< Patients and Visitors

Visitor Guidelines

At Arkansas Children's, we believe that the parents and/or caregivers are essential members of the healthcare team & vital to our family-centered approach to care. Our top priority at Arkansas Children’s is to ensure that we provide a safe environment and the best possible protection for our patients, families and teams. We do not restrict or deny visitation based on race, color, nationality, origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or disability. Our visiting guidelines balance the needs of the family with the safety of the patient. Any restrictions are based on keeping the patient safe and preventing the spread of infection.

Visitor Rights and Responsibilities

We respect the right of parents/guardians and adult patients to identify who may and may not visit. A minor patient's parent/guardian is encouraged to be at the hospital with their child as much as possible and overnight lodging accommodations are available to support parent presence. For adult patients (18 and over), the person chosen is allowed to be here 24 hours a day and may or may not be the patient's parent or guardian.

All visitors are required to follow hospital rules and guidelines regarding appropriate dress and behavior for a pediatric facility.

Visitor Screening Guidelines

With safety as a core value, Arkansas Children’s is implementing procedures and protocols across the health system. Team members, patients and visitors entering Arkansas Children's facilities will be temperature screened upon entry to our facilities. As visitors, patients and families arrive on campus, they should expect to be asked ALL of the following screening questions:

  1. Have you had recent onset of any of the following symptoms:
    • Fever or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches (not explained by exercise)
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  2. In the last month, have you or anyone in your household:
    • Tested positive for COVID-19 or have a test pending?
    • Have you been in direct contact with someone positive for COVID-19?

If you are cleared to enter, you will be asked to wear a mask.

Who is screened at entrances?

All persons (patients, visitors and staff) are screened before entering any Arkansas Children’s facility. This includes temperature screening. Those with temperatures above 100.4 degrees will not be admitted. While everyone is screened, we are only testing children who meet the qualifying criteria set by the Arkansas Department of Health.

Why are my child and I being asked to wear masks?

Due to COVID 19, we are taking additional steps to protect children and their families from potential exposure. We require all patients and their accompanying parents or guardian to wear masks to all appointments and surgeries. We will be screening at the door and making sure you have a mask. Upon entry, a hospital-issued mask will be provided and must be worn at all times. If your child is under two (2) years old, they should not wear a mask.

Why are Arkansas Children’s staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)?

Physicians, nurses and staff are wearing PPE (masks, gowns and gloves) in an abundance of caution and in an effort to keep our patients and families as safe as possible. Arkansas Children’s follows the guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Remember, wearing PPE helps protect against the spread of COVID 19 but is warranted in only specific situations.

Outpatient Visits (Clinics, Surgery/Bedside and Testing Visits)

  • Visiting hours are 9 a.m. 9 p.m.
  • ACH: Two caregivers per patient is allowed.
  • ACNW: Two caregivers per patient in all clinical areas of the hospital, and two caregivers are allowed to stay overnight in Inpatient areas.
  • Visitors under the age of 18 are not allowed, including siblings.

Inpatient Visits

  • At any time during your hospital stay, you may instruct the Admissions Department to remove your name from the list of hospitalized patients if you do not want anyone outside of Arkansas Children's to know you are in the hospital.
  • ACH: Two caregivers per patient at one time at the inpatient and OR surgery/bedside. Up to four caregivers, all 18 years or older, may rotate in the inpatient setting, but only two may be in the hospital at one time.
  • ACNW: Two caregivers per patient in all clinical areas of the hospital, and two caregivers are allowed to stay overnight in Inpatient areas.
  • In non-Intensive Care areas, at least one parent/guardian may sleep overnight in the patient's room. If in a semi-private room, the second parent/guardian may be referred to one of our overnight sleeping areas. If in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), consult with unit staff about bedside accommodations or sleeping arrangements for that area.
  • Adult patients may have their designated support person have unlimited access unless patient care or privacy of others is of concern.
  • We understand that you may not be able to be at the hospital 24 hours a day. You can designate someone over the age of 18 to provide support when you can't be there.
  • If other restrictions are placed on your visitors, you will be informed as to the reason.

Emergency Department

  • One caregiver per patient is allowed in the waiting room, and two caregivers are allowed in the exam room.

Arkansas Children’s is open for in-person patient visits.

We have implemented several safeguards to ensure the highest level of safety for your child and our patients. We want to make sure you know what to expect upon your visit to any of our facilities.

Learn what to expect when visiting Arkansas Children's.

Family Houses

Parents/caregivers must remain in the patient’s room as much as possible.

  • All Family Houses are currently closed to parents/caregivers or have limited capacity.  Please check with the Family Services Assistant (FSA) in these respective areas for more details.
  • The Central Family House and the ICU Family Houses are open to parents/caregivers on a limited basis and as space allows. Overnight sleeping in Family Houses is limited due to social distancing requirements, so we may not be able to accommodate all of those parents/caregivers approved for two to stay overnight. Please check with the Family Services Assistant (FSA) [cross-link] in these respective areas for more details.

ACH Patient Handbooks

Learn everything you need to know about your child’s stay at one of our Arkansas Children's locations, including general information, dining options, playrooms, family resources, maps, and nearby hotels.

ACNW Patient Handbooks