Welcome to Driscoll Children’s Hospital!
Thank you for choosing Driscoll Children’s Hospital for your child’s healthcare. Our mission is to offer hope and healing in an environment of trust, compassion, and care. We promise to give you our very best.
We know that being in a hospital can sometimes feel overwhelming so we have prepared this admitting packet to help you educate yourself about your child’s stay and about the special services Driscoll Children's Hospital provides. We encourage you to keep this packet with you during your stay, use it to store educational information, jot down questions for the doctor or nurses, and reference it as needs or questions arise!
In your room you will also find a detailed booklet called “Guide to Services” that provides information in greater detail regarding the services here at Driscoll. For families staying in one of our Intensive Care units, the booklet can be found at the nurse’s station and in the waiting areas.
What’s Inside?
Your Family’s Role
At Driscoll Children’s Hospital, we value your family’s role in the care of your child. You know your child best, and we consider you an important member of your child’s healthcare team.
Staff members will work closely with you to plan for your child’s care. You will have access to accurate and complete information so you can understand your child’s condition and make informed decisions. Please speak with your doctor or nurse if you have any questions about your child’s plan of care.
Questions and Concerns
If you have questions or concerns, the first people to talk with are those directly involved in your child’s care- your doctors and nurses.
Patient Relations Representatives meet and greet patients and families every day. They provide information about services, answer basic questions and put families in touch with appropriate staff to resolve any unmet needs. It is the goal of Patient Relations to help patients and families understand their hospital experience and assist in the resolution of concerns in hopes that our families leave Driscoll Children's Hospital healthy and happy with the services they received. Meeting your needs and expectations is important to us. If you have a complaint that you would like us to help you resolve, please contact Patient Relations Department at (361) 694-4035. If we are not successful in addressing your concerns to your satisfaction, you may contact the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring at 1 (800) 994-6610.
Interpreters are Available
Parents who do not speak English, or are more comfortable communicating in another language (including American Sign Language) will be provided with a qualified interpreter. Interpretation Services are available 24 hours a day at no charge to you. Feel free to call the Interpretation Department at (361) 694-5811 or ask our staff to coordinate an interpreter for you!
Learn more about Interpretation Services Department
Finding Your Way Around the Campus
Campus Guides (Maps) are available at each nurses station and at the Information Desk in the main lobby.
Staying in Touch
Family members can reach you by dialing 1-361-694-5000 locally or toll free at 1-800-DCH-LOVE. Family, friends, and teachers can send get well emails to a patient by visiting our Contact Patient page. Make sure the patients name and room # are included in the subject line when addressing the email.
Advance Directives
COMMUNICATING YOUR HEALTH CARE CHOICES
Individuals usually make decisions regarding their health care treatment
after their physician recommends a course of treatment and provides information
about the treatment. These decisions may become more difficult, however,
if a patient becomes unable to tell their doctors and loved ones what kind
of health care treatment they want. Through documents known as advance directives,
individuals can express their treatment preferences before they actually
need such care, ensuring that their wishes will be carried out, and that
their families and others will not be faced with making these difficult
decisions.
Additional information may be obtained from your physician or nurse.
CONSENT TO MEDICAL TREATMENT
Informed Consent
You have the right to decide what may be done to your body during the course
of medical treatment. Your
physician will discuss with you the nature of your condition, the proposed
treatment and any alternate procedures that are available. Your physician
will also provide you with information about the risks associated with certain
medical procedures. This information will help you make an informed decision
about the kind of treatment you want to receive.
Surrogate Decision Maker
If you become unable to make your own health care decisions and do not have
a legal guardian or someone designated under a Medical Power of Attorney,
then certain family members and others can make medical treatment decisions
on your behalf.
ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
Below is some general information on the four types of advance directives
recognized under Texas law. Advance directives can be changed or cancelled
at any time.
Directive to Physicians
A Directive to Physicians, also known as a “living will”, allows
you to tell your physician not use artificial methods to prolong the process
of dying if you are terminally ill. A Directive does not become effective
until you have been diagnosed with a terminal or irreversible condition.
