Hospitals in the Champlain region are supportive of Ontario’s plan to require proof of vaccination to access businesses. COVID-19 vaccination is effective at reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, and therefore protects our health-care system from becoming overwhelmed. That is why, in the coming weeks, hospitals in the region will begin requiring proof of vaccination for visitors entering the hospital. Hospitals are putting in place plans to implement this direction.
CHEO does not consider parents and caregivers to be visitors.
That is why we have a parent/caregiver presence policy and a separate visitor policy. Parents and caregivers are part of the care team, providing critical information about their child or youth, as well as important emotional support. As a result, parents and caregivers will not be separated from their child or youth onsite.
CHEO’s visitor policy is effective as of September 22, 2021.
Please consult the details (below) of our updated policies related to the presence of parents, caregivers and visitors at CHEO.
Parent, caregiver and visitor presence policies
Please review the following information before arriving at CHEO.
Parents and caregivers are important members of the care team. They actively work with us to provide vital health information only they know and give emotional support in the way only a parent or caregiver can.
For infection prevention and safety reasons, we have limits on how many parents, caregivers and visitors can be onsite at one time. We also limit the number at the bedside.
We appreciate your patience and understanding in keeping everyone safe, particularly during the peak viral season.
Allowed number of parents, caregivers and visitors
Last updated: April 15, 2024
Clinic and Surgical Day Unit appointments
- TWO parents or caregivers are allowed to accompany children and youth while at CHEO.
Emergency Department visits
- ONE parent or caregiver is recommended to accompany children and youth while at CHEO's Emergency Department.
Staying at the hospital (admitted to CHEO's inpatient units)
- During the day, a maximum of TWO parents or caregivers (from the patient's designated list) are permitted at the bedside at a time.
Visitors
- Children and youth admitted to CHEO's inpatient units are allowed up to FOUR visitors on site. A maximum of TWO parents, caregivers or visitors are permitted at the bedside at a time during the day.
Exceptions to these rules
We recognize that some families (e.g., people with disabilities) require additional support to help the patients, parents or caregivers. If you are coming to Emergency, please discuss your need for an exception upon arrival at CHEO Emergency. If you are staying as an inpatient, please discuss this with your care team.
Who can't enter
Parents and caregivers who do not pass the entrance screening.
It is important to us that your child or youth receives the care they need. If you require an exception to any of our caregiver/visitor policies to ensure that your child/youth can access care, please contact a member of your care team or reach out to CHEO's Patient Experience team (experience@cheo.on.ca or 613-737-7600 ext. 3078).
Self-screening
To make sure we are always putting safety first and minimizing any chance of transmission of infections, we ask anyone who comes to CHEO, to self-screen before/upon entering.
Fill out the self-screening form online ahead of time and follow our signs when you arrive. Greeters will be available at the entrance to help if you have any questions.
Where to enter
All children, youth, parents/caregivers and visitors must enter through the Main Entrance unless you are seeking care from our Emergency Department. Other entrances are closed.
Frequently asked questions about coming to CHEO
What is the difference between a parent/caregiver and a visitor |
Parent/caregiver: Someone who is over 12 years old and helps a child or youth with activities of daily living – e.g., parent, grandparent, older sibling, legal guardian, etc. A parent/caregiver can be designated by a patient. A parent/caregiver is never considered a visitor because they are a vital part of the care team. Visitor: Someone who is part of a child's or youth’s family or support network (e.g., sibling, extended family member, friend, etc.) but not a designated parent or caregiver. |
Will I be required to wear a face mask while at CHEO? |
Masks are currently mandatory for everyone (patients, families, staff, medical staff and learners) in CHEO’s Emergency Department and Kids Come First Clinic. Masks are available to all children, youth, parents, caregivers and visitors at CHEO. Anyone is welcome to wear a mask when coming to CHEO. |
Media contact
media@cheo.on.ca
About CHEO
Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research. Based in Ottawa, CHEO includes a hospital, children’s treatment centre, school and research institute, with satellite services located throughout eastern Ontario. CHEO provides excellence in complex pediatric care, research and education. We are committed to partnering with families and the community to provide exceptional care — where, when and how it’s needed. CHEO is a partner of the Kids Come First Health Team, a network of partners in eastern Ontario working to create a high quality, standardized and co-ordinated system for pediatric health care centred around children, youth and their families. Every year, CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and northern Ontario.