Coronavirus Updates

We continue to use protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control regarding the novel COVID-19 virus. Our priority, as always, is the health and safety of all our patients and visitors. Due to the current higher-than-usual rate of respiratory infections in our community, please note we are reinforcing changes to our visitor policy in all our care settings. We ask patient families to adhere to the following practices to ensure the safety of the children in our care.

Screening Protocol on Arrival

Everyone arriving at the main hospital or an outpatient center will receive an initial screening by the care team regarding specific criteria set forth by the CDC.
We ask that you and your child wear a mask upon arrival at any facility.

Fewer Campus Entrances at Main Campus

To ensure that we properly screen all patients and visitors at our hospital, we are limiting the number of entrances. For more details, visit Planning Your Visit.

Safety Protocols for All Visits

• Patients and visitors age 2 and older must wear a facemask at all times except when eating or in a private room. Upon arrival, a medical facemask will be provided to patients age 2 and older and visitors. Patients and visitors are asked to wear these facemasks for the duration of the visit. Those staying in inpatient units will receive a new facemask each day.
• If a clinician or hospital staff member enters the patient room, facemasks must be worn by anyone in the room who is age 2 or older. 
• All parents/guardians accompanying children must be free of signs and symptoms of infectious disease, including cough, runny nose, rash, vomiting and fever. Please notify the medical provider caring for your child if you or anyone else in the home has a fever, cough, rash, shortness of breath, or any other sign of respiratory infection.
• We encourage all visitors to adhere to social distancing prompts and to wash or sanitize hands frequently. 

For Inpatient Visits

• Each hospitalized patient may have up to two visitors (including parents/legal authorized representatives) at one time. Visitors are limited to the same two people per 24-hour period. Siblings are only allowed if there are no other alternatives for their care. Babies who are breastfeeding are an exception. Siblings must remain in the patient room.
• In COVID-19 care areas, only one adult visitor is permitted in a 24-hour period. The visitor must stay in the room at all times. If required to leave, the visitor must be accompanied from the facility by security staff.
• Any family member remaining alone in a room with a patient must be age 18 or older. 

For Emergency Room, Urgent Care, Physician Offices, Radiology, Diagnostic Services, Rehabilitation and Dental Services

• A maximum of one primary caregiver can accompany a patient who has an appointment at any of our clinics/centers, medical offices, or who visits the Emergency Department or one of our Urgent Care Centers or other above-listed services.
• Please do not bring additional family members or friends to these visits (especially children under 12 years old).
• Individual areas may have provisions for parental waiting, including waiting in cars or other locations. 

For Ambulatory Surgery Visits

• Only two visitors can accompany the patient. Only one of these is permitted at the bedside at a time, while the other waits in the waiting room. The two can alternate at the bedside. No one under the age of 18 is permitted. 

Nicklaus Service Updates

• Emergency Department (ER) - Concerned that your child needs emergency care? Don’t wait. Delays in seeking care can lead to complications. Nicklaus Children’s Emergency Department has current safety practices related to COVID-19 to protect your child and family.
• Subspecialty Clinics - Telehealth services may be available for certain appointments depending on the nature of the condition, or reason for the visit. For more information, please contact the subspecialist’s office directly or call the Customer Care line at 1-888-624-2778.
• Urgent Care Centers - Please find the urgent care center nearest you for non-emergency services. Connect with a Nicklaus Children’s provider for non-emergency pediatric care or questions regarding #COVID19 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Download our App for Apple or Google Play. Visit NicklausChildrensVirtualCare.org to learn more.
• Rehabilitation Services - All Nicklaus Children’s locations offering rehabilitation services are now open. To schedule rehabilitative services at a Nicklaus Children’s outpatient location, please call Rehabilitation Services at 1-877-255-8437. The Nicklaus Children’s Sports Health Center in Pinecrest is open on a limited basis only (please note that physician consults for cardiology, dermatology and orthopedics  are currently open and available in Pinecrest at 11521 South Dixie Highway, Suite 201).
• Dental Services - The  Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Dental Department at the Doral Outpatient Center is fully operational, offering both  emergency and non-emergency appointments in an environment with enhanced COVID-19 safety practices. Our number one priority is to keep patients, families and our personnel safe. Should your child require emergency dental care, please call our clinic at 786-624-3368 as you normally would and our personnel will assist. Request an appointment. The Nicklaus Children's Mobile Dental Unit has resumed services, please click here to see the schedule of upcoming locations.
• Gift Shop - The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Gift Shop has reopened with hours of operation from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More details.

