Hospital Policies and Procedures

We know that information about you, your health and your family is personal and sensitive in nature. At Children's Hospital Colorado, we’re committed to protecting the privacy of this information, as well as protecting the rights of our patients and their families. Below, we've outlined the hospital policies and procedures all Children's Colorado locations follow to help us provide the best care possible.

Visitation procedures

We understand that visitors play a vital role in the medical care process. That's why we welcome and encourage their visits.

All individuals visiting any inpatient area, emergency department, urgent care or outpatient clinic will need to provide identification at the appropriate check-in desk. Our team members will perform a health screening, issue a visitor's badge and provide navigation information for all visitors upon arrival.

Faith community, clergy or religious leader visits

We encourage faith leaders to connect with patients and families in the hospital via phone or video call. To learn about our visitor policy and determine if an in-person visit is appropriate, please contact our Spiritual Care team in advance. We look forward to connecting with you.

• To request a visit at Anschutz Medical Campus or other Denver Metro Area locations, please call 720-777-6325 or email SpiritualCare@childrenscolorado.org.
• To request a visit in Colorado Springs or Southern Colorado, please call 719-305-6325.

Visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic

Face coverings are required for everyone at all locations

All visitors must wear a face covering. Due to the vulnerability of our patient population, we continue to require face coverings for everyone age 2 and older at all Children’s Colorado locations, regardless of local county ordinances. We encourage you to bring a face covering from home. We will provide you with a mask if you do not have one.

You'll also see our doctors and nurses wearing different types of masks and protection equipment. For example, some of the masks fit over the head and almost look like an astronaut helmet. This important protective equipment helps keep everyone in our hospital safe.

See our coronavirus resources for families and read how we're keeping you safe.

COVID-19 testing

We test patients for COVID-19 prior to admission to the hospital and before certain medical and surgical procedures. This helps ensure that we identify and prevent the spread of COVID-19 while providing the safest care for children and protecting our healthcare workers.

Visitors must adhere to behavior standards to create a safe environment for patients and team members. The number of visitors and other guidelines are as follows.

Exceptions for all visits

Any patient or visitor with disabilities (defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment) who requires help with the provision of medical or behavioral health care, activities of daily living, speaking for the patient or keeping the patient safe, may have a designated assistance person.

Patient visitor reminders

• Our team members will screen everyone for illness at our entrances.
• Please do not visit if you are sick and/or have any cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Please tell our team members if in the last 10 days you or anyone with you has had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 or has been in close contact with a person who is confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19.
• We will check each patient’s caregiver list and provide an ID sticker. Please make sure you and your visitors are carrying your personal IDs when visiting our campus.
• The information desk staff are here to help guide you to where you need to go.
• Do not leave children alone outside or in public areas of the hospital.

Sending love when you can't visit

If you're unable to visit due to our visitation rules, here are other ways to show love and concern for a patient in our hospitals:

• Call your loved one using the hospital main line: 720-777-1234.
• Use one of our free iPads to keep in touch.
• Send a free cheer card to the patient's room (available on the Anschutz Medical Campus only).
• Send an email or greeting card.
• Send balloons (mylar only) or other gifts from our gift shops.

HIPAA and protecting patient privacy

Each time you or your family visit Children's Colorado, we create a record of the care and services you receive. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements.

Children's Colorado is committed to ensuring that your medical information is private and secure. We protect medical information as required by state laws and the federal rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Notice of privacy practices

Children's Colorado Notice of Privacy Practices applies to all of the records of your care generated by any of Children's Colorado's facilities. This notice, which also applies to University of Colorado School of Medicine physicians, provides information about the ways we may use and share your health information. We also describe your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and sharing of health information.