OTHER RESOURCES
Helpful Information for Families and Caregivers
Being away from home and away from the resources you probably know well in your community may feel scary and confusing. It may also feel very overwhelming to navigate being the caregiver of a special needs child. We have compiled the lists of resources below in the hope that they will be helpful to you and make your time away from home easier. The resources are organized by category tabs (at the top) and can be searched by keyword(s). Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions. Think of LilyPads Housing as your 'Medical Concierge'. If we don't have an answer, we will do our best to find it!
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UVA Children's allows visitation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To have the most visitation options, you must be a care partner (see separate section). There are some visitation restrictions for people under the age of 18 also.
People Under 18:
Are not able to visit all areas. Please call your child’s unit and ask in advance before bringing another child to visit. This includes siblings
Are not able to spend the night
Must be with an adult at all times
Cannot play on the floor (sometimes we have to move quickly)
Quiet Time
Quiet time is from 2-4 p.m. and 10 p.m.-5 a.m. During this time, lighting and noise are reduced so that families can rest. During the night, your care team will check on you quietly to be sure all is well. Use the call button for any needs.
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What’s a Care Partner?
Most often, care partners are parents. But depending on the needs of the family, others can be care partners. Care partners can often stay overnight with a patient, be involved in medical decisions, and learn to help with care.
Every patient in the hospital can have 2 care partners. When you become a care partner, you’ll be given a green wristband (in addition to the necessary daily visitor's badge) that lets staff know your special status. You’ll also get a security code you’ll use to get updates by phone. It’s very important that you don’t share these things.
What Else Does a Care Partner Do?
You’ll learn how to participate in your child’s medical care. From changing bandages to administering medicine, so that you will feel confident for when you take over their care after discharge.
What If My Child Is Over 18?
When your child is an adult, you can still be their care partner. But you can’t make medical decisions for them as a care partner once they’re over 18. For that, you’ll need power of attorney.
Can We Change Care Partners?
Yes. Sometimes, especially for long hospital stays, one care partner may not be able to visit. This can put too much stress on the remaining care partner. We would encourage you to select a second care partner, with the comfort of knowing you can change it back.
Can Care Partners Skip Getting a Visitor’s Badge?
No. Care partners still need to check in at one of the information desks and get a visitor’s badge. This helps keep the hospital a secure and safe place for all children.
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The hospital gift shop offers a variety of gifts, from gift cards and keepsakes to snacks and headphones. You can go in-person to pick something out, or call and order by phone. Your gift will be delivered directly to the patient’s room.
If you order from an outside shop, there are some restrictions on what can be brought in.
Check with your child’s care team about food and flowers
All balloons must be mylar, not latex (for patient safety)
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Complimentary Meals
The hospital provides a complimentary lunch on Wednesdays and Fridays to patient families. Lunches are delivered to patient rooms on the seventh floor, including the NICU. There are snacks and coffee/tea available in the Panera Lounge.
Breastfeeding parents receive meal vouchers 3x/day in the PICU and Peds Acute wings.
Families needing more meal assistance can speak to their social worker to receive additional meal vouchers.
Typically, breakfast is 8-8:30 a.m., lunch is 11:30 a.m.- noon and dinner is 5-5:30 p.m.
Food Options
The UVA Hospital cafeteria is open 7 days a week from 5am to 3:15am. The West Complex Cafeteria is open Monday-Friday from 7am-2:30pm. The Emily Couric Cancer Center Cafe offers a variety of prepared food options and is open Monday-Friday 8am-2pm. Vending machines and microwaves are available in both cafeterias. There is also a local coffee shop, Higher Grounds, located in the UVA Cafeteria. They are open 7 days a week from 6am-9pm.
Food Storage & Preparation
Most units have a patient food refrigerator that can be used to store small amounts of food or drinks with the child’s identification sticker and date. Patient food can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours. For hygiene reasons, the unit’s kitchen is accessible only to staff. Microwaves are available on all seventh floor pediatric units and in the 7 West Panera family lounge.
Nutrition & Special Dietary Needs/Restrictions
Based on your child's needs, a catering assistant will provide your child’s food and drinks during their hospital stay. You will have the option to choose kid-friendly meals. Some patients require a specific diet due to their medical condition or in preparation for a scheduled test or procedure. Please discuss your child’s diet with your nursing team. A registered dietitian is also available to help you understand any special dietary issues or needs.
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For your comfort, there are two family lounges on the seventh floor located across from the 7 East and 7 West elevators. The Panera family lounge, open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, located by the west elevators, has comfortable seating, a television, a phone and free coffee available.
The 7 East lounge has additional educational pamphlets. There are also complimentary children’s books.
Sleeping is not allowed in these shared spaces. Please see our "Lodging" section for more information on housing options.
The Family Resource Center is located on the seventh floor outside of the NICU near the 7 East elevators. The center provides coffee around the clock and refreshments. The monthly seventh floor calendar of events is posted here and a phone and computers are available for your use. There are also complimentary children’s books.
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UVA Health Children’s and local nonprofits have come together to create UVA Health Children’s Housing Collaborative with the shared vision of serving pediatric patients and their families when the are experiencing a medical crisis. The collaborative coordinates resources to provide safe, nurturing and affordable lodging while families are away from home. The non-profits listed below offer medical lodging to UVA hospital families. Please click their name to be directed to their website.
