Parent, caregiver and visitor presence policies
Please review the following information before arriving at CHEO.
Parents and caregivers are important members of the care team. They actively work with us to provide vital health information only they know and give emotional support in the way only a parent or caregiver can.
For infection prevention and safety reasons, we have limits on how many parents, caregivers and visitors can be onsite at one time. We also limit the number at the bedside.
We appreciate your patience and understanding in keeping everyone safe.
Allowed number of parents, caregivers and visitors
Clinic and Surgical Day Unit appointments
- TWO parents or caregivers are allowed to accompany children and youth while at CHEO.
Emergency Department visits
- Only ONE parent or caregiver is allowed to accompany children and youth while at CHEO.
Staying at the hospital (admitted to CHEO's inpatient units)
- For children and youth admitted to CHEO's inpatient units, a maximum of TWO parents, caregivers or visitors are permitted at the bedside at a time during the day.
- Overnight, only ONE parent/caregiver is permitted to remain onsite.
Note: Caregivers must be 12 years old or older.
Visitors
- Children and youth admitted to CHEO's inpatient units are allowed up to FOUR visitors on site. A maximum of TWO parents, caregivers or visitors are permitted at the bedside at a time during the day.
Exceptions to these rules
We recognize that some families (e.g., people with disabilities) require additional support to help the patients, parents or caregivers. If you are coming to Emergency, please discuss discuss your need for an exception upon arrival at CHEO Emergency.
Who can't enter
Parents, caregivers and visitors who do not pass the entrance screening.
It is important to us that your child or youth receives the care they need. If you require an exception to any of our caregiver/visitor policies to ensure that your child/youth can access care, please contact a member of your care team or reach out to CHEO's Patient Experience team (experience@cheo.on.ca or 613-737-7600 ext. 3078).
Self-screening
To make sure we are always putting safety first and minimizing any chance of transmission of infections, we ask anyone who comes to CHEO, to self-screen before/upon entering.
Fill out the self-screening form online ahead of time and follow our signs when you arrive. Greeters will be available at the entrance to help if you have any questions.
Where to enter
All children, youth, parents/caregivers and visitors must enter through the Main Entrance unless you are seeking care from our Emergency Department. Other entrances are closed.
Frequently asked questions about coming to CHEO
What is the difference between a parent/caregiver and a visitor |
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Parent/caregiver: Someone who is over 12 years old and helps a child or youth with activities of daily living – e.g., parent, grandparent, older sibling, legal guardian, etc. A parent/caregiver can be designated by a patient. A parent/caregiver is never considered a visitor because they are a vital part of the care team. Visitor: Someone who is part of a child's or youth’s family or support network (e.g., sibling, extended family member, friend, etc.) but not a designated parent or caregiver. |
Will I be required to wear a face mask while at CHEO? |
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Yes. We have two masking zones: mandatory and recommended. Masks are given to all patients, parents, caregivers and visitors at CHEO. Anyone is welcome to wear a personal KN95 or other mask when coming to CHEO, but we will ask you to put the procedural mask we give you on top as we can't quality check everyone's personal mask. Please wear the mask we give you when:
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What to bring
The following information will assist you in preparing for your visit to CHEO.
Health coverage information
Be sure to bring your:
- provincial health coverage - OHIP card for Ontario residents or RAMQ card for Quebec residents
- CHEO hospital card (if you have visited CHEO before)
- private health insurance information (if you have this coverage)
A parent or legal guardian will have to sign the necessary Ministry of Health consent forms for children and youth under 16 years of age.
Personal Health information
Please bring:
- all your medications and supplements (The health-care team will review them and some may be used during your stay. We will also want to know the time of the last dose.)
- immunization records
- details about any known allergies to food or drugs
Items for you
Depending on the length of stay in hospital, you may want to bring:
- spending money for meals and parking
- clothes, pyjamas and slippers
- any special toys or family photos
- toiletries
Make sure to mark everything with your name.
CHEO mom and blogger, Chloe Girvan, has written a helpful article on what parents should bring with them for a hospital stay. We encourage you to review it.
What to expect while at CHEO
Where will my child or youth be staying? |
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| 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. |
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Who will be caring for my child or youth? |
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| A whole team of professionals will look after your child or teen when you come to CHEO. Healthcare teams in the hospital are grouped as Patient Service Units (PSUs). These groupings contain inpatient and outpatient teams so that no matter where your child is in terms of their recovery, he/she will remain under the same PSU according to their diagnosis. This organization makes it easier to have continuity in your child's care. The PSU healthcare teams are made up of many different professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and others. Which team members are involved will depend on your child's or family's needs. | ||||||||||
How do I inquire about my child or youth? |
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| 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. |
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What about visiting? |
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Parent, caregiver and visitor presence policiesPlease review the following information before arriving at CHEO. Parents and caregivers are important members of the care team. They actively work with us to provide vital health information only they know and give emotional support in the way only a parent or caregiver can. For infection prevention and safety reasons, we have limits on how many parents, caregivers and visitors can be onsite at one time. We also limit the number at the bedside. We appreciate your patience and understanding in keeping everyone safe. Allowed number of parents, caregivers and visitors
Frequently asked questions about coming to CHEO
Caregiver screeningEveryone is carefully screened when they come to CHEO — this includes all children, youth, caregivers, staff and medical staff. You can complete your 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. |
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Head to Toe suicide screening questions |
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| 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. |
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What activities are available? |
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| 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.
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