Special Visitors and entertainers requesting to visit pediatric patients will be screened by the Child Life Program to ensure events are safe, appropriate, and respectful of patient's rights.

Visiting hospitalized children is a unique and wonderful opportunity for all involved. To provide a positive experience for you and for our patients, we established these guidelines:

• All Visitors must be at least 18 years of age, 5 people at a time.
• On the day of your visit, park in the 9th Street parking ramp and go to the lobby of the Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children’s Center. At the lobby desk ask for your contact person, either the child life specialist or charge nurse. This individual will meet you in the lobby for your scheduled tour, special event, or donation drop-off. Special event visitors must be accompanied by a staff member at all times. Please arrive on time. If your group is early, we ask that you patiently wait in the hospital lobby until your scheduled time.
• The front desk attendants in the lobby will provide each visitor with an authorized visitor tag which must be worn throughout your hospital visit.
• Groups wishing to Christmas carol must contact the Community Relations office for guidelines.
• During your visit, be aware of our need to protect each patient’s privacy. The hospital’s confidentiality policy safeguards our patient’s right to privacy. We are not at liberty to discuss patient conditions.
• Please respect patient and family privacy. Do not discuss the patients at any time following your visit.
• Avoid asking patients why they are in the hospital or other intrusive questions.
• Interact and talk with children at their eye level.
• Allow the children to decide how they will respond or interact with you.
• Please keep to one side of the hallway. Patients and equipment may be trying to go through the area.
• Noise level must be kept to a minimum in the hallways.
• Only pictures that are approved and have permission from patient/family may be taken. Media release forms must be obtained for all pictures viewed by the public.
• No costumes/masks should be worn during your visit without prior approval from child life staff.
• If you are interested in donating something, please check with the child life specialist first to ensure the items are appropriate for hospital use.
  Suggested donations list.
• For infection control purposes, all special visitors are required to wash their hands upon arrival at the hospital, between patient contact, and before leaving the hospital. Scheduled visitors who are not feeling well on the day of the visit should stay home. Please call if there is need to cancel your visit due to illness. We reserve the right to cancel any visit due to our patient census and needs.
• Special event visitors are not allowed in patient’s private rooms. All activities and special events must be planned for a general area such as the pediatric play room, outdoor play area, teen lounge, or family lounge. Groups wishing to Christmas carol may do so in the hallways and at the nursing stations.