Guide to Services Patient and Family Children’s at sCottish rite

Children’s at Scottish Rite
1001 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30342-1600
404-785-5252
Patient and Family
Guide to Services
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding is owned by Grady Health System® and managed by
HSOC Inc., an affiliate of Children’s.
Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform services at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
are independent providers and are not our employees.
©2008 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Inc. All rights reserved. /NCH 926294.kc.3/08
Children need Children’s
and Children’s needs You®
Do Not Print – Die guide for folder only
Not for profit. For growth spurts.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Hughes
Children’s at Egleston
Spalding Children’s Hospital are joining hands.
Children’s at Hughes Spalding
Judging by the crowds at parks and playgrounds, it is
Children’s at Scottish Rite
no surprise that Atlanta has one of the fastest growing
pediatric populations in the country. This means we are
being counted on to provide even more kids in Georgia
with some of the finest medical care in the country. We
are honored to help so many of Atlanta’s children. But as
a not-for-profit organization, we rely on the generosity
of people like you. Visit www.choa.org/give or call
404-785-GIVE to make a donation.
Children need Children’s and Children’s needs You
®
©2008 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform
services at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are independent providers and are not our employees. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes
Spalding is owned by Grady Health System® and managed by HSOC Inc., an affiliate of Children’s.
Do Not Print – Die guide for folder only
Welcome to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We are honored that you have trusted us to care
for your child’s healthcare needs. We know this is a stressful time for you. We will do everything
we can to help both you and your child feel comfortable, safe and secure during your stay. Please
feel free to ask our staff questions. Let us know what we can do for you and your child.
At Children’s, we strive to enhance the lives of children through excellence in patient care,
research and education. Whether treating an injured toddler in an emergency or supporting
a teen through a series of chemotherapy treatments, we take our commitment to care for each
and every child who comes through our doors very seriously. It is through teamwork at every level
of our organization and with you, the family, that we are able to achieve a high level of excellence
in pediatric care.
We are here to help you in any way we can. This guide has information to help you during your
child’s hospital stay, including:
– Information about your healthcare team
– Information about the hospital
– A guide to local services and restaurants
– Your rights and responsibilities
– Tips to prepare you for your return home
– Information to help understand your hospital bills
From all of us, thank you again for choosing Children’s.
Sincerely,
James E. Tally, Ph.D.
President/CEO
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
1
Table of Contents
3 About Children’s
5 Telephone Guide
6 Television Channel List
7 Visitor Guidelines
9 Community Information
25 Rights and Responsibilities
– Your Rights
– Playing Your Part
– Adult Patient Rights
– Partners in Care
– Difficult Treatment Decisions
– Child Rights
– Our Commitment to Privacy
– Local Services
– H
ealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
– Hotels
– Places of Worship
– Restaurants
– Shopping
– Patient Discharge
– Movie Theaters
– Car Seat Safety
– Transportation
– Going Back to School
29 Going Home
– Home Healthcare Agencies
17 Your Child’s Care
– Children’s Commitment to Quality
– For Your Safety
– Caring for Your Child at Home
– Giving Medicine at Home
– Billing
– Your Healthcare Team
– Other Hospital Team Members
34 Directions
36 Notes
Around the Hospital Pocket Guide
– Activities for Patients
and Families
– Gardens
– Playground
– Gift Shop
– Protecting Valuables
– Activity Centers
– Lactation/Feeding Rooms
– Room/Food Services
– Ambassador Assistance
– Laundry
– School Program
– ATM
– Legal Aid from Health Law
– Bathrooms and Showers
Partnership (HeLP)
for Patients
– Security
– Chapel
– Mail/Stamps
– Smoking
– Computers/Internet Access
– Newspapers
– Soda/Snack Machines
– Family Library
– Parent Business Center
– Floor-by-Floor Guide
– Family Night
– Parking
2 Children need Children’s®
About Children’s
A Tradition of Outstanding Pediatric Healthcare in Atlanta
Accessible, excellent pediatric healthcare. Wellness and prevention programs. Leading-edge
research and teaching. Family-centered care. Children’s is committed to providing these things
for every child. We address the unique needs of sick and injured children with specially trained
doctors and staff, equipment designed for young, growing bodies, all in a child and familyfriendly environment.
Children’s is a not-for-profit organization. We benefit from the generous philanthropic and
volunteer support of our community. With more than half a million patient visits each year,
Children’s is one of the leading pediatric healthcare systems in the country. We are recognized for
excellence in more than 30 pediatric specialties, including cancer, cardiac, emergency, neonatal,
orthopaedic, pulmonology and transplant services, as well as many other pediatric specialties.
– Child magazine ranks Children’s as one of the top 10 children’s hospitals nationwide.
– Children’s is among U.S.News & World Report’s top pediatric hospitals.
– Children’s is one of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
At Children’s, we put our mission, vision and values into action every day. From performing
organ transplants to helping patients keep up with their schoolwork, our employees embody
the spirit of our organization.
– 6,800 employees
– Access to more than 1,400 pediatric physicians
You Are Part of the Team at Children’s
Something unexpected happened to your child, and now you are at Children’s. So, now what?
You may be feeling many different emotions right now. We want you to know we are here to
support you and your child. We treat each child as if he were our own. We care about what’s
happening to you and your family.
Children’s is built on a foundation of family-centered care. Parents are important members of
our healthcare team. After all, who knows your child better than you? So long as it is medically
safe, you are urged to take part in your child’s treatment. We will work with you to meet the
unique needs of your child and family. We welcome your questions.
There are many ways you can help care for your child while you are here. Some involve your
child’s everyday care, such as changing his clothes, feeding and bathing him. But your most
important responsibilities will be making decisions about the procedures and treatments your child
will receive while you are here and learning how to care for your child after you leave Children’s.
Our staff will help you understand and cope with your child’s condition, make choices about his
care and become confident in your ability to help give that care.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
3
About Children’s
Our Commitment to Customer Service
We strive to offer you a service experience that is seamless, consistent and special. That means
it is easy for you to move through our hospital, you feel cared about throughout your entire stay
and you get the information you need.
If at any time during your visit we are not providing this type of service, let any member of our
staff know. Also, after you and your child leave our hospital, you may receive a survey by mail that
will ask you about your experience at Children’s. Take the time to complete it. Let us know your
thoughts. Your feedback is important to us. It is a great way for us to enhance our service.
Our Mission
To enhance the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research
and education.