If you sign a Directive, talk it over with your physician and ask that it be made part of your medical record. If for some reason you become unable to sign a written Directive, you can issue a Directive verbally or by other means of non-written communication, in the presence of your physician.
If you have not issued a Directive and become unable to communicate after being diagnosed with a terminal or irreversible condition, your attending physician and legal guardian, or certain family members in the absence of a legal guardian, can make decisions concerning withdrawing, withholding or providing life-sustaining treatment. Your attending physician and another physician not involved in your care also can make decisions to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment if you do not have a guardian and certain family members are not available.
Medical Power of Attorney
Another type of advance directive is a Medical Power of Attorney, which
allows you to designate someone you trust – an agent – to make
health care decisions on your behalf should you become unable to make these
decisions yourself.
You cannot choose as your agent your health care provider, including a physician, hospital or nursing home, an employee of your health care provider, unless he/she is your relative, your residential care provider, such as a nursing home or hospice, or an employee of your residential care provider, unless he/she is related to you.
The person you designate has authority to make health care decisions on your behalf only when your attending physician certifies that you lack the capacity to make your own health care decisions. Your agent cannot make a health care decision if you object, regardless of whether you have the capacity to make the health decision yourself, or whether a Medical Power of Attorney is in effect.
Your agent must make health care decisions after consulting with your attending physician, and according to the agent’s knowledge of your wishes, including your religious and moral beliefs. If your wishes are known, your agent must make a decision based on what he believes is in your best interest.
Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order
An Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order is a legally binding advance
directive, prepared by, or on behalf of, a patient and signed by the attending
physician of a patient and two witnesses. The order directs healthcare providers
acting in an out-of-hospital setting not to start or continue life-sustaining
procedures.
Declaration for Mental Health Treatment
Another type of advance directive deals with mental health treatment issues
only. A Declaration for Mental Health Treatment allows you to tell health
care providers your choices for mental health treatment, in the event that
you become incapacitated.
LEGAL ASPECTS OF ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
An advance directive does not need to be notarized. Neither this hospital
nor your physician may require you to execute an advance directive as a
condition for admittance or receiving treatment in this or any other hospital.
The fact that you have executed an advance directive will not affect any
insurance policies that you may have.
HOSPITAL POLICIES FOR IMPLEMENTING PATIENTS’ RIGHTS
Formal policies have been adopted to assure that your rights to make medical
treatment decisions will be honored to the extent permitted by law. This
hospital has adopted policies relating to informed consent, and
implementation and treatment decisions under the Directive to Physicians,
the Medical Power of Attorney, the
Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order and the Declaration for Mental
Health Treatment.
Complaints concerning advance directive requirements may be filed by calling the Texas Department of Health at 1-800-228-1570
For assistance with Advance Directives, please contact our Social Work Department at (361) 694-5053
Speak Up for Safe Healthcare
Everyone has a role in making health care safe — parents, physicians,
health care executives, nurses and
technicians. Health care organizations across the country are working to
make health care safety a priority. You, as the patient, can also play a
vital role in making your healthcare safe by becoming an active, involved
and informed
member of your health care team.
An Institute of Medicine (IOM) report has identified the occurrence of medical errors as a serious problem in the health care system. The IOM recommends, among other things, that a concerted effort be made to improve the public's awareness of the problem.
The “Speak Up” program, sponsored by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, urges patients to get involved in their care. Such efforts to increase consumer awareness and involvement are supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This initiative provides simple advice on how you can make your care a positive experience. After all, research shows that patients/families who take part in decisions about their healthcare are more likely to have better outcomes.
Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.
- Your child’s health is too important to worry about being embarrassed if you don’t understand something that your doctor, nurse or other health care professional tells you.
- Don’t be afraid to ask about safety. If you’re having surgery, for example, ask the doctor to mark the area that is to be operated upon, so that there’s no confusion in the operating room.
- Don’t be afraid to tell the nurse or the doctor if you think you are/your child is about to receive the wrong medication.
- Don’t hesitate to tell the healthcare professional if you think he or she has confused you / your child with another patient.
Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medications by the right healthcare professionals. Don’t assume anything.
- Tell your nurse or doctor if something doesn’t seem quite right.
