Parent/caregiver presence policy:
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.
To limit the number of people in the building the following rules apply:
- For an appointment in a clinic, the Surgical Day Unit, or an urgent visit to the Emergency Department, only ONE parent or caregiver will be allowed to accompany children and youth while at CHEO.
- Children and youth who are admitted as inpatients may have TWO designated parents or caregivers and FOUR designated visitors (designated visitors must be 12 or older). Overnight, only one caregiver is permitted to remain onsite. At other times of the day, only two caregivers or visitors are permitted on site at the same time. For example, one caregiver and one visitor can accompany a child during the morning and another caregiver and visitor can accompany the child later in the day. As a reminder, only one caregiver can remain with the child overnight.
- Only those who have been screened daily will be permitted at the bedside.
- Siblings younger than 12 are not permitted. We appreciate this requires childcare arrangements for younger siblings and we are grateful for your support in doing so.
- For some patients (e.g. persons with disabilities) coming for an appointment in a clinic or the Surgical Day Unit, a second essential support person may be allowed to aid patients and care teams. For patients and caregivers who require additional support, please contact your clinical area to determine if an exception to ONE parent or caregiver at a time can be granted. For Emergency Department (ED) visits, please discuss your need for an exception on arrival to the ED.
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.
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? |
| 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? |
| 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? |
| 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? |
Caregiver screeningEveryone 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. |
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. |
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.
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