Visitor Guidelines

Visitor Guidelines

Visiting Our Hopsitals

Beginning Aug. 18:

To support a safe and secure environment for everyone at Children’s, we’re asking all visitors age 18 and older to bring a photo ID to all our clinical sites statewide. This system will help us know who is in our buildings and make sure everyone is properly identified – just like our team members are.

This is a best practice for safety and security at organizations nationwide. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment.

Not sure if you have appropriate photo identification? Check the list.

What are acceptable forms of identification?

Visitors age 18 and older will be expected to show one of the following photo IDs to receive a visitor badge:

  • Valid driver’s license
  • Wisconsin state ID
  • Military ID
  • Passport
  • Valid International ID, if not a US citizen

We will accept a student ID if they do not have any of the ID forms listed above.

*SNAP cards are not an acceptable form of ID

Who Can Visit

On Tuesday, May 5, the following visitor guidelines took effect.
  • In our Milwaukee and Fox Valley hospitals: 4 individuals of any age are allowed at the bedside (except our Fox Valley NICU where 2 people are allowed at the bedside).
  • Up to 6 individuals are allowed on a patient’s visitor list; names can be changed every 3 days.
    • In our Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units: All visitors must be age 18 and older, except for siblings of the patient (any age).
    • All visitors under the age of 18 must be with an adult at all times.
  • In our Primary Care, Urgent Care, Specialty Care, Imaging, Outpatient Laboratories, Therapies and Community Services: 4 individuals of any age can be with a patient or client.
  • In our Emergency Department: 2 individuals of any age can be with the patient.
  • In our Surgicenter, Surgical Services, Interventional Radiology and Cath Lab on the Milwaukee campus: 2 adults (age 18 and older) can be with the patient.

Visitor and Safety Guidelines

All visitors must stop at the Welcome Center each day. For the safety of our patients, people with coughs, colds or illness should not visit. We reserve the right to change visitor restrictions and screening.

Planning your visit to one of our hospitals can be overwhelming.  Learn more about preparing to visit the Milwaukee Hospital or the Fox Valley Hospital.

Comfort Zone

The Comfort Zone is our promise to families that we will make every effort to keep your child as comfortable as safely possible during every visit to Children’s Wisconsin hospitals. Our doctors, nurses and other health care providers are committed to this care.

You are an important member of the team and you know your child better than anyone else. Tell us how your child reacts to pain and what comfort measures have worked in the past. We will give you information about pain and what can help. We will work with you to develop a plan to help your child be comfortable.

Children’s Wisconsin is committed to non-discrimination and providing access without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, marital status, citizenship, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and/or other legally protected classification at all Children’s Wisconsin locations.

Guidelines for Parents

We’re committed to caring for you and your family with compassion and respect. To help maintain a safe and healing environment:

  • If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to pause — we are here to support you.
  • Disruptive behaviors are not allowed, including:
    • Swearing or yelling
    • Threats or bullying
    • Unwelcome physical contact
    • Damaging property

Anyone engaging in these behaviors may be asked to leave.

Let’s work together to ensure a positive, respectful place for everyone.

To keep everyone safe and healthy:

  • All food in your child’s room must be sealed to avoid attracting bugs.
  • No in-room refrigerators are available. Use the family lounge refrigerators on the unit.
  • If you bring food that needs to be refrigerated:
    • Label it with your child’s name and the date.
    • Use labels provided by your child’s care team.
  • Food not labeled or left for more than 48 hours will be thrown away.
    • This is part of our health and safety rules.
    • Children’s Wisconsin is not responsible for food that is discarded.

To help keep everyone safe:

  • All families and visitors must wear an ID badge at all times while in the hospital.
  • A new badge is required each day.
  • You can get a badge at any Welcome Center or nurses’ station.
  • Please return your badge to a Welcome Center when you leave the hospital.

Before leaving your child’s room with your child:

  • Check with your child’s provider first. They’ll let you know if it’s safe to go for a walk.
  • Approved walking areas include:
    • The first floor public spaces
    • The Noel Family Healing Garden
    • The lower level near the dining room

Please do not enter other patient care areas and be mindful to respect the privacy of all patients and families while walking through the hospital.

We understand that being in a hospital with a sick or injured child can be a stressful time. If you are contacted by the news media, please remember:

  • You do not have to talk to reporters.
  • You do not owe anyone an interview.
  • It’s ok to change your mind, even if you previously agreed to speak.
  • Do not arrange interviews on your own. For safety and privacy, all reporters must be accompanied by a Children’s Wisconsin Media Relations Specialist.

If a reporter contacts you, call the Media Relations team at (414) 266-5420 for support.

Please note: Security staff will escort any unaccompanied reporters off hospital property, per hospital policy.

In some situations, Children’s Wisconsin offers pagers for families who need to step away from the hospital for a short time. Ask your child’s nurse for more information about getting a pager.