- Expect healthcare workers to introduce themselves when they enter your
room and look for their
identification badges. A new mother, for example, should know the person to whom she is handing her baby. If you are unsure, ask. - Notice whether your caregivers have washed their hands. Hand washing
is the most important way to
prevent the spread of infections. Don’t be afraid to gently remind a doctor or nurse to do this. - Know what time of day you/your child normally receives a medication. If it doesn’t happen, bring this to the attention of your nurse or doctor.
- Make sure your nurse or doctor confirms your identity, that is, checks your wristband or asks your name, before he or she administers any medication or treatment.
Educate yourself about you/your child’s diagnosis, the medical tests, and treatment plan.
- Ask your doctor about the specialized training and experience that
qualifies him/her to treat your
child’s illness (and be sure to ask the same questions of those physicians to whom he/she refers you). - Gather information about you/your child condition. Good sources include
your doctor, your library,
respected websites and support groups. - Write down important facts your child’s doctor tells you, so that
you can look for additional
information later. Also ask your doctor if he/she has any written information you can keep. - Thoroughly read all medical forms and make sure you understand them before you sign anything. If you don’t understand, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them.
- Make sure you are familiar with the operation of any equipment that is being used in your care. If you will be using oxygen at home, do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke near you while oxygen is in use.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
- Your advocate can ask questions that you may not think of while you are under stress.
- Your advocate can also help remember answers to questions you have asked
and speak up for you if you
cannot. - Make sure this person understands your preferences for care and your wishes concerning resuscitation and life support.
- Review consents for treatment with your child’s advocate before
you sign them and make sure you both
understand exactly what you are agreeing to. - Make sure your advocate understands the type of care that will be needed
when you get home. Your
advocate should know what to look for if your child’s condition is getting worse and whom to call for help.
Know what medications you / your child take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.
- Ask about the purpose of the medication and ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names. Also inquire about the side effects of the medication.
- If you do not recognize a medication, verify that it is for you / your child . Ask about oral medications before swallowing and read the contents of bags of intravenous (IV) fluids. If you’re not well enough to do this, ask your advocate to do this.
- If you are/your child is given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for the liquid to “run out.” Tell the nurse if it doesn’t seem to be dripping properly (that it is too fast or too slow).
- Whenever you are/your child is going to receive a new medication, tell
your doctors and nurses about
allergies you have/your child has, or negative reactions you have/your child has had to medications in the past. - If you are/your child is taking multiple medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take those medications together. This holds true for vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter drugs, too.
- Make sure you can read the handwriting on any prescriptions written by your doctor. If you can’t read it, the pharmacist may not be able to either.
Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization
that has undergone a rigorous
on-site evaluation against established, state-of-the-art quality and safety
standards, such as that provided by JCAHO.
- Ask about the healthcare organization’s experience in treating
your child’s type of illness. How
frequently do they perform the procedure you need/your child needs and what specialized care do they
provide in helping patients get well? - If you have/your child has more than one hospital or other facility to choose from, ask your doctor which one offers the best care for your child’s condition.
- Before you leave/your child leaves the hospital or other facility, ask about follow-up care and make sure that you understand all of the instructions.
- Go to Quality Check at www.jcaho.org to find out whether your hospital
or other healthcare organization
is accredited.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the healthcare team.
- You and your child’s doctor should agree on exactly what will
be done during each step of your child’s
care. - Know who will be taking care of you / your child , how long the treatment
will last, and how you should
feel. - Understand that more tests or medications may not always be better. Ask the doctor what a new test or medication is likely to achieve.
- Keep copies of your medical records from previous hospitalizations
and share them with your healthcare
team. This will give them a more complete picture of your health history. - Don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion. If you are unsure about the nature of your child’s illness and the best treatment, consult with one or two additional specialists. The more information you have about the options available to you, the more confident you will be in the decisions made.
- Ask to speak with others who have undergone the procedure you are considering. These individuals can help you prepare for the days and weeks ahead. They can also tell you what to expect and what worked best for them as they recovered.
