Visiting Akron Children's
As we work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19, please be aware of the following:
Visitation Restrictions
- Inpatients may have up to 2 adult caregivers designated as visitors for their hospital stay, and both are permitted at the bedside. Exceptions may be made for patients with a length of stay greater than 28 days.
- For inpatients in isolation who are under investigation or confirmed to have COVID-19, only one caregiver will be permitted at the bedside. Additional restrictions may apply in our intensive care units, the burn unit and hematology/oncology floor.
- For surgery and the post-surgery unit, 1 adult caregiver is allowed to bring the patient and remain in the hospital throughout surgery. You will be instructed on specific visitation upon admission for surgery. Two caregivers may be present during discharge.
- For outpatient visits, only 1 caregiver may accompany the patient in most areas. The following exceptions apply: 2 adult caregivers for newborn visits; an additional caregiver may be present if required by the patient’s condition/care, and only the patient is to come to Maternal Fetal Medicine appointments.
- For the emergency room or urgent care, 1 adult caregiver may be with the child.
- Visitors must be 18 or older unless the under 18 visitor is the parent/guardian of a patient. Siblings are not permitted.
- A mask mandate for Ohio is now in effect. Face coverings are required for indoor public places and outdoor places where social distancing cannot be maintained. We ask that patients and families wear face coverings when coming to any Akron Children's facility, except for kids under 2 or those with sensory issues. Masks will be provided if you do not wear your own. Learn about our new safety measures.
For consideration of exceptions not covered here, please talk to your child’s provider.
Building Access
We limited entry points at the Akron and Mahoning Valley hospital campuses in order to screen for COVID-19.
- Exchange Street parking deck - Level 3 bridge - 24/7
- Emergency Department entrance for ED patients only - 24/7
- Considine Professional Building
- Level 2: Monday-Friday 5 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Closed Sunday
- Level 3: from Bowery parking deck - Monday-Friday: 5 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday/Sunday: 6 a.m.-1 p.m.
- A Building - Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sunday – closed
- B Building - Emergency Department entrance for ED patients only - 24/7; other services during regular business hours
- C Building - Upper entrance near the playground - Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
- D Building - lobby entrance - 24/7
- Akron Campus Building Access Map
- Beeghly Campus Building Access Map
- Arabic Visitor Restrictions and Screening
- Burmese Visitor Restrictions and Screening
- Karen Visitor Restrictions and Screening
- Nepali Visitor Restrictions and Screening
- Spanish Visitor Restrictions and Screening
- Swahili Visitor Restrictions and Screening
- Download Apps for MyChart Telehealth Visit
- How to Join a MyChart Telehealth Visit
- CDC - Use of Cloth Face Coverings
School During COVID-19
Akron Children’s offers these materials to help you keep your kids safe, healthy and ready to learn.
- Language development in a mask-wearing world
- Your child’s health: stay on schedule with vaccines and annual wellness visits
- Know your student's risk for COVID-19 exposure at school
See more Back-to-School resources here.
Our Patients' Safety
At Akron Children’s Hospital, serving our patients in a clean and safe environment has always been of utmost importance. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have redoubled our efforts to provide a safe environment for you, your children and our employees, closely following the governor’s and CDC guidelines. Learn about our new safety measures.
As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 situation, we are:
- Limiting entry points at the Akron and Mahoning Valley campuses.
- Monitoring the temperature of patients, visitors and staff. Thermal scanners are being used at the Akron and Mahoning Valley campuses and regional health centers – and a temperature will only be taken to validate a result above 100.4 degrees. Temperatures will be taken at other Akron Children’s facilities.
- Practicing social/physical distancing at all of our facilities. Families can check in for appointments when they arrive using Mobile Check-in and then stay in their vehicles until it’s time to come inside.
- Testing patients for COVID-19 before they have surgery. Click here for details on where preoperative COVID-19 testing is available.
- Continually educating and retraining caregivers on personal protective equipment and hand hygiene.
- Cleaning common areas frequently.
- Installing more hand sanitizer dispensers.
- Decreasing the number of visitors.
- Giving surgical masks to all Akron Children’s employees working on-site.
- Asking everyone visiting an Akron Children’s facility to wear masks or face coverings, except for kids under 2 or those with sensory issues. Masks will be provided for visitors who do not bring their own.
In addition to in-person care, Akron Children’s Hospital now offers telehealth (video) visits through MyChart for some services. Learn more about telehealth.
Akron Children’s is committed to providing the right care at the right time in the right location to best serve you, while ensuring the safety of everyone.
Resources
Click on the links below for simple, helpful tools to keep your family and friends healthy.
- Flu or COVID-19?
- Preoperative COVID-19 Testing Locations
- Social Distancing
- Use Your Arms to Keep a Safe Distance
- When and Why to Mask
- CDC - Use of Cloth Face Coverings
- Ohio Department of Health COVID CareLine
- Urgent Care, Quick Care or Emergency Room
- COVID-19 Holiday risk chart
- Swiss cheese model of protection
- Wearing a face mask correctly
How You Can Help
The most important thing our community can do to help our health care workers is to wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from people who don’t live with them, wash their hands often and limit outings. For those community members and business owners who have expressed an interest in donating items, thank you. If you have a stock of the most-needed items below, we will gladly accept your donation. Please email COVID.Resources@akronchildrens.org to give details on the items you want to donate, along with your name and phone number. We will let you know when and where you can have the supplies delivered.
- Hand sanitizer
- Disinfecting wipes
- Latex-free exam gloves
- Surgical masks and N-95 masks
- Disposable splash gowns
Prepared Food Donations
We are also accepting donations of prepared food and meals for our health care providers and staff. If you’re interested in making a donation, please refer to these important food donation guidelines first.
Again, please email us at COVID.Resources@akronchildrens.org to make arrangements for delivery.