Our Vision
To transform pediatric healthcare and be the leading voice for children
in Atlanta.
Our Values
– Integrity: Being honest, ethical and committed to all we do
– Respect: Appreciating all people, work and ideas
– Nurturing: Fostering the care, growth and development of the individual
– Excellence: Delivering the highest level of care and service
– Teamwork: Working together to achieve our goals
Children’s Commitment to Quality
At Children’s, we strive to be the industry leader in providing quality healthcare. We are setting
new standards in patient care. Our key to quality is making sure your child receives the right care
and treatment he needs when he needs it and doing the same for each and every child we treat.
You will notice a number of things at Children’s that are helping to make your experience here the
best it can be. See Page 17 for more information about our commitment to quality, including six of
our top quality priorities.
4 Children need Children’s®
Telephone Guide
We Are Here to Help
For help any time, press the red call button in your room.
Medical questions
Ask your nurse
Nonmedical questions
ext. 25
Room/Food Services
ext. 55324
Cafeteria menu hotline ext. 52222
How to use the telephone in your room
– Pick up the phone and press the on/
off button.
– To call an extension within the hospital,
dial 5 and the last four digits of the extension.
– To make an outside call, dial 9 and the
area code and number.
– To reach the hospital operator, dial 0.
– To call long distance:
• Dial 9-1-800-COLLECT or
• Dial 9-1-800-CALL-ATT (to reach an
AT&T operator) or
• Use a private calling card. Dial 9 and
the number of the card.
–For telephone books, ask your child’s
nurse or access online resources
(www.411.com or www.yellowpages.com)
at the Parent Business Centers.
– Calls ring in rooms between 7 a.m. and
10 p.m. Calls to patient rooms after 10 p.m.
are answered by the hospital operator.
Hospital Phone Numbers
Admissions.................................. ext. 52060
Billing.......................................... ext. 55589
Car seat technician
(pager)...................................... 404-225-1630
Chaplain/pastoral care................. Dial 0 and
ask to have a chaplain paged
Family Library............................... ext. 52192
Financial advisor...............ext. 54514/52278
Gift Shop..................................... ext. 54516
Interpreter
(pager 770-839-0209)................. ext. 52777
Operator................................................... 0
Patient representative.................... ext. 55194
Patient rooms....ext. 54 and the room number
calling outside the hospital 404-785-4 and
room number
Security....................................... ext. 52073
Social Work................................. ext. 52010
Volunteer Services......................... ext. 52150
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
5
Television Channel List
3 VCR/DVD Input
34 Nick Jr
4 CCTV
35 Disney
6 Information
36 CNN
7 Chapel Services
37 CNN Headline News
14 Music
38 TLC
15 Video-on-demand**
39 ESPNEWS Channel
16 Video-on-demand**
40 The Weather Channel
17 Video-on-demand**
41 TBS
18 Video-on-demand**
42 A&E
19 Video-on-demand**
43 History
20 Video-on-demand**
44 Discovery Health
23 ABC
45 Lifetime
24 CBS
46 Game Show Network
25 NBC
47 Univision
26 FOX
48 Galavision
27 My ATL
49 WATC-TV57
28 CW
50 TBN
29 GPTV
51 Health Network
30 Cartoon Network
52 ESPNEWS Channel
31 Discovery Channel
53 ESPN-2
32 FOX Family
54 TNT
33 Animal Planetl
55 ESPN Classic
*Live shows produced and broadcast at Children’s for patients and families.
**The Children’s video-on-demand system has free health education videos for parents, teens and
children about a wide range of topics. Many videos are available in Spanish. Topics include:
– Childcare
– Child safety and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
– At-home instructions for asthma, diabetes, cast care and surgery
– Nutrition, breast-feeding and bottle-feeding
Ask your child’s nurse how to access the video-on-demand system.
6 Children need Children’s®
Visitor Guidelines
Visiting Hours
Every day from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Visitors younger than age 18 will be asked to take a simple health test to make sure
they are not sick.
Parents and Guardians
– Can visit their child at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unless directed by a
doctor or nurse.
– Will be given a parent/guardian ID badge within 24 hours of arrival—wear it and make sure it
can be seen at all times in the hospital.
– Should plan to stay with their child each night the child stays overnight.
• Sleeping space for one adult is offered in each patient room.
• Staff members will be in and out of patients’ rooms at all hours­—wear proper clothing
at all times.
• Other family members should plan to stay in a hotel (see Page 10 for local hotels).
– For parents with children in the intensive care unit (ICU), ask the nurse for special ICU
visitation guidelines.
Brothers and Sisters
– Can visit during normal visiting hours (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.).
– Can use the activity centers and go with patients to any activities and Family Night
Tuesday evenings.
– Must be with a parent at all times when in the hospital.
Other Visitors
– May visit during normal visiting hours (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.).
– Are limited to a number that does not disturb patient care and well-being.
– Visitors who wish to stay after normal visiting hours must have consent from the child’s parent/
guardian and a nurse and follow these procedures:
• Go to the Security office on the first floor and sign in when the end of visiting hours
is announced.
• Show a picture ID to get a visitor sticker.
• Wear the sticker and make sure it can be seen at all times in the hospital.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
7
What’s right for adults
isn’t right for kids.
Children are physically different. So they need pediatric specialists.
When you bring your child to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, you can be certain
that they will receive care that is 100% kid-focused. Our staff consists of dedicated
specialists, such as radiologists with one or more additional years of pediatric
training. And everything here is geared to meet the unique needs of kids of all ages,
from prenatal diagnosis to repairing ACL tears in 17-year-olds. So the next time
your doctor recommends a specialist, ask to see a pediatric specialist. For more
information, visit us online at www.choa.org or call 404-250-KIDS.
©2008 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform services at
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are independent providers and are not our employees.
Community Information
Parents and guardians, let your child’s nurse know whenever
you leave the hospital.