Four Things You Can Do To Prevent Infection
Avoiding contagious diseases like the common cold, strep throat, and the flu is important to everyone. Here are four easy things you can do to fight the spread of infection.
1. Clean your hands.
Use soap and warm water. Rub your hands really well for at least 15 seconds. Or, if your hands do not look dirty, clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, especially under your nails and between your fingers, until your hands are dry. Clean your hands before touching or eating food. Clean them after you use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, visit someone who is ill, or play with a pet.2. Make sure health care providers clean their hands and wear gloves.
Doctors, nurses, dentists and other health care providers come into contact with lots of bacteria and viruses. So before they treat you, ask them if they’ve cleaned their hands. Health care providers should wear clean gloves when they perform tasks such as taking throat cultures, pulling teeth, taking blood, touching wounds or body fluids, and examining your private parts. Don’t be afraid to gently remind them to wear gloves.3. Cover your mouth and nose.
Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs. When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 3 feet or more! Cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of infection to others. Use a tissue! Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket. Be sure to throw away used tissues and then clean your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or hands. If you use your hands, wash them right away.4. If you are sick, avoid contact.
If you are sick, stay away from other people. Stay home if you have a fever. Call work or school and tell them you are sick. When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there’s anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the waiting room. These steps can help prevent the spread of colds, flu, and diseases like:
- Pneumonia
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping cough
- SARS
- Chicken pox
- Strep throat
- Mumps
- Measles
- Rubella* (also known as German measles)
Keep your child’s immunizations up to date- it can help prevent disease or infection!
Four Things You Can Do To Prevent Infection is supported by:
American Hospital Association www.hospitalconnect.com
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. www.apic.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
Infectious Diseases Society of America www.idsociety.org
Joint Commission www.jointcommission.org
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America www.shea-online.org
Managing Your Child’s Pain
Your child may experience pain during and after your visit to the hospital.
We have created this pamphlet to let you know how to assist us in keeping
your child as comfortable as possible.
Some parents have expressed fears about giving narcotic pain medicine to
their child. There are several myths and misconceptions that have developed
that can interfere with managing pain in children. Here are two:
• Myth-Addiction to Narcotics
As a parent you may fear that your child will develop an addiction to the
narcotic medication that has been
prescribed by your physician. The truth is that addiction to narcotics is
very rare when used for children in true pain.
• Misconception-The Difficulty in Assessing Pain in Non-verbal Children
Parents of an infant or a developmentally delayed child may fear that pain assessment by caregivers may be inaccurate. The parent may feel that the caregiver may not give pain medicines correctly since the child is not able to verbally describe pain. We have developed many different tools to assess pain for every child.
Here are a few examples of ways we can assess and manage your child's pain:
The caregiver can use a pain scale to find out how much pain your child is experiencing. We can ask the parent to help us in assessing for pain. You know your child and how he/she responds to pain. You can let us know if you think your child is in pain and how your child behaves when in pain. It is also helpful to know what you do to comfort your child at home. Your child may be in pain if he/she does not respond to soothing, holding, cuddling, or feeding. Child Life has a pamphlet that can help you assist your child in coping with pain.
There are several medications which may be used to decrease your child's pain:
It is very important that your child is treated early because it is more difficult to control pain if it is not taken care of at the beginning.
During your stay in the hospital:
We will be watching your child for any side effects from the pain medications
and will treat them accordingly. Some early side effects include nausea,
vomiting and being sleepy. Constipation can happen in a few days. Notify
your caregiver if more serious side effects occur such as difficulty breathing,
developing a rash or if he/she
continues to have pain after getting pain medicine. If you have an older
child, a PCA pump may be ordered which will safely deliver pain medication
when your child pushes a button. The pump is monitored frequently by the
caregiver and is a safe way for the older child to have some control in
his/her own care.
When you go home:
As the parent, you will be responsible in giving your child their pain
medicine. We will give you the information needed to assess for pain. You
will receive discharge information on the name, the amount, and how often
the
medicine can be given. Watch for the side effects described above. You should
call your doctor if you have any concerns or questions or if any of the
serious side effects described above develop in your child.
Special Services
Food Services
The Driscoll Food Factory (Cafeteria) is located in the basement.
