
• Spina bifida.
• Complex spine conditions.
• Hydrocephalus and other pediatric neurosurgical disorders.

Programs can include

• Pediatric leukemia.
• Lymphoma.
• Brain and spinal tumors.
• Solid tumors.
• Bone and soft-tissue tumors.
• Blood disorders.
• Sickle cell disease.
• Bone marrow and stem-cell therapy.
• Clinical research.
• Long-term survivorship.
• Psychosocial and family support.

Orthopedic specialties include

• Fractures.
• Sports injuries.
• Scoliosis.
• Complex spinal deformity.
• Limb malalignment.
• Hip conditions.
• Hand surgery.
• Bone tumors.
• Congenital musculoskeletal conditions.

Bring outside imaging

If the orthopedic team requests prior X-rays, CT or MRI images, arrange transfer before the appointment or bring them in the requested format. This can help the specialist compare previous findings and avoid unnecessary duplication.

Conditions commonly treated include

• Appendicitis.
• Hernias.
• Gallbladder disease.
• Congenital abdominal-wall defects.
• Colorectal disorders.
• Esophageal and airway conditions.
• Pulmonary hypoplasia.
• Thyroid and endocrine surgical disorders.
• Tumors and cysts.
• Pediatric trauma.

Primary Children’s provides pediatric critical-care services for children who need continuous monitoring, advanced respiratory support, complex medication management or close postoperative and trauma care.

Critical-care support may include

• Mechanical ventilation.
• Continuous cardiovascular monitoring.
• Complex postoperative care.
• Trauma critical care.
• Neurological intensive care.
• Specialty consultation.
• Pediatric pharmacy and respiratory therapy.

Current general critical-care visitor hours are 7 a.m.–9 p.m., although bedside limits and additional precautions are determined by the clinical team.

Neonatal intensive care

Primary Children’s provides advanced neonatal care for premature and critically ill newborns who need pediatric subspecialists, surgery or complex hospital treatment.

Intermountain’s neonatal transport service provides specialized air transport for premature newborns and infants younger than 30 days.

NICU visitor rule to know

Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center

The fetal center coordinates maternal-fetal medicine with pediatric surgery, neonatology, imaging, neurosurgery and other pediatric specialists when a serious condition is diagnosed before birth.

Primary Children’s imaging equipment and protocols are adapted specifically for children. Pediatric radiologists interpret the studies, and imaging teams follow child-focused radiation-safety practices.

Imaging can include

• X-ray.
• Ultrasound.
• CT.
• MRI.
• Fluoroscopy.
• Interventional radiology.
• Specialized pediatric imaging.

For a scheduled imaging visit

• Arrive about 15 minutes before the scheduled exam.
• Bring the physician order if one was given to you.
• Bring current insurance information.
• Bring a current medication list if sedation or contrast is planned.
• Follow fasting instructions exactly when sedation is required.

Primary Children’s provides pediatric laboratory testing in the main hospital and outpatient settings. Test preparation depends on the order.

Before going to the lab

• Confirm the order has been placed.
• Ask whether fasting is required.
• Confirm main hospital vs Eccles outpatient laboratory.
• Bring insurance information.
• Bring identification for the parent/guardian when requested.

The pharmacy serves children and adults and specializes in pediatric medication preparation and counseling.

Services include

• Pediatric prescription medications.
• Specialty compounded medications.
• Liquid medication preparation.
• Medication flavoring.
• Pediatric medication counseling.
• Home delivery and shipping.
• Automated refills.
• Drug take-back boxes.
• Eligible immunizations.

Why more than one bill can arrive

Intermountain explains that hospital patients can receive separate bills for hospital services and for individual physicians involved in treatment.

Separate professional charges can include:

• Emergency physicians.
• Radiologists.
• Cardiologists.
• Anesthesiologists.
• Surgeons.
• Other consulting specialists.

How to get an estimate

Families can use the Intermountain Health app/MyChart estimate tool for many scheduled procedures. Estimates are most accurate when you know the planned service or procedure code and the child’s insurance information.

Primary Children’s participates with many insurance plans, Medicaid products and other coverage arrangements, but participation can differ by individual plan and physician.

Before scheduled specialty care, verify

• Is Primary Children’s Hospital in-network?
• Is the individual University of Utah or Intermountain physician in-network?
• Is the Eccles outpatient clinic in-network?
• Does the plan require a pediatrician referral?
• Is prior authorization required?
• What deductible remains?
• What specialist copay or coinsurance applies?
• Will imaging, anesthesia or pathology be billed separately?

Intermountain Health provides financial assistance for eligible medically necessary care based on factors including household size, income and medical hardship.

Medical hardship

Families may also qualify under a catastrophic-medical-cost review. Intermountain currently describes catastrophic assistance as situations where total medical bills exceed 25% of family income.

Uninsured patients

Intermountain states that uninsured hospital patients who do not qualify for another assistance program receive an automatic cash discount.

How to apply

Valet

Free valet service is available outside both buildings. Current valet operating times can change, so families with an early or late appointment should check the hospital’s visit page or call before relying on valet.

Emergency entrance

Follow Emergency Department signs on the main hospital side of the campus rather than entering through a routine outpatient clinic entrance.

General visitor guidance

• Visitor numbers at the bedside are determined by the care team.
• Some units can be more restrictive because of room size or vulnerable patients.
• Visitors can be any age in most hospital areas unless a unit has an exception.
• Visitors who are sick should not visit.
• Mask requirements can change in vulnerable units or during respiratory-virus season.

Start with MyChart

The Intermountain Health app powered by MyChart can provide no-cost access to selected records, including:

• History and physicals.
• Discharge summaries.
• Laboratory results.
• Imaging reports and available images.
• Emergency Department notes.
• Progress notes.

Full Intermountain record request

Utah and Idaho requests can be submitted to:

Intermountain Health — Release of Information
P.O. Box 571069
Murray, UT 84157

Fax: 385-215-7047.

Intermountain states that full record requests are filled within 30 days.

Records from both Intermountain and University of Utah

Families can use the MyChart “Happy Together” feature to link a child’s Intermountain and University of Utah records.

Parent access

For children age 12 and younger, a parent or legal guardian can request proxy access using the MyChart “Request Access to a Child’s Record” option.

Teens ages 13–17 can have their own MyChart account and can grant parent/guardian access subject to privacy rules.

Primary Children’s offers extensive support for children, siblings and caregivers during outpatient and inpatient care.

Patient and sibling spaces

• Forever Young Zone for younger children.
• Teen Room for ages 13+.
• Hope Garden.
• Sophie’s Place music-therapy room.
• School Zone.
• Sensory room.
• Ronald McDonald Family Rooms.

Kids Clubhouse

The supervised Kids Clubhouse in the Eccles outpatient lobby can be used by eligible patients and siblings age 3 and older during outpatient appointments.

Scheduling: 801-662-7182.

Aspen Park Café — main hospital lobby

Current hours:

• Weekdays: 6:30 a.m.–2 a.m.
• Weekends: 7 a.m.–midnight

Treehouse Café — main hospital lobby

• Weekdays: 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Weekends: 6:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Mountainside Café — Eccles outpatient lobby

Weekdays: 7 a.m.–2 p.m..

The Shoppe

Meditation room

The hospital meditation room is open 24 hours a day for quiet reflection, prayer and rest.