Preparing for your stay or visit

Where will my child or youth be staying?

There are eight inpatient units at CHEO, including Neonatal Intensive Care and Pediatric Intensive Care.

Sometimes a child may be moved within a unit, or moved to a different one, usually because of space pressures. You will be notified in advance if this is to happen.

There are no private rooms, however there are single rooms used for isolation purposes. If your child or youth does not need to be isolated, they will share a room with one or two other children or youth.

Who will be caring for my child or youth?

How do I inquire about my child or youth?

As a parent and valued member of your child's care team, you may call the hospital any time for updates. The unit where your child is staying can be reached through the hospital switchboard at 613-737-7600, or directly through the unit's phone number.

Shift change is a busy time and outside calls will not be taken between 7:30-8:30 am and 7:30-8:30 pm. We're happy to take your calls at any time, with the exceptions of these indicated times. Information is always readily available through your child's nurse, who can also help you reach any other of the health-care team members caring for your child.

Updates and information will only be supplied to the parent or legal guardian of a child. We would therefore appreciate your asking other family members or friends to check with you, and not the unit, for information. Respecting the privacy of other children, youth and their families is extremely important.

What about visiting?

When parents and caregivers come with their children and youth to CHEO, they’re not visiting. They are actively working as part of their child’s care team, providing us with vital health information only they would know and giving emotional support in a way only a parent or caregiver can.

In order to help keep everyone safe and minimize the chance of transmission of infections during this pandemic, family caregivers will be screened before entering CHEO's main campus, and will not be allowed to enter if they are sick. All children, youth and family caregivers must enter through the main entrance for clinic visits, or the Emergency Department in urgent cases. Other entrances are closed.

Until further notice and effective immediately:

• To limit the number of people in the building, ONE caregiver will be allowed to accompany children and youth while at CHEO, whether in clinic, or emergency department
• Children and youth who are admitted as inpatients may have two designated family caregivers who can be present during the day. Only ONE may be on site overnight. Only those who have been screened daily will be permitted at the bedside.
• Siblings who are not designated caregivers are not permitted. We appreciate that this requires you to make childcare arrangements for any siblings, and we are so thankful for your support in doing so.

Given the seriousness of this pandemic, it is important that designated caregivers refrain from coming to CHEO if they are feeling unwell or displaying symptoms such as fever or cough. Rest assured, CHEO will find extra support for your child if you are unable to be onsite due to sickness.

Caregiver screening

Everyone is carefully screened when they come to CHEO — this includes all children, youth, caregivers, staff and medical staff.

Caregivers can now complete a self-screen online before coming to CHEO. This will make it easier and quicker to get to your families appointment or visit your child who is staying as an inpatient. Once you complete the screening, follow the instructions that will be sent to you by email. You will show your confirmation email to our staff validators at the entrance. 

Learn more about what to expect when you come to CHEO.

Complete your online screen

Head to Toe suicide screening questions

To intervene early with children and youth experiencing suicidal thoughts, CHEO has developed the Head to Toe assessment program. It is now standard practice for all children and youth over the age of 12 to be screened for suicide upon being admitted to CHEO.

Learn more about Head to Toe

What activities are available?

COVID-19: some activities and services are currently unavailable as we work to keep children, youth, families and staff safe during this pandemic. For the most up-to-date information on the services, activities and supports available at CHEO right now visit our COVID-19 page.

• Child life: child life specialists help children to learn, to play and do creative projects while in hospital. Child life specialists are also trained in medical play, which assists children in understanding their illness, and any anxious feelings they may have relating to it.
• Activity rooms: there are activity rooms for children on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors where child life specialists and special volunteers are available to provide play and learning materials and supervise activities. The hours of the activity rooms are posted on each activity room's door.
• Schooling: teachers affiliated with the Ottawa school system are available in the hospital, providing continued schooling to children and youth here for longer stays. Your health-care team will make these arrangements with you and your child or teen.