Springfield Children's Hospital Patient & Visitor Resources

The Mercy Children's Hospital Springfield staff welcomes you. We understand that having a child in the hospital is stressful for every member of your family. We are committed to giving your child the best quality care and making your child and your family as comfortable as possible.

Parking & Maps

Mercy Children’s Hospital offers parking available in the lot south of the Mercy Kids hospital entrance. Whether you’re delivering a baby or bringing your child to see one of our specialists, space is available close by to get you where you need to go. Keep an eye out for designated parking spaces coming soon.

Download a copy of our campus map and keep it handy for your next visit.

Kids Gift Shop

Whether you're looking for a baby gift for a new mom and her little one or a surprise for your child following an appointment or procedure, the Mercy Kids Gift Shop is full of specialty items for kids of all ages. From all sorts of fun toys featuring your child's favorite cartoon character to books and puzzles that can occupy any aged patient to room decorating essentials and children's clothes, you can find it all at our shop within Mercy Kids. Stop by and see us Monday through Friday.

Kids Café

While you’re here, check out our Kids Café filled with foods even a child will love. The café features made-to-order sandwiches, pizzas and a variety of other options. Picky child? No problem. Check out the menu to see our kid-friendly creations. Our goal is to introduce children to nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables in a fun setting. Plus, this area features a "turbo chef" that provides heating, toasting and oil-free frying.

And if you’ve already eaten lunch but still feeling a little hungry, perhaps a fresh bag of popcorn or a cup of Andy’s Frozen Custard will hit the spot. Thanks to the generosity of Andy’s Frozen Custard, proceeds from the sale of the custard benefit Mercy Children’s Hospital.

Information for the Family

Parents

As parents, you are your child’s best support. You know your child better than anyone else and he or she feels much more comfortable with you around. We encourage you to be active members of our caregiving team.

Brothers & Sisters

Children less than 2 years old are especially susceptible to contagious diseases found on our Pediatric units. They simply haven’t had time to build up immunity against these various illnesses. So please don’t bring children under 2 years old to visit unless absolutely necessary. Siblings older than 2 are welcome to visit during regular visiting hours.

Your Child's IV

Most pediatric patients have an intravenous (IV) line while they are hospitalized. The IV is a method of giving fluids and/or medication through a hollow catheter into a vein.

At Mercy Children’s Hospital in Springfield all of our IV fluids are administered through IV pumps. These pumps administer the exact amount of fluids that your child is pre­scribed. The IV pump runs on batteries for a little while but when your child is in his or her room, the IV pump should be plugged into the wall. Please “plug your child back in” after he or she has gone for a walk or to use the bath­room.

The IV pumps are programmed to administer flu­ids and medication and also to monitor the flow of the fluids and catch any sign of air in the tubing. When a medication is finished or there is something wrong with the administration of the IV fluids or medication, the IV pump will “beep.” This beeping is really an alarm telling us the pump needs attention. While the beeping is annoying, please do not push the buttons on the IV pump to silence the beeping. Let your child’s nurse know that the IV is beeping so that he or she can reprogram the machine or tend to any problem. This is for your child’s own safety.

Our Staff

Besides the nurses and doctors on staff, many other members of the health care team will be assisting your child during his or her stay. Staff members from X-ray, respiratory therapy, laboratory, housekeeping, physical therapy, surgery and transportation are just a few of the many people your child may come in contact with during his or her stay at Mercy Children’s Hospital Springfield. When a staff member comes to your child’s room, he or she will greet you and tell you what department he or she is from and the purpose of the visit. Please know that even though you may see many faces during your child’s hospitalization, we are all working together for the benefit of your child’s health.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Visitors

Visiting policies in the PICU are different from other areas of the hospital. It’s essential that you understand the special needs of patients and families in the PICU, and that you follow these special rules. You’ll receive specific PICU guidelines from your nurse upon admission.