Local Services
Banks
– Bank of America, One Perimeter Center East NE,
770-392-2990
– SunTrust, 993-A Johnson Ferry Road, 404-847-1840
– Wachovia (ATM only), Children’s at Scottish Rite, ground floor
– Wachovia, 125 Glenridge Point Parkway, 404-255-5180
Book Stores
– Barnes and Noble, 120 Perimeter Center West, 770-396-1200
– Borders, 4745 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 770-396-0004
Drug Stores
– Concord Pharmacy, 960 Johnson Ferry Road, 404-255-0526
– CVS, 6330 Roswell Road NE, 404-257-0163, open 24 hours
– CVS, 3439 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 770-216-8605
– Innovation Compounding Pharmacy, 431 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 100, 770-421-1399
– Rite Aid, 1100 Hammond Drive, 770-522-8194
Dry Cleaners/Laundromats
– Chastain Cleaners, 860 Johnson Ferry Road NE, 404-256-8211
– Master Kleen, 6196 Roswell Road NE, 404-252-7274
– Sue’s Dry Cleaners, 5940 Roswell Road NE, 404-252-4444
Gas Stations
– Shell Foodmart, 5866 Roswell Road NE, 404-851-9338
– Shell Foodmart, 5700 Roswell Road NE, 404-255-8572
Grocery Stores
– Kroger, 2036 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-455-6799
– Publix, 3435 Ashford-Dunwoody Road NE, 770-216-5050
– Publix, 1100 Hammond Drive, 678-443-2100
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
9
Community Information
Local Services cont.
Flowers and Gifts
– The Gift Shop, Children’s at Scottish Rite, ext. 54516
– Blooming Cookies.com, 404-876-2200 or www.bloomingcookies.com
– Brookhaven Buckhead Flowers, 2905 Peachtree Road NE, 404-237-6351
– Carither’s Flowers, 835 Franklin Court SE, 404-255-7127
– Cookies by Design, 900 Mansell Road, Suite 16, 770-992-0355 (for ordering only)
– Flowers by Bourgeois, 5486 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, 770-394-6918
Health Clubs
– Ashford-Dunwoody YMCA, 3692 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 770-451-9622
– Concourse Athletic Club, 8 Concourse Parkway, 770-698-2000—Parents of patients may use
the facility for free. Visit the hospital’s main information desk in the lobby for details.
Libraries
– Max Brown Family Resource Library, Children’s at Scottish Rite, ext. 52192.
– Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway NE, 404-303-6130
Toy Stores
– Toys R’ Us, One Buckhead Loop Drive NE, 404-467-8697
Hotels
Long-term Stays (for families with special needs)
– Ronald McDonald House, 5420 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 404-847-0760
Contact Social Work at ext. 52010 to find out if your family is eligible. Voluntary donation
requested for lodging.
Local Hotels/Motels: When calling, be sure to ask if there are special prices for families who
have patients at Children’s.
– Comfort Inn, 5793 Roswell Road NE, 404-252-6400
– Comfort Suites, 6110 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 770-828-0330
– Courtyard by Marriott, 5601 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 404-843-2300
– Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel, 4355 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 770-395-7700
– Dunwoody Place, 6850 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 770-350-0221
10 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
– Extended Stay America, 905 Crestline Parkway, 770-396-5600
– Extended Stay Delux, 6330 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 770-379-0111
– Hilton Garden Inn, 1501 Lake Hearn Drive, 404-459-0500
– Holiday Inn, 4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, 770-457-6363
– Homestead Studio Suites, 1050 Hammond Drive, 770-522-0025
– Hyatt Place, 1005 Crestline Parkway, 770-730-9300
– Intown Suites, 355 Hammond Drive, 404-531-0067
– La Quinta Inn & Suites, 6260 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 770-350-6177
– Marriott Perimeter Center, 246 Perimeter Center Parkway, 770-394-6500
– Microtel Inn and Suites, Perimeter Center, 6280 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 678-781-4000
– Westin Atlanta-North, 7 Concourse Parkway, 770-395-3900
Places of Worship
Call the location directly for directions and additional information about worship or services.
Baptist
– Dunwoody Baptist Church, 1445 Mount Vernon Road, 770-280-1200
– Wieuca Road Baptist Church, 3626 Peachtree Road NE, 404-814-4460
Catholic
– Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 1320 Hearst Drive, 404-261-7181
– St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 7171 Glenridge Drive, 770-394-3896
Christian
– Sandy Springs Christian Church, 301 Johnson Ferry Road NW, 404-256-2582
Christian Science
– Second Church of Christ, Scientist, 347 Carpenter Drive, 404-364-9642
Church of God
– Mt. Paran Church of God, 2055 Mount Paran Road NW, 404-261-0720
Episcopal
– St. Martin in the Fields, 3110 Ashford-Dunwoody Road NE, 404-261-4292
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
11
Community Information
Places of Worship cont.
Greek Orthodox
– Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Road, 404-633-7358
Lutheran
– Lutheran Church of the Ascension, 4000 Roswell Road, 404-255-0224
Methodist
– St. James United Methodist, 4400 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 404-261-3121
Mosque
– Al-Farooq Masjid of Atlanta, 442 14th Street NW, 404-874-7521
Nondenominational
–Children’s at Scottish Rite, Chaplaincy or Chapel Services, dial 0 and ask operator
to page a chaplain
Presbyterian
– Mt. Vernon Presbyterian, 471 Mount Vernon Highway NE, 404-255-2211
Synagogues
– Conservative: B’nai Torah, 700 Mount Vernon Highway, 404-257-0537
– Orthodox: Chabad Lubavitch, 5065 High Point Road NE, 404-843-2464
– Reformed: Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, 770-395-1340
Unitarian
– Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1025 Mount Vernon Highway NW,
770-955-1408
12 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Restaurants
These restaraunts are within five miles of Children’s at Scottish Rite.
Breakfast
– Einstein Bagels, 1100 Hammond Drive, 770-396-8900
– Waffle House, 4065 Peachtree Road NE, 404-816-2668
Chinese/Thai
– Cheng Cheng, 2148 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-451-3428*
– China Wok, 2036 Johnson Ferry Road, 678-547-1818*
– Thai Lanna, 2142 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-454-8889
Coffee
– Starbucks, 3520 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 770-458-9082
Fast Food
– Burger King, 222 Hammond Drive, 404-252-3021
– Chick-fil-A, 5952-C Roswell Road, 404-847-0488
– Copeland’s Deli/Food (located in the Medical Office Building across the driveway
from the main hospital building), 5455 Meridian Mark, 404-252-4875
– McDonald’s, 1000 Johnson Ferry Road (located in Northside Hospital), 404-250-1504
General
– Beyond the Bayou, 2144 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-458-1440
– Chequers Bar & Grill, 236 Perimeter Center Parkway, 770-391-9383
– Fuddruckers, 240 Perimeter Center Parkway, 770-399-6641
– Jason’s Deli, 5975 Roswell Road NE, 404-843-8212*
– Jo’s Grille, 2120 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-220-9993
– Longhorn Steakhouse, 6390 Roswell Road, 404-843-1215
– Wing Ranch, 2146 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-455-4233*
*Delivery available
When placing an order, be sure to give your room number. Food is delivered to the main
information desk or the security office. You will be called when your order arrives.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
13
Community Information
Restaurants cont.
