Arriving At The Hospital

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Locations

Emergency

Urgent Care

In This Section

• Your Visit
  • Overnight and Extended Stays
  • Same-Day Procedures
  • Visiting the Emergency Room
  • Preparing for a Primary Care or Clinic Visit
  • Medical Records
  • Financial Matters
  • Global Patient Services
  • Telehealth
  • Patient and Family Centered Care
• Overnight and Extended Stays
  • Hotel Accomodations
  • Hotel Request Form
  • Before You Arrive
  • Arriving at the Hospital
  • During Your Stay
  • Visitors
  • Going Home
• Arriving at the Hospital

When you arrive at Nationwide Children's Hospital, we are ready to assist you with any needs, issues or questions that you may have.

Patient Registration

Be sure to talk with your doctor about anything you should bring to the hospital for your child's procedure or inpatient stay.

Patient Photos

Nationwide Children’s Hospital is adding patient photographs to our electronic medical record as an additional form of patient identification and an extra layer of patient safety. Your child's photo may be taken during a:

• Clinic visit
• Urgent Care visit
• Emergency Department visit
• Inpatient admission

If your child is between the ages of 6 months and 6 years, his or her photo should be updated every six months. For patients 6 years or older, the photo should be updated each year.

Resources For Your Arrival

• Maps & Directions
• Request a Surgery Tour
• Financial Assistance
• International Patients
• Surgery Guide
• Visitor's Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring to my child's appointment?

Please bring:

• Your insurance card
• A list of all medications, vitamins and herbal supplements your child is currently taking
• Your child’s current immunization record

Do I need to let my insurance company know that my child is going to be in the hospital? What will they cover?

Always tell your insurance company when your child is going to be admitted to the hospital. There are so many types of insurance plans; it's hard for us know if you need to get prior approval for your child's hospital stay. Contact your insurance company or your employer with specific questions about what is – or is not – covered by your plan.

Do I need to let my insurance company know that my child was treated in the Emergency Room or Urgent Care Center?

Individual insurance plans vary, but it's always a good idea to contact your insurance company if your child went to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care. This will help to process and pay the claim for services.

Do I need to let my insurance company know that I just had a baby or adopted a child?

Yes, you should tell your insurance company that you've had a baby or adopted a child. However, you must also notify your employer of the change in dependents. Your employer can then start the formal process of adding dependents to the plan. Most plans allow you to add dependents within 30 days from the date of birth or from the final adoption date.

How do I know if my insurance company will cover my visit or certain services?

The best way to get information about your coverage is to contact your insurance company. If you are covered under a group policy through work, your employer can tell you what is covered. Health insurance coverage varies with each insurance company and employer. The staff at Nationwide Children's Hospital does not know whether a particular service will be covered by your plan.

In all cases, you are the "responsible party" – not your insurer.

This means:

• You are responsible for all payments for hospital and medical services, even if they are not covered services.
• Even "medically necessary" services may not always be covered by your insurance contract.

Each insurance plan is different. Here's what you can do to get answers about your health insurance coverage:

• Make sure the treatment facility accepts your insurance plan.
• Contact your specific insurance plan to find out whether your child's treatment will be covered.
• If you have health insurance from your employer, verify your coverage. One employer may offer several plans, and each may pay for different treatments.
• Remember that even if Nationwide Children's Hospital (or one of our facilities) is listed in your plan, we may not be approved by your health insurance company for all the services we offer.

If you have questions about what's covered under your health insurance, look at your insurance company member handbook or call your insurance company with questions.

Will my insurance company cover the services of all health professionals (such as the surgeon, radiologist, or pathologist) involved in my child's treatment?

Every member of your child's health care team must have a separate contract with the insurance company. Nationwide Children's Hospital doesn't know if each person who cares for your child has a contract with your insurance company. Please check with your insurance company or your employer about this.

Who can I contact for more information?

Patient Account Representatives are available to help if you have questions.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

Email: Children'[email protected]

Phone: (614) 722-2055