Visitor Information
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Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center

Visitor Information

Visitor Guidelines

Visitation plays an important role in a patient's healing and recovery. We welcome the comforting presence and support of parents, family and friends during a child's hospitalization, and we encourage parents and/or guardians to spend as much time as possible with their hospitalized child.

Please remember that the health and well-being of our patients comes first. We ask that our patients and their loved ones be respectful of other patients, visitors, and staff. For everyone’s safety, we ask that all visitors comply with the following guidelines.

  • Visitors who have colds or other infections should stay at home until they are well. Visiting children are not permitted into the Child and Adolescent Life playrooms as an infection control precaution.
  • Please respect the needs of others and maintain a calm and quiet atmosphere
  • No smoking please
  • Alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons, including firearms and knives, are not allowed on hospital grounds

If you wish to stay with a patient overnight, you must obtain a visitor’s badge from the nurse’s station where the patient is located. Overnight visitors must be at least 18 years of age and must renew privileges each night.

If your child is in a critical care unit, please check with the nurse regarding limitations on the number of other visitors or the length of visits as they are determined on an individual basis.

When visiting a patient in the critical care units, please do not bring food, fresh flowers or plants (silk flowers, pictures and cards are acceptable). Please remember that space for personal items is limited in the critical care units.

Mylar (metallic) balloons for patients are welcomed at Duke Children's Hospital. However, latex (rubber) balloons are not allowed anywhere in the hospital because they are a choking hazard for young children and can cause allergic reactions for patients and staff.

Parents are responsible for the supervision of visiting siblings. Visiting children must always be accompanied by an adult. In the interest of patient safety and to allow for optimum care for your child, please limit the number of guests in your child's room. Please let your nurse know if you would prefer that guests not visit your child when you are not present.

We recognize that being hospitalized can be frightening for children. The Duke Children's Hospital Child and Adolescent Life Programs are designed to create an environment to help ease children's fears and provide feelings of security, comfort, acceptance and age-appropriate activities to make the hospital experience as pleasant as possible for both your child and your family.

Waiting Room Activities

If you are bringing your child in for a clinic visit, each waiting room area is equipped with games to play until you are seen by your doctor. There is also a computer with fun video games. If your child does not feel well enough to play, he or she can relax in one of the comfortable chairs and watch TV or sit quietly and read a book. Each waiting room is divided into a Kid Zone and Teen Zone with special furniture for each.

Security​

Since many people go into and out of the hospital at all hours, please leave valuables at home, including expensive clothing, electronic equipment, large sums of money, and valuable jewelry. For safety reasons, Duke Children's recommends that you do not walk alone outdoors at night. Please call Security if you need an escort at 919-684-2444.

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How to Contact a Patient

To call a patient room, dial 919-684- followed by the patient’s four-digit room number. If you do not know the patient's room number, call 919-684-2410 to reach our Patient Information Desk. The information desk is located in the main lobby of the Duke University Hospital. If you are a patient and do not want this information released, please tell your nurse or someone on your child’s health care team.

Address mail and flowers to:

Patient’s name and room number
Duke Children’s Hospital
2301 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27710

General information: 919-684-8111

Please ask correspondents to mark letters clearly as "Patient Mail." After your child leaves the hospital, mail will be forwarded to your home address. Please note that flowers are not allowed on some intensive care units.

You may also send a free card to a patient at Duke Children's Hospital.