Mexican
– Los Bravos, 2042 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-452-9694
– Moe’s Southwest Grill, 860 Johnson Ferry Road, 404-303-0081*
Pizza
– Domino’s, 404-256-3030 *
– Papa John’s, 404-851-9292 *
Sandwiches
– Blimpie, 2150-A Johnson Ferry Road, 770-458-6003
– Great Wraps, 860 Johnson Ferry Road, 404-255-8905
– Gruby’s New York Deli, 860 Johnson Ferry Road, 404-236-0060
– Jersey Mike’s Subs, 2036 Johnson Ferry Road, 770-451-2023
Soup/Salad
– Sweet Tomatoes, 8350 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, 770-913-0203
Takeout
– Clay’s, 6518 Roswell Road, 404-843-1233*
– Pig-n-Chick BBQ, 5071 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., 770-451-1112*
– The Loop Pizza Grill, 6017 Sandy Springs Circle, 404-255-9111*
*Delivery available
When placing an order, be sure to give your room number. Food is delivered to the main
information desk or the security office. You will be called when your order arrives.
Shopping
– Lenox Mall, 3393 Peachtree Road, 404-233-6767
– Perimeter Mall, 4400 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 770-394-4270
– Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, 404-262-0992
– Super Target, 100 Perimeter Center, 678-259-0888
– Target, 235 Johnson Ferry Road NW, 404-256-4600
– Wal-Mart, 4725 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, 770-395-0199
14 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Movie Theaters
– Perimeter Point, 1155 Mount Vernon Highway, 770-481-0255
– Phipps Plaza AMC 14, 3500 Peachtree Road, 404-816-4262
Transportation
Airlines
– AirTran Airways, 800-AIR-TRAN (800-247-8726)
– American Airlines, 800-433-7300
– Delta Air Lines, 800-221-1212
– Northwest Airlines/KLM, 800-225-2525
– United Airlines, 800-864-8331
– US Airways, 800-428-4322
Public Buses and Rail System
Staff members at the main information desk on the first floor can provide schedules for MARTA,
Atlanta’s local bus and rapid rail system:
– The area is served by Bus 41.
– The closest rapid rail station is Medical Center Station.
– Visit www.itsmarta.com or call 404-848-4711 for more information.
Shuttle Bus Service
A shuttle bus runs between the parking areas and various other Children’s at Scottish Rite locations
from 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. Call the Security office at ext. 72071 to ride the
shuttle or confirm availability during the weekends. Meet the shuttle at the valet or discharge area
of the hospital.
Rental Car Companies
– Avis Sheraton-Buckhead Hotel, 3405 Lenox Road, 404-261-5998
– Enterprise Rent-a-Car, 1400 Dunwoody Village Parkway, 770-394-2279
– Hertz Perimeter Center, 246 Perimeter Center Parkway, 770-394-4530
Taxis
Staff members at the information desks on the first floor can call a taxi.
– Checker Cab Co., 404-351-1111 (voucher and private pay)
– Style Taxi Co., 770-522-8294 (private pay)
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
15
After years of treating kids from around the world, our
results scream, yell and shriek for themselves.
With your continued help, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is able
Children’s at Egleston
to care for a growing number of kids in Georgia and beyond. We
Children’s at Hughes Spalding
now operate three hospitals—Children’s at Egleston, Children’s
Children’s at Scottish Rite
at Hughes Spalding and Children’s at Scottish Rite—as well as
15 convenient neighborhood locations. And while we expand,
our level of care keeps rising. Child magazine ranks us in the
top three nationally for pediatric hospitals. Many of our specialty
centers also received top 10 national rankings, including those
in the areas of cancer, cardiac, emergency, neonatal intensive
care, orthopaedics, and pulmonology. But as a not-for-profit
organization, none of our achievements would be possible
without support from people like you. To help, please call
404-785-GIVE or go online at www.choa.org/give.
Children need Children’s and Children’s needs You
®
©2008 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform services
at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are independent providers and are not our employees. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding
is owned by Grady Health System® and managed by HSOC Inc., an affiliate of Children’s.
Your Child’s Care
Children’s Commitment to Quality
At Children’s, we focus on ensuring that quality care is
timely, safe, effective, equitable and efficient for patients and
their families. For patients and families at Children’s, quality
means patient safety and more involvement in planning and
providing care for children.
1. ID Bands
Each patient is given a white ID band to wear during his stay at Children’s. This band has
important information printed on it, so let your nurse know if the band comes off. Some patients
get more than one ID band:
– Children with allergies wear a separate red bracelet.
– Children with allergies to latex wear a separate green bracelet.
You will notice that even as our staff get to know your child, they will always check his ID band
before giving medicines, collecting specimens and lab work or conducting procedures. While a
staff member may know who your child is, safety checks like this are part of our commitment to
quality at Children’s. If a staff member forgets to check the ID band, help us to ensure your child’s
safety by reminding the staff member to check.
2. Giving Medicine
Children’s uses an electronic system to keep track of your child’s medicine, the amount of medicine
your child needs and at what times the medicine should be given. You can help our staff by letting
them know:
– Any medicines your child has been taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines
(such as Tylenol®) and herbs or supplements
– Any allergies or drug reactions your child has
Ask a staff person before giving any medicine to your child or if you have a question about the
medicine being given to your child. If the medicine looks different from what your child received
before, such as a different color or method (liquid vs. pill), or if a medicine is being given at an
unexpected time, ask the nurse to double-check the medicine.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
17
Your Child’s Care
Commitment to Quality cont.
3. Keeping Germs Away
Germs are everywhere and are carried by each of us wherever we go. Everyone who touches
your child should wash their hands, including hospital staff. Washing your hands, and your child’s
hands, is a good way to stop germs from spreading. While you are at Children’s, it is important to
wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer:
– Before you enter and when you leave your child’s room
– Before and after eating, touching food or feeding your child
– After using the bathroom or changing a diaper
– After sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose and after wiping your child’s nose
Wash your hands with soap and warm water, rubbing briskly for at least 15 seconds. Or use
an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is available in dispensers outside of each
patient’s room.