Dial “MENU” (6368) for our daily menu!
Weekday Hours Weekend Hours
Breakfast 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m Breakfast 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m
Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dinner 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dinner 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m
McDonald’s Restaurant 851-2624
McDonald’s is located on the first floor in the main lobby near the
gift shop. It is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Vending Machines
Vending Machines are located in the basement outside the Driscoll Food Factory,
on the 2nd floor by the PICU waiting area, and on the 3rd floor in the NICU
waiting area. Vending machines are available 24 hours a day. Parent coffee
rooms are located on each floor (4-8). Parents can get a free cup of coffee
or store food items in the small refrigerator provided.
Meal Assistance
Medicaid Meal Tickets 877-633-8747
If your child receives Medicaid, and you live out of town, you may qualify
for help with meals each day your child is here. Call today to explore this
option. If Medicaid authorizes your meals, the Social Work Technicians located
in the Family Connection on the 5th floor will provide your meal tickets.
Medicaid meal tickets may be used at the DCH Food Factory.
Breastfeeding Meal Tickets
Mothers who are breastfeeding (not supplementing) a child may qualify for
Breastfeeding Meal Tickets through the Food and Nutrition Department. Ask
your nurse or dietitian to see if you qualify. Breastfeeding Meal Tickets
may be used in the DCH Food Factory. If you need breastfeeding meal tickets
or a breast pump, please check with your nurse.
Food Pantry 694-5053
The Social Work Department has a small food pantry for families who don’t
qualify for any meal programs and who cannot afford to pay for their own
meals. Please ask our staff to contact your Social Worker.
Transportation Options
Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) 289-2600 or 993-2287
The RTA provides the bus service in Corpus Christi. There is a bus stop
directly in front of the hospital. The Social Work Department can help you
find the bus you need or you can call the number above. You may also visit
their website at www.ccrta.org.
Taxi Service
Star Cab 884-9451
Super Cab 299-9999
United Yellow Checker Cab 852-5555
Medicaid Transportation 877-633-8747
Did you know Medicaid has a transportation program? If you have Medicaid
and need a ride home, you will need to call at least 24 hours in advance,
Monday-Friday 8am to 4 pm. Medicaid, with advance notice, can provide a
ride home for your child and 1 parent/guardian. sTransportation is available
for doctor appointments too!
Car Seat Safety and Driscoll’s Injury Prevention Program
694-6700
Don’t forget! Texas law requires that all children age 4 and under
ride in a car seat, and children between the ages of 4 and 8 ride in a car
seat/booster or wear a safety belt. Children under 17 years of age must
wear a safety belt. For more information about car seat safety or if you
would like your car seat inspected, call today!
Lodging Options
If you live out of town, and your child is in one of our Intensive Care Units, you may qualify for lodging.
Medicaid Lodging Program 877-633-8747
If you have Medicaid and need lodging, call Medicaid today. Once approved,
Medicaid will authorize lodging at one of the following locations, the Dr.
Jim Duff Guest Rooms at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, or the Ronald
McDonald House. Please stop by the Social Work Technician office located
in The Family Connection on the 5th floor to see if Medicaid has approved
your request.
Nearby Hotels for Out of Town Guests
Several local hotel offer reduced rates to families who have a child at Driscoll Children's Hospital.
These include:
Days Inn (361) 854-0005
Railway Inn Suites (361) 225-3946
Bay Shore Inn (361) 852-2126
Best Western Marina Grand Hotel (361) 883-5111
Econo Lodge (361) 884-2485
Unable to leave your room? We Have Room Service! 694-4052
Room Service is available to parents who are alone and unable to leave their
child’s bedside. Volunteers can deliver items you wish to purchase
from McDonalds, the Driscoll Food Factory, or one of our Gift Shops. Volunteers
can also deliver a movie to enjoy during your child’s stay. You may
request a copy of our movie list from staff. Volunteers are usually available
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Laundry Services 694-5053
A free laundry facility is located just off the 3rd floor waiting area.
Please go to the Family Connection on the 5th floor to get tokens and the
confidential pass code.
