Visitor's Guide
GOING HOME
As your child gets better, we’ll work with your family to prepare for a safe homecoming. Your child’s nurse will talk with you about home care, at-home medications, how to use equipment at home, and follow-up visits with the doctor. The nurse will also let you know who to call if you have any questions or problems at home.
Things to remember:
• When your child is admitted to the hospital, you will be asked who will take your child home. Please let us know as soon as possible if there is a change in your plans.
• If anything at home might make it difficult for your child to return on discharge day, be sure to speak to your child’s nurse or social worker. If you have need for special services in your community, we can help.
On Discharge Day
Discharge time is 12 noon. Bring comfortable clothes—loose, sweat suit-style clothes are great—for your child to wear home, and make all arrangements (transportation, work schedules, child care needs, etc.) before the day of discharge.
Take-Home Medicines
If your child’s doctor has prescribed medicines for your child to use after leaving the hospital, you may pick them up at the Children’s Hospital Clinic Pharmacy, or you may have the prescription filled at another pharmacy.
Children’s pharmacy is located on the first floor of the hospital. It’s open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.); and from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (closed for lunch 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.). All major insurance plans are accepted, including Medi-Cal, Alameda Alliance for Health, Blue Cross, CCS, and GHPP.
Goodbye!
Don’t forget to check your room for all belongings and stop by the nurses’ station so we can say goodbye.
After you are home, a patient satisfaction survey will come in the mail. Please take the time to fill it out and return it to us. We use what you tell us to help make sure that every family has a positive experience at Children’s Hospital Oakland. Your opinion counts!
Happy homecoming!
Driving Home
Using a car seat for your child is the law in California. The law states:
• All children who are younger than 6 years and/or weigh less than 60 pounds must be properly restrained (seat belts fastened) in a correctly installed car seat.
• All children who are younger than 1 year and/or weigh less than 20 pounds must be properly restrained (seat belts fastened) in a correctly installed car seat facing the rear of the car.
If your child cannot use a standard car seat because of a cast, a special car seat may be available through the hospital’s Trauma Services. Your social worker can help make arrangements.
Safety First: Car Seat Facts
• Never place any child in a front seat with an airbag.
• Most infant seats fit a child up to 20-22 pounds.
• Convertible seats generally have a weight limit of 40 pounds.
• Booster-type seats are used for children who weigh 40 pounds or more. Safety experts recommend that kids continue to use booster seats until they reach the age of 8 years, weigh 80 pounds, and are 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• Children age 12 and younger should always ride in the back seat and be properly restrained.
For the nearest car seat inspection in any county of any state, call 1-800-441-1888.
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