4. Alarms on Medical Equipment
Most medical equipment has an alarm, which helps us keep your child safe.
– When the alarm sounds, it lets the nurse know something needs to be checked.
– If someone does not come right away, leave the alarm on and push the red nurse
call button or get a nurse. Do not turn off the alarm.
5. Monitoring Your Child’s Health
Our staff may come by to check your child’s:
– Vital signs: Blood pressure, heart rate and temperature are checked based on your child’s
needs. Vital signs may be checked around the clock, even during sleeping time.
– Weight: Your child may be weighed each day, early in the morning or at night.
– Pain: Your child may have his pain checked throughout the day and night to be sure that
he is comfortable, based on his needs and level of pain. Be aware that preventing/controlling
pain is important. We prevent and reduce pain and distress whenever possible. Information
about choices to control pain is available to you, and you are urged to discuss
your concerns and choices with your healthcare team.
– Blood tests: Blood work is usually done very early in the morning to give us time to process
the results before your doctor visits.
– Eating and drinking: Your child’s eating and drinking habits may be measured every few
hours to be sure he is getting enough food and fluids.
– Intake and output: Your child may need his output (urine and stools) measured, as well as
what he eats and drinks. If your child is in diapers, he may have his diaper weighed to check
urine output.
18 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
6. Medical Tests
Your child may need medical tests such as an X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan, which
may require that he not eat or drink for several hours before the test. Help us monitor your child’s
eating and drinking before the test so that the test results are correct.
You can help us assist your family by:
– P
roviding copies of any test results and paperwork that might be
important to your child’s care
– L etting us know who will be our primary contact during your
child’s stay and making sure we know how to reach this person
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
19
For Your Safety
To make sure the hospital is a safe place for you and your child, Children’s has the following
safety guidelines:
– Parents and children who can walk should wear shoes or slippers to avoid injury.
– Fire drills and other emergency drills are held from time to time. A nurse will tell you what to do
during a drill.
– If you find a spill of any kind on the floor, tell the nearest hospital staff member. Do not clean up
spills yourself. Hospital staff members will notify the appropriate personnel.
– To protect your child and prevent the spread of infection, our staff follow special precautions
while caring for your child, including hand washing and wearing gloves, a mask, gown or
goggles when necessary.
– All plugged-in appliances, such as hair dryers, radios, laptops and cell phone chargers must be
checked by our Engineering department before being used in the hospital. Your child’s nurse
can contact Engineering for you.
The following items are prohibited in the hospital:
– Tobacco products
– Illegal drugs
– Alcoholic drinks
– Food-heating appliances (toasters, hot plates)
– Weapons
– Shooting toys
– Open flames
– Latex balloons (some children are allergic to latex), mylar balloons are OK
In addition:
– Children younger than age 4 should not be given small, round foods—such as popcorn, hard
candies or hot dogs—because they could choke on them.
– Check with the nurse before using cell phones and other radio frequency devices in the Intensive
Care Units (ICU), because they disturb medical equipment.
20 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Your Healthcare Team
Our healthcare team is here for you and your family. They work together to give quality care for
your child. All of our staff members wear name badges. If you do not see a name badge, feel free
to ask who they are and to see their badge. These are some of the people you might meet during
your stay with us.
Doctors check your child daily and decide what tests, medicines and treatments your child should
have. They give the hospital staff directions for taking care of your child.
– Your doctor sees many patients each day, and each one has special needs—this sometimes
makes it hard to set a specific time that your doctor can meet with you.
– Talk with your doctor to see if there is a time of day you can meet with him to talk about your
child (such as early morning, mid-day or afternoon).
– Sometimes doctors work with medical students, residents, interns (doctors in training), physician
assistants or nurse practitioners—they all work with the supervision of your child’s doctor and
may visit you as well.
– It may be helpful to write down any questions you have for your doctor as you think of them
during the day—you can then look at the list when your doctor comes to see your child.
Equipment techs check the medical equipment used to take care of your child on a daily basis.
Medical technologists carry out lab tests.
Nurses care for your child’s medical needs around the clock. One nurse is assigned to your child
during each nursing shift. Your child’s nurse also takes care of other patients in your child’s unit.
Patient care techs help nurses take care of your child. They take temperatures, change
bed sheets, help with baths and more. One tech may be assigned to your child during each
nursing shift.
Phlebotomists (pronounced: fla-botem-ist) collect blood. Giving blood can be difficult for a
child. We try to make it as easy as possible. Our phlebotomists are specifically trained to work
with children of all ages.
Other Hospital Team Members
Ambassadors greet families and visitors at the hospital’s information desks. They help all visitors
with information. Ask them questions about the hospital, for things you need during your stay and
any other nonmedical questions. Dial ext. 25 to reach an ambassador.
Anesthesia and sedation team members give patients special medicine to put all or part
of the body to sleep to prevent pain during surgery or certain procedures. They also monitor the
patient to make sure the medicine is working properly.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
21
Your Child’s Care
Other Hospital Team Members cont.
Bioethics Committee members are on-call to help with difficult decisions related to patient
care. Contact the hospital operator by dialing 0 for more information.
The Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit is dedicated to bringing laughter to children in the
hospital and their families. They make “clown rounds” every week. Call ext. 50496 or call Child
Life at ext. 52010 for more information.
Case managers review patient cases and are assigned as needed to families who need help
getting services or equipment at home. They also work with families and their insurance companies
to help make sure payment procedures are followed. Call ext. 52356 for more information.
Chaplains are available 24 hours a day to offer spiritual and emotional support to patients and
families. Sacred rituals and reading materials are also available. Dial 0 and ask the operator to
page the chaplain on duty.
Child life specialists help children, teens and siblings understand and cope with illness,
treatment and being in a hospital. Child life services include: normal play activities, patient
education, getting ready for surgery, medical play, help with pain management, patient support
groups and sibling support. Call ext. 52010 for more information.
The Children’s School Nurse Liaison/Consultant program is a free service that helps
children and their families with healthcare issues when they return to school after a hospital stay or
outpatient care. The program helps children in kindergarten through high school who have chronic
illnesses and injuries. School nurse liaisons cover 49 school districts in the Atlanta area and have
contacts in every school district in Georgia. They can work with a school nurse to plan for health
needs during the school day. A signed referral is needed to begin the process. Leave a message at
ext. 56996 or visit www.choa.org/buildingbridges to get a referral or for more information.