Education
Driscoll Television Channels
Driscoll Children's Hospital wants you and your family to be informed and
safe. Check out the Driscoll television channels to learn valuable information
for parents related to your child’s safety and well-being. This information
can be found on channels 66, 68, 70, and 72 at any time.
The Family Connection, a Family Resource Center 694-4572
For parents and families of patients, hospital stays have the potential
for great stress and confusion. Driscoll Children's Hospital strives to
educate families on the diagnosis of the patient in order to minimize any
anxiety. The Family Connection is a relaxing environment designed around
the needs of the family. While at the hospital, family members are welcome
to visit its library to learn more about their child’s particular
condition. Books, computers, audio, and video resources are available to
families in a playful, child-friendly atmosphere. The Family Connection
is located on the 5th floor of the hospital and is open Monday-Friday from
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Patients are welcome to visit, but will need a doctors
order to leave the floor - talk to your nurse about this option!
Spiritual Services to speak with a chaplain, please call 694-4198
Non-denominational Chapel
Located on the first floor of the hospital, parents and visitors can take
a break from the busy hospital setting in our non-denominational chapel.
This quaint chapel is the perfect place for reflection or prayer.
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Driscoll Children's Hospital also offers a small chapel to accommodate our
guests practicing in the Catholic religion. Our Blessed Sacrament Chapel
is located on the third floor of the main hospital, just beyond the NICU
Waiting Area.
Support Groups/Unique Services
Support Groups 694-5053
There are many support groups offered at Driscoll Children's Hospital, as
well as throughout the Corpus Christi community. If you are interested in
finding out about a specific support group, please contact the Social Work
Department for information or log on to our website at www.driscollchildrens.org
for a listing!
Mom’s Place, A Breast Milk Center 694-5338
Many parents know that breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed their
baby. Driscoll Children’s Hospital encourages all mothers who want
to breastfeed to do so … and “Mom’s Place,” a fully
staffed, on-site lactation center, helps accomplish this goal. The new facility
is a comfortable and private place to pump and store breast milk, and serves
mothers of pre-mature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or mothers
of young patients throughout the entire hospital. A lactation specialist
is also on staff and ready to assist with any questions or concerns that
you may have about breastfeeding.
Teen Room 694-5048
Driscoll’s Child Life Specialists know that being a teenager in the
hospital is much different than when a small child is hospitalized. Teenagers
need a place of their own to hang out, watch television, play video games,
or read books. The Driscoll Teen Room is just the place to do this. Located
on the 4th floor, and open various hours throughout the day, the Teen Room
can be a place of respite for the hospitalized teen. Please check with your
nurse for the exact hours of operation. Call the Child Life department for
the exact hours of operation.
Social Work 694-5053
If you need assistance in exploring what services may be available to you,
please do not hesitate to call our Social Work office! We are here to help!
Billing and Financial Information
Charity Medical Care:
Driscoll Children’s Hospital provides services on a nondiscriminatory basis and, to the extent that its resources permit, strives to serve patients regardless of their ability to pay.
As part of its commitment to service our community, Driscoll Children's Hospital has elected to provide financial assistance to qualified families of South Texas who are United States citizens. Our Financial Counselors are available to explore this option 694-5111.
Financial Assistance Programs:
Financial Counselors can help you explore other financial assistance programs that may be available to you and your family such as CHIPS, Medicaid, CSHCN, Disability, Chronically Ill and Disabled Children, etc. Call 694-4919 or 694-4758.
In an effort to provide faster service, the Texas Department of Health has provided a Medicaid Specialist here on site that can help you with the application process and answer questions you may have about the Medicaid program. Call 694-4913.
Private Insurance/Medicaid/Medicare:
The hospital will bill your insurance carrier on your behalf. We will need a copy of your insurance card in order to provide this service to you. Your insurance is only obligated to pay for charges covered under your benefit plan. You are responsible to pay for services not covered by your insurance.
It is important that you understand your health insurance benefits and any requirements, such as pre-authorization and covered services. This will help you minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Please contact your insurance plan representative or employer for specific information.
