Shriners Hospitals for Children takes pride in providing health care in an integrated, family-centered care environment. Care is individualized for each patient and family, and teams of health care professionals work very closely together, under the same roof, to assure seamless care. Shriners - Chicago is a beautiful, child-friendly facility of over 210,000 square feet that includes

• Inpatient unit with both isolation rooms and semi-private rooms
• Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
• Step-down or telemetry unit
• Laundry facilities for parents' clothing
• Large activity mall with space for wheelchair basketball, pet therapy, entertainment programs, etc.
• Adaptive sports programs and equipment through the recreation therapy department
• Large adapted playground and a 4000-square-foot Patient Garden
• One large and two smaller rehabilitation gyms
• Aquatherapy pool
• Transition apartment to prepare teens for independent living
• Soft play areas for young children in the Mall, on the Inpatient unit, and in the lobby
• Teen Lounge
• Family library of about 1000 titles
• Certified schoolteacher
• Meditation room
• Overnight accommodations for one parent per patient

Ronald McDonald House near Loyola University Medical Center and five local hotels offer reduced rates for parents and families of Shriners’ patients. All are within a ten mile radius of the hospital.

The Patient and Family Handbook of Shriners Hospitals for Children - Chicago is available in English, Polish, and Spanish. It provides information about:

• Preparing for admission
• What to bring with you
• Fear and anxiety about hospitalization
• Housing
• Admission process
• Pain management
• Visitors
• Discharge
• Patient rights and responsibilities
• Hospital ethics committee
• Maps of the area and local services

Some of the more important hospital rules are contained in these inpatient unit guidelines in English and Spanish.

We want to make sure the time you spend with your physician is productive and that any concerns you have are addressed. Some parents find it helpful to come to appointments with a list of questions as they approach surgery for their child. Thinking about these questions in advance may help you prepare for your visits to Shriners. Sample questions are available in English, Polish, and Spanish.

Patient safety is one of our most fundatmental goals. You can help. Here are some ideas in English and Spanish.

Latex balloons are not allowed at Shriners Hospitals for Children - Chicago. Many of those with spinal cord injuries or spina bifida are allergic to latex, and latex balloons are also a significant cause of suffocation deaths in young children. Mylar balloons are a good alternative.

Smoking has been determined to be a significant health and patient care hazard as well as a potential cause of fires. It is therefore the policy of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) and of this hospital that no smoking is permitted in the hospital building. Smoking will be permitted outside of the hospital where ashtrays are provided. Patients are not permitted to smoke and could be subject to immediate discharge for violation of the non-smoking regulations.

Many other resources are available to patients both inside and outside the hospital.

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