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The HEP is a state-operated program that partners with UVA Health Children’s, Charlottesville City Schools and the Virginia Department of Education. The shared mission of this partnership is to provide for the educational needs of children with acute and chronic medical conditions.
With parental consent, children may be enrolled in the HEP and receive attendance credit and grades for completed work. Masters-level teachers remain in close contact with students’ schools to help them stay on track academically and to create a seamless transition back to school. Instruction may occur in the classroom or at the bedside. The HEP team is also supported by a library media specialist and art therapist.
Educational consultants assigned to outpatient clinics serve as the link between the student, family, medical staff and home schools across the commonwealth and surrounding states. All school services are offered at no cost to families.
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The hospital can be an unfamiliar and frightening experience for any child and their family. Child life specialists help your child and family cope with medical experiences. Their goal is to increase coping and decrease stress, anxiety and trauma that can be associated with hospitalization. Child Life Specialists prepare children for healthcare experiences, provide support during procedures, provide sibling support, and provide medical play and other therapeutic play activities.
The Child Life team coordinates and oversees special visitors and events in the playroom on 7 Central and the teen space on 7 West. A monthly calendar of events is posted on the inpatient pediatric units for families.
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Breastfeeding parents receive complimentary meals three times a day in the PICU and Peds Acute wings. You can speak with your nurse or social worker to arrange this service.
The UVA Breastfeeding Medicine Program offers breastfeeding classes, prenatal breastfeeding counseling and consultations in the hospital as well as in the Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic for parents and babies.
There is a 24-hour “warm line” for phone support and calls are returned within
24 hours. Board-certified lactation consultants (healthcare professionals trained to help mothers with breastfeeding issues) and pediatricians help new mothers who want to provide breastmilk for their babies. Parents with breastfeeding questions and concerns can contact a lactation specialist by calling the UVA Breastfeeding Medicine Program office at 434.982.3316.
Formula for infants and storage for breastmilk is provided on the inpatient units. All breastmilk will be specially labeled with your infant’s breastmilk identification label and dated. Before usage, the identification label is scanned by the computer to ensure safety. There is a special refrigerator and freezer for breastmilk storage that only nurses can access. Most units have a patient food refrigerator that can be used to store small amounts of food or drinks with the child’s identification sticker and date. Patient food can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours. For hygiene reasons, the unit’s kitchen is accessible only to staff. Microwaves are available on all seventh floor pediatric units and in the 7 West Panera family lounge.
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Pediatric Medical Emergency Team (Pediatric MET)
434.984.2222
room dial: 4.2222
7 Central
434.924.5371
7 West
434.924.5561
NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
434.924.2335
PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
434.924.1761
434.243.3134
UVA Health Children’s Clinic
434.924.0123
Pediatric Emergency Department
434.924.2231
UVA Breastfeeding Medicine Program
434.982.3316
UVA Health Children’s Development
434.924.8432
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Comfortable clothes, underwear, socks and slippers
Special devices or equipment: glasses, hearing aids, wheelchair, crutches, braces, CPAP, feeding tube supplies or other orthopedic aids
Activities or schoolwork, including toys, games, books, videos or photos to help make child feel more at home
A favorite stuffed animal, blanket or pillow
A laptop or iPad
A list of all medications (including herbal remedies and supplements) with current dose, doctor/pharmacy name and contact information
A list of all food and medicine allergies Medical records from other hospitals
Legal records or other paperwork, including health insurance and custody documents
Information about diet, language, cultural, religious or other special needs
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What are Rounds?
During rounds/rounding, your child's medical team will discuss their current condition, progress, treatments and tests, and future treatments and tests. You are an important part of this medical team and it can be very helpful to be present for rounds. Speak up if you have any questions or concerns, notice a change in condition, or feel like there is an issue that needs to be addressed. You know your child best.
When do Rounds happen?
Rounds are usually conducted in the morning and possibly again in the afternoon. Because medical teams round at each child’s bedside every day, the exact time that they round with your child may change. Your child’s nurse can tell you what time the medical team may round so that you can join if you are able. If you want to be part of rounds but cannot be in the room or unit at certain times, please give that information to your child’s nurse so that a plan can be made to exchange this vital information. Also know that your child’s medical team is available at any time in person or by phone to answer questions or listen to your concerns.
What are some examples of questions I can ask?
What is my child’s plan of care?
When and how will the doctors, nurses and other members of the healthcare team communicate with me?
How can I participate in my child’s care and decision-making?
How can I learn more about my child’s illness?
Why does my child need this test?
What will this test show about my child’s health?
How is the test done? What steps does the test involve?
Are there any dangers or side effects?
Will our insurance cover the cost of the test?
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You know your child better than anyone else. If at any time you grow concerned about your child’s condition and you feel that you need to escalate your concern beyond your bedside nurse, call the Pediatric Medical Emergency Team (Pediatric MET) from your personal phone by dialing 434.984.2222 or room phone by dialing 4.2222. The operator will ask for your name, the patient’s name, the room number and the nature of your concern and a specially trained team will immediately respond. You can call at any time that you feel it is needed for your child’s safe care.