* For parents with newborns, it is important that you contact your employer to complete insurance enrollment forms for your child within thirty (30) days of the baby’s birth to ensure payment from your insurance company. Unless you have completed enrollment within thirty (30) days, your child’s coverage will end thereafter, and you will be responsible for payment.
Billing
Your hospital bill will include charges for professional services such
as room charges, medications, labs,
procedures, therapies, and other healthcare professionals involved in your
child’s care. Charges for your doctor’s services will not be
included on your hospital bill. The doctor’s billing service will
send a separate bill for services provided while your child is hospitalized.
If you have certain tests or treatments in the hospital, you may receive
bills from physicians you did not see in person. These bills are for professional
services provided by doctors who assisted in diagnosing and interpreting
test results while you were a patient. Pathologists, Radiologists, Cardiologists,
Anesthesiologists, and other specialists perform these services and are
required to submit separate bills.
Financial Counselors
Financial Counselors are available M-F, 7a.m. – 4p.m. If you have any questions, please call 694-5111.
Out-Patient Clinic Services
Driscoll Children's Hospital has several outpatient clinics available to our patients. If you need to speak with someone in the clinic, please call the appropriate number below.
- Primary Care Services 694-6750
- Behavioral/Developmental Clinic 694-5650
- Hematology/Oncology Clinic 694-5311
- Specialty Clinic 694-5434
- Cardiology Clinic 694-5086
- Cardiothoracic Associates 694-5150
- Children’s Surgical Services 694-4700
- Diabetes/Endocrinology Clinic 694-4986
- Outpatient Ortho Clinic 694-5057
- Outpatient Neuro Clinic 694-6747
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinic 694-4380
- Driscoll Children’s Specialty Clinic – McAllen 800-525-TOTS
- Driscoll Children’s Specialty Clinic – Brownsville 800-525-TOTS
- Driscoll Children’s Specialty Clinic – Harlingen 800-525-TOTS
- Driscoll Children’s Specialty Clinic – Victoria 800-525-TOTS
- Driscoll Children’s Specialty Clinic – Laredo 800-525-TOTS
- Driscoll Children’s Specialty Clinic – Robstown 800-525-TOTS
For more information about each of the clinics above, please call the phone number next to the appropriate clinic name.
Frequently Called Numbers
You only need to dial the four-digit extension from any telephone within the hospital to reach the departments below.
Department Number
- Carousel Gift Shop 694-5013
- Carousel Connection Shop 694-4822
- Case Management/Discharge Planning 694-5471
- Chaplain 694-5491
- Cottage Shop (Resale) 694-4798
- Patient Relations 694-4035
- Housekeeping 694-5239
- Information Desk (Managed by Volunteer Services) 694-5113
- Lost and Found 694-4024
- Menu Line 694-6368 Nursing Supervisor 694-5044
- Operator 0
- Patient Financial Services 694-5111
- Room Service (food/gift shop) 694-4052
- Security 694-4466
- Social Work 694-5053
- Volunteer Services 694-5011
Nearby Restaurants
- The Bayou Grill 854-8626
- Fresh Italian Maggies Pizza & Deli 653-3354
- Longhorn Steak and Ale 992-7731
- Luby’s 854-4373
- Mac’s Barbeque 993-2233
- McDonald's (Front Lobby) 851-2624
- My Favorite Muffin 884-5633
- Subway Sandwich Shop 851-9950
- Whataburger 855-4237
Restaurant Delivery
- Domino’s Pizza 814-4040
- Papa John’s Pizza 806-2540
- Hunan Express 992-6666
- Pizza Hut 851-5151
Nearby Shopping
- H-E-B Grocery Store 855-3031
- Hollywood Video Rental 808-7058
- Family Dollar Store 814-0731
- Mail Center USA 854-2771
Contact Information
For more information, call (361) 694-4035 or email us at guestservices@dchcc.org
For questions or concerns, please call Patient Relations at (361) 694-4035 or email us at guestservices@dchcc.org.
How to contact a patient. Click here to see how.
Statement of Compliance
Voted A Best Place to Work in 2006 - 2009 | Ways to Give | Contact Us
Copyright © Driscoll Children's Hospital 2008
Corpus Christi, Texas
