COVID-19 (Coronavirus): What to Expect at the Salt Lake City Shriners Hospital

Updated: 7/20/2020

The health and safety of our patients, families and staff is our highest priority at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake City. The hospital’s COVID-19 task force is working closely with public health and emergency preparedness officials to help keep the hospital safe and do our part to reduce the spread of the virus.

COVID-19 has changed how we do some things. But we are still here, providing the most amazing care anywhere. Throughout this crisis, we have remained open at a reduced capacity, providing critical services to our families. While closely following the guidance of local and national public health and government recommendations, we are carefully expanding clinics to serve more children. Please call us with any questions regarding scheduling at 801-536-3564. Read more about our commitment to continuing to serve families during this time.

Patients and visitors will see many changes at the hospital to help ensure everyone’s protection:

• During this outbreak period, we are limiting visitors to the hospital to help reduce the risk of spread to other patients, families and staff members. Please do not bring siblings to appointments, with the exception of nursing infants. The only child permitted is the child with the appointment. Please do not bring other children with you as they will not be allowed to enter the hospital, and your child’s appointment will need to be rescheduled. 
• Patients having surgery or who will be staying overnight on the inpatient unit may have two adults visit the child, but it is limited to the same two adults throughout the stay. In all other departments including our outpatient clinic, only one accompanying adult is permitted to accompany each patient during their appointment.
• Hospital staff members are conducting extensive screenings in front of our main entrance before visitors enter the building to determine eligibility for entrance. All visitors who enter the building for services must be well. All visitors are screened for the following before entering the building:
  1. Does your child have a sore throat, fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, loss of smell or taste, or other illness symptoms such as headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose?
  2. Does any household member have any of the above symptoms?
  3. Has anyone in the household had contact with someone who has COVID-19, or who is waiting for test results, or who is self-quarantined?
  4. Within the past 14 days, have you been on a cruise ship or traveled internationally?
• If parents or caregivers exhibit any symptoms, they will be kindly asked to leave and reschedule the appointment. Appointments may be rescheduled for 14 days following the cessation of symptoms.
• If you have an upcoming appointment and would like to discuss any symptoms you or your child may be experiencing, or have any other questions regarding your child’s appointment, please call 801-536-3777, or 801-536-3778, option 3.
• We are also screening all workplace personnel daily for symptoms and potential exposure, and requiring that employees practice physical distancing in the workplace, particularly in the cafeteria and other common areas. We are adhering to strict policies for our workforce to stay home if they are ill, and regulating staff travel.
• Screeners will ensure that all individuals entering the building, including patients, parents/caregivers and staff members are wearing a mask. If an individual does not have a mask, we will provide a mask.
• Staff members will also guide all visitors in proper hand hygiene before proceeding to their appointment or workspace.
• We are closely monitoring COVID-19 case counts in surrounding states. If you will be traveling from a “hot spot” that is experiencing high case counts, you may be provided an expedited registration process to minimize your wait time in the lobby.
• Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake City is now offering Fast Track Video Visits for new and existing patients. The newly available telehealth platform throughout Shriners Hospitals for Children is one of numerous ways the health care system is responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Video visits help to comply with public health and government recommendations, and decrease potential risk of COVID-19 exposure. Read more about Fast Track Video Visits.
• We continue to accept new patient referrals through our toll-free referral line at 800-314-4283, FAX 801-536-3521 or via email.
• We have canceled all hospital-sponsored public events on hospital premises through the end of the year. In addition, we have temporarily suspended hospital tours and all volunteer positions until further notice to limit hospital traffic.
• We are accepting gifts-in-kind, with the exception of stuffed animals. Home-made cloth face coverings are welcomed in light of CDC recommendations to wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Donated home-made cloth face coverings will only be used by non-clinical staff members in our facility, and by parents and caregivers of patients. This helps preserve personal protective equipment (PPE) for our clinical providers. We properly launder donated home-made cloth face coverings before distribution; however, please note – all materials used in making the mask must be NEW and not recycled. Learn how to make a home-made sewn cloth face covering. Please use latex-free elastic or fabric ties, and pre-wash the fabric so the masks do not shrink when laundered. To coordinate in-kind donations and delivery of home-made cloth face coverings, please call 801-536-3632 or send an email.
• This is a critical time for private donations. The probable negative effects of the virus on our patient family’s employment or financial well-being should not become a barrier in their child’s future care. It is through private donations that these families can continue to care for their children, regardless of their ability to pay. Donors can give online (select Location: Salt Lake City) or contact Nathan Clark via email or phone at 801-842-6804. Thank you for your donations if you are in a position to help.
• The hospital custodial staff is always diligent about cleanliness. Even so, they are spending increased time sanitizing the hospital, with particular attention to high-touch areas.
• The Utah Department of Health website provides a page with related mental health/crisis hotlines. This web page has a wealth of other educational information about coping with stress and talking to your children/adolescents about coping with stress.
• We also urge all patients, families, staff members and supporters to do your part to help reduce the spread of disease by using these easy, preventive actions:
• Stay educated. Follow updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization.
• Call the Utah Coronavirus information line at 800-456-7707.
• Adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s steps to prevent illness.

We are continually monitoring our processes, and procedures will continue to change. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Our team is dedicated to continue providing essential care for the children we serve during this crisis.