Cook Children’s Medical Center Changes Visitation Policy

Throughout the COVID-19 health crisis, Cook Children’s has made every effort to keep patients and families safe while following the latest guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since Nov. 16, only one caregiver has been allowed at Cook Children’s Medical Center per patient. Beginning at 5 a.m. on Monday, March 8, the visitation policy will change, allowing two primary caregivers inside the medical center per admitted patient.

The new visitation policy affects families with a child admitted to Cook Children’s Medical Center. Two primary caregivers will be able to accompany the patient in the hospital and stay with them in their room while they are an inpatient. Siblings and other visitors will not be allowed.

For primary care appointments and other outpatient visits (such as urgent care, specialty care, neighborhood clinics and surgery centers), any two people from the child’s household are permitted attend to appointments or visits. For example: mom and sister; dad and daughter; mom and grandmother.

For emergency room visits, special exceptions will be made for families who have other children with them when they arrive. Special considerations are also made for situations involving end-of-life and other times when an additional visitor may be necessary.

Cook Children’s will still require masks to be worn by employees and anyone over the age of 2 entering Cook Children’s locations. This includes patients, caregivers and those who have been fully vaccinated. In addition, all visitors will be screened for the virus via temperature and symptom checks.