Working to Protect Our Community

Nicklaus Children’s leaders and staff are working diligently to ensure that hospital care teams are prepared to meet the needs of the local pediatric population. We receive daily guidance from the CDC and health departments, and communicate each day with staff to keep everyone informed. We have conducted extensive staff training related to best care management practices to ensure teams are prepared as the situation evolves.

• Masks and Personal Protective Equipment: We ask that you and your child wear a mask upon arrival at any facility. All Nicklaus Children’s staff will be wearing masks and other personal protective equipment as well. It is important that masks cover the nose and mouth at all times. Please do not remove the child’s mask unless asked to by your care provider. Children under 2 years of age should not wear masks.
• Physical Distancing: Nicklaus Children’s is using modified scheduling practices to minimize the number of patients in common areas. You will also see prompts to help promote physical distancing in common areas. Please help your child to follow prompts for your protection and that of others.
• Cleaning Practices and Hand Hygiene: Deep cleanings of clinical spaces and common areas take place throughout the day to ensure that surfaces are regularly disinfected. We encourage you to wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer dispensers are located throughout all facilities.
• Advance Registration and Virtual Visits: To minimize touch points, many services feature advance phone registration. Many providers also offer virtual visits. Before scheduling a virtual visit, the provider will ensure you have the needed technology and instructions to help you prepare for that visit. It’s easy and we will walk you through every step of the process. Depending on the reason for your visits, we may need to see you in person or via a combination of in person and virtual visits. We will work with you on the best appointment type for each visit. 
• Complimentary Parking: Nicklaus Children’s provides free parking to patient families and visitors in either its Blue Garage (located off of SW 62 Avenue entrance) or the Green Garage (off of the Devonshire Boulevard entrance). As a safety measure, valet parking services are temporarily suspended.

New Food Service Practices

The Nicklaus Food Service team is following guidelines from the CDC, local and state health officials, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Restaurant Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. As such, we are taking the following precautions in food services areas:

• The salad bar in the Golden Cub Café has been modified to offer an assortment of individually packaged fruit cups and salads.
• Soups and cereals are now served by staff, rather than the self-service format.
• Additional sanitizing stations have been installed in all retail venues.
• All food service team members are ServSafe certified and are taking additional precautions, including increasing the frequency of hand washing and glove changes.
• Dining seating areas in the Golden Cub Café and other food service areas are being cleaned and sanitized by our team members with a multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant with increased frequency throughout the day.
• We have eliminated trays for dine-in café orders and will continue to provide bags for customer convenience.

Domestic & International Travel Alerts

For the latest information on domestic and international travel advisories, please visit the CDC's Travel During COVID-19 webpage. 

To view health recommendations by destination, visit the CDC’s webpage for your destination

How You Can Help Keep Others Safe at Nicklaus

All parents/guardians accompanying children during medical appointments must be free of signs and symptoms of infectious disease, including cough, runny nose, rash, vomiting and fever. Please notify the medical provider caring for your child if you are anyone else in the home has a fever, cough, rash, shortness of breath, or any other signs of respiratory infection.

Physical Distancing

According to the Florida Department of Health, physical distancing is recommended when the risk of infection is possible. This can include limiting gatherings of large groups, or postponing events.

What You Can Do to Stop The Spread of Germs