We consider families to be a part of the care team at Children’s. Parents are encouraged to be with their child as much as they are able. We suggest visits by friends and other family members be brief. The patient’s nurse or doctor can let the patient and family know how many visitors are allowed at once.

We want to maintain the best patient care environment possible. To do this, Children’s Hospital has set up a visitation system for all persons visiting patients. Parents and visitors must wear identification badges. Visitors can get their badge at the Information Desk in the Main Lobby (See the hospital map).

Normal visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Because children under the age of 12 often are around germs, they usually are not allowed to visit their friends or siblings. No one should visit who is ill or has been exposed to a contagious disease. This will protect our patients from becoming more ill.

Special visitation requests often are granted. The patient’s nurse can provide more specific guidelines about visitation.

Cards, letters, flowers and other gifts are welcomed. There are limits on some units however so please check with the patient or their parents on any restrictions. Latex (rubber) balloons are not allowed in the hospital, as they are unsafe for children. Mylar balloons are acceptable.

Mail to patients should be addressed as follows:
Child’s Full Name
Room Number
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
700 Children’s Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43205

Also available is our online greeting card service. This service makes it easy for family and friends to brighten up their loved one's room, not to mention his or her spirits, with a free personalized greeting card. Just follow a few simple steps to customize a card. Once submitted, it will be e-mailed directly to Children’s print shop. Once each morning, a hospital volunteer will hand deliver the card to the patient's room. It's simple and fun, and most importantly, loved ones can express just how much they care. Cards will be printed once a day, Monday through Friday, at 9 a.m. Card delivery cannot be guaranteed without the patient's full name. If the patient has been discharged, please provide a forwarding address and the card will be mailed to the recipient.

Children’s also has an online gift shop. Gifts are conveniently categorized by age, with special items that can be ordered for hospitalized patients – including balloons and flowers that will be delivered the same day (if ordered by 2 p.m., Monday through Friday). Children’s logo wear items also are available. Customers can even request items be shipped to any destination.

Children’s has two ATM machines maintained by Huntington National Bank. One is located in the Outpatient Care Center, next to Q’s Café. The second is just off the Main Lobby next to the Gift Shop. (See the hospital maps to find each of these areas.)

Huntington customers are not charged a fee for cash withdrawals. Non-Huntington customers will be charged a $1.50 fee for each cash withdrawal. Stamp dispensing machines also are available next to the ATM machines. A change machine can be found in the Outpatient Care Center lobby. The machine will break $10 and $20 bills to $5 bills.

Cafeteria
The cafeteria is located on the first floor of the hospital near Outpatient Surgery. Follow the dark brown wood circles on the hardwood floor to the purple squares. Follow the squares to the cafeteria on your left.

Cafeteria hours:

The grill, which has select menu items, is continuously open:

11 a.m. through 8:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday)
11 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. (Saturday - Sunday)

Vending
Complete vending areas are located in the cafeteria dining room, Emergency Department and behind Q’s Café. These areas are open 24 hours a day.

Food Court
The hospital also has a food court located in the lower level of the Education building (see the hospital map for locations of all food service areas). The food court offers several varieties of salads, wraps, hot sandwiches and beverages daily. There is also a Subway located in this area.

Food Court is open:
Monday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Subway is open:
24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Q’s Cafe
Please visit our espresso bar, Q’s Café, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located on the first floor of the Outpatient Care Center near one of the ATM machines. Q's also has sandwiches, salads, wraps and pizza.

There is a visitor parking garage and parking lots around the hospital for your use. The visitor parking lots and garage are operated by a token system. One token is needed to exit parking. Each token costs $2 and can be purchased at the Gift Shop and in token dispensing machines located on the first floor of the visitor parking garage, and in the lobbies of the Outpatient Care Center, the East Entrance, the Education building, the Emergency Department and the Surgery Center.

Click here for detailed maps, directions and parking information.

Vehicle security
Always make sure your vehicle is locked. Do not leave cash or valuable items in view in your vehicle. These items should be locked in the trunk, removed from the vehicle or hidden. At night, select the most well lit and most visible parking spaces.

Escorts
Security officers will take you to your vehicle if you wish. Go to any of the main doors and call (614) 722-2128. A security officer will meet you at the door. Security is also happy to escort you from the parking lots into the hospital. If you have a cell phone, call (614) 722-2128. If not, drive to the Emergency Department area and ask Security to meet you in one of the parking lots.

To promote good health and maintain a healthy environment, Children’s is smoke-free. All Children’s Hospital employees and visitors are prohibited from smoking during their work shift or visit to the hospital to protect the health of our patients. Designated areas will no longer be available for use and families and visitors will be asked not to smoke in their vehicles while on Children's campus. Smoking cessation products are also available in the Gift Shop for purchase. Read more.

Children are placed in isolation for two reasons: Their resistance to infection is low and they need extra protection; or they have a contagious illness and other people must be protected. An isolation sign should not be cause for alarm. It is simply a measure taken to protect your child and others against the spread of infection. If your child is placed in isolation, please check with the nurse in charge of your child’s care for instructions.