Clinical nutrition services design medical nutrition therapy for use in the hospital and at
home. Children who have special nutrition needs—such as special formulas or diets, tube feeding
or parenteral nutrition (by vein)—are helped by this service. The staff will review each patient’s
nutritional status upon admission to screen for potential nutritional problems related to the
patient’s condition. Ask your nurse if you have any questions.
Family and visitor ambassadors visit all newly admitted families. They give information about
different services throughout the hospital and distribute parent/guardian ID badges.
Interpreter services are available over the phone at all times. In addition, Spanish interpreters
are onsite 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday and
Sunday. Sign language and other language interpreters are available by request. Call ext. 52777
to request services, or ask a nurse or the receptionist for help.
22 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Patient representatives respond to concerns about the quality of care and services given
to patients. They are responsible for processing care concerns, as well as help with concerns
and questions related to service/billing issues, general complaints and other issues that impact
a positive experience for patients and families while at Children’s. The Patient Representative
program office is open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday. Parents can leave a message
for a patient representative 24 hours a day by calling ext. 55194.
Pharmacists work with doctors and nurses to make sure patients get the right medicine. A
pharmacist is available to offer information and instructions about the medicines that patients
will be taking when they go home.
Radiology staff take special pictures to help doctors identify and treat illness or injury. Pictures
may include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasounds or magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) scans.
Rehabilitation services include occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language
therapy. An occupational therapist evaluates and treats deficits in fine motor and visual motor
skills, sensory processing and activities of daily living. A physical therapist evaluates and treats
deficits in gross motor skills and restoration of independent mobility such as walking and wound/
burn care. A speech-language pathologist evaluates and treats deficits in communication,
cognition/memory, feeding and swallowing skills.
Respiratory therapists give therapy to help children when they have trouble breathing. They
work closely with doctors and nurses to treat and educate children and parents about breathing
problems. The respiratory therapist may also conduct tests to help doctors diagnose and treat
breathing problems.
Social workers give guidance and counseling for personal or family problems related to
a child’s illness or injury, including follow-up care at home. They can help refer families to
community agencies, family support groups, the Health Law Partnership (HeLP) and child and
adult protective services. If financial concerns make it hard to stay overnight or visit a patient, the
Social Work department may be able to help find resources in the community. Call ext. 52010
for more information.
Volunteers at Children’s wear khaki aprons and are called Friends. They help all around the
hospital, playing games with patients, leading activities and providing customer service and
administrative support. Call ext. 52150, if you need volunteer assistance or would like to
become a volunteer.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
23
Four months ago, she fractured her ankle cheering.
Now her recovery is complete.
Sports Medicine Program. When an athlete suffers a sports-related injury, proper
healing and therapy are crucial. Now teens in Georgia can get the care they need
to make a strong recovery. Our staff consists of pediatric sports medicine physicians,
pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, certified athletic trainers, and certified
strength and conditioning specialists, who specialize in the treatment of young athletes.
And our Orthopaedics Program, which includes Sports Medicine, ranks in the top 5 in
the U.S. by Child magazine, putting them among the nation’s elite programs. For more
information visit us online at www.choa.org/sportsmed or call 404-785-6880.
3155 North Point Pkwy., Bldg. A, Ste. 100, Alpharetta**
1605 Chantilly Dr., Ste. 200, Atlanta*
5445 Meridian Mark Rd., Ste. 290, Atlanta**
2660 Satellite Blvd., Duluth**
2985 George Busbee Pkwy., Kennesaw**
3618 Sandy Plains Rd., Ste. 100, Marietta*
2220 Wisteria Dr., Snellville**
©2008 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved. Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform services at
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are independent providers and are not our employees. *A service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.
**A service of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.
Rights and Responsibilities
CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA is committed
to providing quality care as promptly and courteously
as possible. It is important to us that you and your family
members feel welcome at Children’s. You should know your
child’s rights as a patient, and your rights and responsibilities
as a parent. If you have any questions about these rights and
responsibilities, contact a patient representative at:
Children’s at Egleston: 404-785-6163
Children’s at Hughes Spalding: 404-345-4815
Children’s at Scottish Rite: 404-785-5194
Visit www.choa.org for more information.
Your Rights
You have the right to respect, emotional support, and confidentiality and security of information
that supports you as a family. You have the right to have fair and respectful access to the resources
of the hospital(s) and facilities necessary for your child’s care without regard to race, color, creed,
national origin, sex, handicap or, in the case of emergency treatment, source of payment.
You have the right and are encouraged to talk openly with your child’s doctor, in a language you
understand and with consideration for any speech and/or hearing impairment, regarding:
– Your child’s diagnosis and prescribed treatment
– Why treatments and tests are done and who does them
– Your child’s illness
– Your wish for a consultation or second opinion from another doctor
– The need to transfer your child to another facility and be told the alternatives to a transfer
– Your wish to change doctors and/or hospitals
– Instructions for ongoing medical needs and requirements following your child’s discharge
– Ethical issues about your child’s care
– Financial impact of care choices
You also have the right to:
– Receive an explanation of all papers you are asked to sign
– Change your mind about any procedure for which you have given consent
– Refuse to sign a consent form you do not fully understand
– Refuse treatment and be informed of the medical results of this action
– Refuse to participate in research projects
– Receive information and instructions in ways that are understandable to you
– Receive information about how to access security and child protective services
– Take steps to resolve grievances (complaints) by contacting the patient representatives,
who review grievances and respond in writing when needed
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
25
Rights and Responsibilities
Your Rights cont.
– Have your child be free from restraints and seclusion in any form when used as a means of
coercion, discipline, convenience for the staff, or retaliation
– Be free from all forms of abuse and/or harassment
– Have your child’s pain assessed and reduced as much as possible with pain
management efforts
– Review your child’s medical record with his or her attending doctor or designee in
attendance while your child is hospitalized
– Request additions to your child’s medical record
– Contact The Joint Commission by phone at 800-994-6610 or by e-mail at
complaint@jointcommission.org, or send a letter to The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Blvd.,
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4294 at any time regarding your child’s care
– Contact the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) at 404-657-5550, or send a letter
to the DHR Office of Regulatory Services, Two Peachtree St. NW, Suite 33-250, Atlanta, GA
30303-3159 at any time regarding your child’s care
Playing Your Part
You and your child have the responsibility to:
– Provide accurate, complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations,
medicines and other matters related to your child’s health
– Produce, upon request, documentation of authority to consent for your child’s admission
and treatment
– Ask for an explanation if you do not understand papers you are asked to sign or anything related to
your child’s care
– Follow the care prescribed or recommended for your child by the doctors, nurses and other allied
healthcare personnel, and remember you are responsible for actions if you refuse treatment or do
not follow instructions
– Report unexpected changes in your child’s condition to the responsible caregiver
– Know and follow the rules of the hospital, the patient care unit(s) and clinics
– Keep appointments and call to cancel or change an appointment as soon as poss ble
– Respect the rights and privacy of others
– Meet the financial responsibilities associated with your child’s care
– Call Children’s at 404-785-5589 if you have any questions about your bill
Adult Patient Rights
Adult patients (18 years of age or older) have the right to consent to, alter or refuse treatment and
create an advanced directive (a document that expresses the patient’s wishes about care in the event
that he becomes unable to communicate). You will receive information about advanced directives
upon admission, and you may request it at any time during your hospital visit.
