COVID-19: Visiting the Salt Lake City Shriners Hospital

As Cases in Utah Continue to Spike, Shriners Hospitals for Children Rises to the Occasion

Updated January 8, 2021

The health and safety of patients, families and staff is our highest priority at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake City. COVID-19 (coronavirus) has changed how we do some things. But we are still here, providing the most amazing care anywhere.

Throughout this pandemic, we have remained open, providing critical services to our families while closely following public health and government recommendations. Read more about our commitment to continuing to serve families during this time.

Patients and visitors will see some changes at the hospital:

• Please cancel your appointment if your child or anyone in your household has illness symptoms in the 14 days before the appointment, or has had an exposure to someone with known or suspected coronavirus.
• We are limiting visitors to the hospital to help reduce the spread of the virus. Please do not bring siblings to appointments, with the exception of nursing infants. The only child permitted is the child with the appointment. If you bring other children with you, they will not be allowed to enter the hospital and the patient’s appointment will need to be rescheduled.
• Only one adult is permitted to accompany patients during their appointment for clinic, therapy, seating, radiology, prosthetics and motion analysis center. The only exception is Clubfoot Clinic, in which case two adults may accompany the patient for instructional purposes.
• For patients having surgery or who will be staying overnight on the inpatient unit, while we prefer there be only one adult attend, we will permit two adults to visit the child, but it is limited to the same two adults throughout the stay.
• All visitors including children 2 years of age and older are required to wear face coverings upon entry to the hospital and throughout the entire visit. This protects our vulnerable patients and their families, along with our dedicated workforce and the community. If an individual does not have a mask, screeners will provide a mask. If you are unable or unwilling to wear a mask, you will not be able to enter our premises.
• Hospital staff members are conducting extensive screenings to determine eligibility for entrance to the hospital:
  • Do you or your child have any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhea, congestion and runny nose.
  • Does any household member have any of the above symptoms?
  • 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?
• Our screeners will ask anyone who does not meet our criteria for entrance to cancel their appointment and reschedule for 14 days following the cessation of symptoms or exposure.
• We take extra precautions with patients who may require suctioning, have a tracheostomy or who are ventilator dependent. Please let us know if this applies to your child.
• 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. We are adhering to strict policies for our workforce to stay home if they are ill.
• All visitors including children 2 years of age and older are required to wear face coverings upon entry to the hospital and throughout the entire visit. If an individual does not have a mask, screeners will provide a mask.
• Staff members will also guide all visitors in applying hand sanitizer before proceeding to their appointment or workspace.
• Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake City offers an alternative to in-person appointments for new and existing patients. 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 temporarily suspended all hospital-sponsored public events on premises, hospital tours and most volunteer opportunities to limit hospital traffic.
• The hospital’s play areas are closed until further notice.
• Hospital custodial staff members are always diligent about cleanliness. Even so, they are spending increased time sanitizing the hospital, with particular attention to high-touch areas.
• We are accepting gifts-in-kind, with the exception of stuffed animals. Homemade masks are welcomed and will be used by non-clinical staff members and visitors. We properly launder donated homemade masks before distribution; however, all materials used in making the masks must be new. 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 masks, please call 801-536-3632 or send an email.
• This is a critical time for private donations. 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 Utah Department of Health (UDOH) website provides a page with related mental health resources. This web page has a wealth of educational information about coping with stress and talking to your children/adolescents about coping with stress. Join us in adhering to the UDOH’s recommendations to follow the three Ws: Wash your Hands, Wear a Mask and Watch Your Distance.
• We urge all patients, families, staff members and supporters to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s steps to prevent illness.
• Call the Utah coronavirus information line at 800-456-7707 for more information.

We are continually monitoring our processes, and procedures will continue to change as needed. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Our team is dedicated to providing safe and life-changing orthopaedic care to children during the COVID-19 pandemic.