We appreciate your interest in helping provide activities for our patients at Kosair Children’s Hospital. To ensure patient safety, our 2011 group visit schedule is full, so we ask that you apply for group visits in 2012.

All projects and special visits must be approved and scheduled by the Volunteer Services Department.

Scheduling
Groups must apply at least two weeks prior to the date they wish to visit. Please understand dates and times cannot be guaranteed. Visits may occur during the afternoons or evenings of most days, as the schedule allows. 
Before your visit
Prior to filling out the application, we ask that you carefully review the following information:

• Visitors to patient care areas must be at least 18 years old, have current vaccinations and be free of illnesses (fever, sore throat, cold, etc.). Because large groups can be overwhelming for patients, no more than three members of the group are allowed on each unit (approximately 12 people maximum per group, subject to change). Please confirm the number of guests in your group to ensure that we have enough staff members to escort you throughout the hospital. Visits will last no more than one hour.
• Groups performing or providing activities in the lobby or a public area must be at least 14 years old, have current vaccinations and be free of illnesses (fever, sore throat, cold, etc.). Performances should be no longer than 30 minutes.
• Patients may not always feel well enough to attend a party or event. Don’t be discouraged by a small crowd – even two children make a very appreciative audience.
• Please arrive on time to your scheduled visit. Call the appropriate contact if you are going to be late. If you are running late, your visit or activity may need to be rescheduled. 
• Presentations should be appropriate for children of all ages and backgrounds. Avoid content that deals with emotionally threatening themes, such as death, illness, etc.
• To protect the privacy of patients and their families, we are required to have consent before taking any photos or video. If your group is planning to take photos or video during your visit or if there is media interest in your visit, please specify this on your application. All media releases must be reviewed by the Norton Healthcare Marketing and Communications Department prior to release.  

Infection control guidelines:

• Infection control is a high priority for the welfare of our patients, families and visitors. 
• Do not enter the hospital if you have any signs or symptoms of illness, such as cough, cold, fever, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Do not enter the hospital if you have been recently exposed (within three weeks) to a communicable disease such as chicken pox.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after seeing each patient.
• Entering rooms marked as “Isolation” will be decided by staff on a case-by-case basis. 
• Avoid close face-to-face contact with patients.
• Wash your hands before leaving the hospital.
• It’s important to follow the instructions of the staff member guiding your group in order to adhere to infection control protocols.

Interacting with patients
Respect the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Please do not ask a patient or family member the reason for the child’s admission to the hospital. Hospital staff cannot give detailed information about individual children but would be happy to provide general information about the types of illness and injuries that bring children to Kosair Children’s Hospital. Group members are encouraged to ask general questions about the patients and services provided at the hospital.

• Do not share any information about patients and their families with anyone outside the hospital.
• Be empathetic but do not display pity toward the children.
• Each group member should give his or her attention to the patients, not to other members of the group, the television or other distractions in the hospital.
• It’s important to follow the instructions of the hospital staff member who is escorting the group and to stay with the group leader at all times.
• Be enthusiastic and positive about your interactions. Enjoy your interactions, but follow the patient’s lead. If he or she is tired, end the interaction.
• Respect the diversity of cultures and values of the families.

For examples of appropriate gifts, call Lindsay McDaniel, child life therapist, at (502) 629-7541.

Application
If your group is comfortable visiting children in the hospital after reading these guidelines and the group can meet the infection control standards, complete and submit the application.

Application process
Applications will be evaluated according to the benefit and interests of our patients and the availability of our schedule and staffing. If the application is accepted, the group will be contacted by a hospital staff person within one week of submitting the application to confirm the date, time, activity, contact information and meeting place. If the application is not accepted, the group will be contacted with an explanation of why the application could not be accepted.