26 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Partners in Care
You and/or your child should expect:
– Personal privacy to be respected to the fullest extent consistent with the care prescribed
– Privacy with regard to protected health information
– To receive personal hygiene and grooming support
– Personal values and belief systems to be respected
– Reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practice and conditions are concerned
– Access to people from outside the hospital
– Records pertaining to care, including the source of payment, to be kept confidential
– Access to records to be granted within a reasonable time frame and only to you or to those persons
to whom you grant written permission or who are permitted by law
– To receive an itemized copy of the hospital bill upon request
– The course of treatment to be adapted to your specific needs and limitations
Difficult Treatment Decisions
If you need help with difficult decisions about the care of a patient, you may contact the Children’s
Bioethics Committee, which is made up of doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers and hospital
administrators. Just ask your child’s nurse.
Child Rights
As a patient at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, I have a right:
1. To be told the truth about what is happening to me
2. To have the doctors, nurses and other healthcare people recognize that I cope and react
differently than grown-ups
3. To cry or object to anything that hurts or upsets me
4. To be treated with courtesy and respect for me and my feelings
5. To have my basic needs met and to be clean, dry, comfortable, and free of physical restrictions
and restraining movement, whenever possible; if it is necessary to restrain movement, it will not be
used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience for the staff or retaliation
6. To be reassured that I did not do anything wrong to be sick
7. To have all questions answered in words I can understand
8. To make choices whenever possible, so long as they don’t interfere with my medical care
9. To have my bed be a safe place, if at all possible, from hurtful things
10. To have the doctors, nurses and other healthcare people tell me ahead of time what they
will do to me before they do it, unless I know what is happening, and to have people talk
to me rather than whispering about me over my bed or out in the halls
11. To have the staff listen to me because I have important things to say
12. To have initial and regular assessment and management of my pain
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
27
Rights and Responsibilities
Child Rights cont.
13. To know the names of doctors, nurses and other healthcare people who take care of me
and know they respect my privacy
14. To have my daily routine stay as normal as possible and to sleep without interruptions whenever
possible, to have quiet times during the day, to have school time provided, to
play when I am able and to talk to my friends when they call or visit
15. To have my family members with me whenever they can stay, so long as it does not get in
the way of my care or the care of other patients
16. To have a careful evaluation, followed by polite and prompt treatment, while being given
the choice to watch certain procedures, if possible
17. To know my illness affects only me, my family and the people caring for me and that it is the
business of no one else, unless I say to tell them
18. To leave the hospital as soon as possible after those taking care of me teach me how I can
be healthy at home
Our Commitment to Privacy
Your privacy is very important to us. To help protect your privacy, we provide a notice explaining our
information practices and the choices you can make about how your information is collected and
used by Children’s. To make this notice easy to find, we make it available on our Web site home
page, on postings in the hallways throughout the hospital, by calling 404-250-KIDS, and at every
point where we request your personal information.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Our pledge regarding medical information
We understand that medical information about your child and your child’s health is personal. We are
committed to protecting medical information about your child. We create a record of the care and
services your child receives at Children’s. We need this record to give your child quality care and to
comply with certain legal requirements. Your child’s personal doctor and other doctors involved in
your child’s care may have different policies or notices about the doctor’s use and disclosure of your
child’s medical information created in the doctor’s office.
We are required by law to:
– Make sure that medical information that identifies your child is kept private.
– Give you notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to medical information about
your child.
– Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.
Visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa for more
information about HIPAA.
28 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Going Home
Patient Discharge
When your child’s treatment is complete, he will be
discharged from the hospital. We know you are eager to
get home. We will try to speed along the discharge process.
We want to make sure that all paperwork is taken care of
and that it is an easy adjustment home for you and your
child. Be sure to confirm your child’s discharge day with your child’s doctor before telling your
child he is going home. Otherwise, if discharge is delayed for any reason, your child could be
disappointed. The nurse can contact a campus transporter—someone to assist you in leaving the
hospital. They can bring a wagon, cart or wheelchair and walk your family to the discharge area.
Before your child is discharged, his doctor will tell you how to care for him and when he wants to
see your child again. The nurse also will give you home care instructions. Some things you may
want to discuss with the doctor include:
– What is my child’s current medicine list?
– Do I need any information for newly prescribed medicines?
– Are there any foods my child should not eat while taking the medicine?
– Can the medicine be chewed, mixed, crushed, etc.?
– How should medicine be prepared and stored?
– When can my child return to school or childcare?
– Can my child take part in sports or physical activities?
Be sure to arrange transportation home for you and your child. Also remember to bring clothes
for your child to wear home, as well as a suitcase or shopping bag for other items. Each unit
manages discharge differently, so ask your child’s nurse how to check out of the hospital. Once
you are checked out of your room, you can wait for your ride in the patient discharge area on
the first floor. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
29
Going Home
Car Seat Safety
Make sure that your child’s car or booster seat is at the hospital when it is time to go home. Georgia
law requires all children younger than 6 years of age to be correctly buckled into a car seat or
booster seat in the backseat of a car, van or truck. Children 6 years of age and younger than 18
years of age must at least wear a safety belt. The law is a minimum standard. Children age 6 and
older are safest using a booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly, usually around the time they are
4 feet 9 inches and between 8 to 12 years old.
The Children’s Child Passenger Safety Education program ensures that children leave our
facilities properly fitted in an age-appropriate car seat. Page one of our safety technicians at
404-225-1630 to find out more about the program. Technicians are available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Monday to Friday. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.gov or
www.choa.org for more information about car seat safety.
Going Back to School
The Children’s School Nurse Liaison/Consultant program helps school-age (5 to 18 years)
children and their families with school re-entry needs. See Page 23 for more information.
Home Healthcare Agencies
Your child may require continued care at home. Federal law HR 2543 requires that hospitals
inform patients and families of home health agencies that may be available to offer home health
services for your child. A case manager will help you in planning your child’s care at home and
find out which home health agencies are included in your medical coverage. More information
about case managers is available on Page 22.
30 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Caring for Your Child at Home
After being in the hospital, children may act differently than they normally do. You may see
changes in eating, sleeping or playing. To help:
– Get your child back to his normal routine quickly—give him tasks he can manage.
– Do not make your child the center of attention because of his illness.
– Be kind, firm and consistent with your child, even with discipline—this lets your child know
he is back in his normal situation.
– Be honest with your child.
– Let your child talk about his feelings, his illness and his hospital stay.
– Let your child act out his feelings through play.
– Do not leave a young child alone for long periods of time or overnight, until he has adjusted
to being home.
– Call the Children’s Child Life department at 404-785-2010 if you have any questions.
Giving Medicine at Home
Your child’s doctor may give you a prescription for medicine that will need to be filled at a drug
store. A list of local drug stores is on Page 9. Some things to remember when giving medicine or
treatments at home are:
– Reread the label on the medicine bottle when preparing each dose.
– Get your medicine at the same drug store, so the pharmacist knows your child’s history.
– Give the medicine to your child exactly as prescribed.
– Call your child’s doctor if your child is not getting better.
Ask your pharmacist to double-check refills if the medicine does not look the same as it did the
last time you got it. Also ask the pharmacists to tell you:
– About your child’s medicine label
– The best way to measure liquids and powders
– The medicine’s side effects
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
31
Going Home
Billing
Understanding your hospital bills
Your child’s hospital charges from Children’s include a daily room rate plus the cost for additional
services. The daily room rate includes charges for the room, patient meals and nursing services.
Additional services may include X-rays, labs, treatments, medicines and supplies. We accept
MasterCard, VISA, American Express and personal checks.
Anyone who receives care from Children’s will receive a bill from the hospital. They also may
receive bills from doctors who participate in your child’s treatment. In addition to a bill from your
child’s attending doctor, you also may receive bills for other services such as pathology, radiology
and anesthesia.
Note: Even if the hospital is in-network for your insurance plan, the doctor(s) treating your child
may not be. Review your own plan carefully to determine specific requirements for precertification
or referral procedures. If you do not follow your plan’s rules or guidelines, you may be held
responsible for some or all of the charges not paid by your insurance.
If your child’s hospital charges are covered by insurance or Medicaid/PeachCare:
– Our Registration department needs your current insurance or Medicaid information. If
you have not given this information to them, go to the Registration desk on the first
floor immediately.
– Our Patient Accounts department will submit a claim on your behalf to your insurance company.
Denied, rejected or unpaid private insurance claims are your responsibility.
– You will receive a monthly statement in the mail from Children’s at Scottish Rite explaining the
status of your account and listing any unpaid balance.
– The Children’s Patient Accounts Customer Service department at 404-785-5589 can answer
any questions about your child’s hospital bill.
If your child’s hospital charges are not covered by insurance or Medicaid:
– A financial advisor is available from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. The advisor can
assist with completing a Medicaid/Peachcare application. The advisor also is available to assist
with finding other resources a family may qualify for when financial assistance is needed.
– Call 404-785-4514 to speak with a Children’s financial advisor.
32 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Her hazel eyes came from her mom. Her blonde hair, from her dad.
And her smile, from Children’s.
At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, our goal is to help kids get back
to being kids. And for some children, it can be a long process. But
thanks to our nationally recognized team of plastic surgeons, dentists,
orthodontists and speech pathologists, children born with craniofacial
disorders get expert treatment and the care and support they need to
keep them smiling. We are proud of the help we can give to these
courageous kids, but as a not-for-profit organization, none of this would
be possible without donations from people like you. To help, please call
404-785-GIVE or visit www.choa.org/give.
Children need Children’s and Children’s needs You
®
©2008 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform services
at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are independent providers and are not our employees.
Directions
Children’s at Scottish Rite
1001 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30342-1600
404-785-5252
– Visit www.choa.org/locations for door-to-door maps and directions.
– Free shuttle service is available to and from Visitor Parking to various hospital entrances, the
Children’s Medical Office Building, Day Rehabilitation and Meridian Mark Plaza.
– Valet service is available 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday for $4 at the hospital main
entrance; for the Emergency department, free valet service is available 24 hours a day
Traveling on I-285 East
– Take Exit 26 (Glenridge Drive) (0.3 miles)
– Turn right onto Glenridge Drive (less than 0.1 miles)
– Turn left onto Johnson Ferry Road (0.4 miles)
– Turn right onto Meridian Mark Road (0.4 miles)
– The main entrance to the hospital is on the left
– Follow the signs for Visitor Parking
Traveling on I-285 West
– Take Exit 28 (Peachtree-Dunwoody Road) (0.2 miles)
– Turn left onto Peachtree-Dunwoody Road (less than 0.1 miles)
– Turn right onto Johnson Ferry Road (0.5 miles)
– Turn left onto Meridian Mark Road (less than 0.2 miles)
– The main entrance to the hospital is on the left
– Follow the signs for Visitor Parking
34 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®
Traveling on GA-400 North
– Take Exit 4A (Glenridge Connector) (0.3 miles)
– Turn right onto Glenridge Connector (0.5 miles)
– Turn left onto Meridian Mark Road (0.2 miles)
– The main entrance to the hospital is on the right
– Follow the signs to Visitor Parking
Traveling on GA-400 South
– Take Exit 3 (Glenridge Connector) (0.5 miles)
– Turn right onto Glenridge Connector (0.5 miles)
– Turn left onto Meridian Mark Road (0.2 miles)
– The main entrance to the hospital is on the right
– Follow the signs for Visitor Parking
MARTA Rail* and the Children’s Shuttle Bus
– From the North-South rail line, exit the train at the N8 (Medical Center) station
– Bus 41 stops at the Medical Center Rapid Rail station
– Call the Children’s Security office at 404-785-2073 to request a shuttle bus pickup.
*Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, www.itsmarta.org
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
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Notes
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36 C h i l d r e n n e e d C h i l d r e n ’ s ®