Overview
When your child needs to go to the hospital for care, it’s normal to feel anxious and to have questions. The M Health Fairview Pediatrics team always puts kids and their families first. Our two pediatric hospital destinations, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital and M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital, are warm environments staffed by kind-hearted, caring professionals.
Whether you’re arriving at one of our hospitals from across town or across the globe, our team stands ready to support your child and your family throughout your stay. If you have questions or are facing challenges at any point during your child’s hospitalization, just reach out to a member of your child’s care team for assistance.
For more information, please review our patient and visitor guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
- A photo ID for all adults coming to the hospital.
- Proof of legal guardianship if you’re the child’s foster parent or guardian.
- Some cash or credit cards for food, parking fees, and copays as needed.
- Your child’s health insurance card(s), including both medical insurance and prescription drug coverage, if applicable.
- A complete list of medicines that your child takes. Some parents find it easier to take photos of the prescription bottles or medicine packaging rather than writing everything down.
- Any medical devices your child uses, like an inhaler, hearing aids, or glasses, plus their cases. Wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or braces – if applicable.
- Comfortable clothes for your child, as well as a robe and shoes with nonslip soles.
- Comfort items for your child. What you choose to bring depends on your child’s age. Some examples include a pacifier, a bottle, a blanket, a stuffed animal, small toys or games, books, magazines, and electronic devices with headphones. Talk with your child about what your child wants to bring.
- Items to entertain you, such as a book, magazine, or electronic device with headphones.
- School assignments for your child, if appropriate.
- Chargers for all electronic or mobile devices (yours and your child’s).
- Breast pump and supplies if you’re nursing.
- An overnight bag for yourself, with some comfortable clothes, a sweater or jacket, and toiletries.
- A notebook and pen to write down questions as you think of them.
Yes. Before your child’s hospital stay, please complete our pre-registration form. This will enable us to cut down on the paperwork you’ll need to complete on the day your child is admitted. You’ll need the following information to complete your child’s pre-registration:
- The date your child is being admitted to the hospital.
- The name of the hospital your child is being admitted to.
- The name of the physician who is performing your child’s procedure, the name of your child’s primary care physician, and the name of your child’s referring physician (if it’s not your child’s primary care provider).
- Your address and phone numbers (home, work, and cell phone).
- Emergency contact information for your child.
- Your employer information (name, address, and phone number) if applicable.
- Your child’s health insurance information and/or billing information.
If you have any questions or need assistance completing this pre-registration form, please call 612-672-2000.
M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
All patients and families checking in before a procedure or hospitalization must visit the welcome desk in the children’s hospital main lobby, which can be accessed via our main entrance off 25th Avenue S. There, they will receive a name tag and be directed to the appropriate department or hospital unit.
M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital
All patients and families checking in before a procedure or hospitalization must visit the welcome desk. Use the main entrance, located at 201 E. Nicollet Blvd., to enter the hospital and check in at the front desk through the doors. We’ll help you get your child and family registered and direct you where you need to go.
M Health Fairview’s hospital and clinic visitor policy encourages visits from our patients’ family and loved ones, while putting limits in place to keep our patients, staff, and visitors safe from illness. Before your child’s hospital visit, please read our hospital and clinic visitor policy.
Trained service animals recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are allowed at M Health Fairview facilities. M Health Fairview staff may ask patients screening questions upon arrival to assess whether an animal meets the definition of an ADA service animal. Service animals are expected to be clean, healthy, and controlled by their owners during their visit.
Family pets and emotional support animals are not allowed at M Health Fairview facilities unless approved in advance by the patient's care team and infection prevention personnel. Please contact your care team with questions.
As a parent or caregiver, you have an important role to play helping your child mentally and emotionally prepare for an upcoming hospital stay. Fortunately, there are simple strategies you can use to help soothe your child’s worries, answer your child’s questions, and prepare your child to feel successful in the healthcare environment.
Check out our tips and resources.
Meet your care team
Our pediatric providers may represent dozens of different medical specialties, but they all share at least one thing in common: they have kind hearts and are dedicated to caring for children and families. You and your child are at the center of our healthcare team, and we’re here to help, guide, and support you throughout your child’s hospital stay. We encourage you to ask questions, share details, and let us know how we can best support you – together.
Get to know the people on your child’s care team before your arrival using our provider search tool.
Get to know our hospitals
In addition to a network of convenient community clinics, M Health Fairview Pediatrics has two hospital hubs: M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital and M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital, Minnesota's top-ranked academic children's hospital.
M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital
Collaboratively designed with children and families, and consistently ranked among the best in the nation, our beautiful, state-of-the-art children's hospital in Minneapolis is easily accessible for Twin Cities families – and is a worldwide destination for expert medical care. It offers a range of amenities, events, and extra touches designed to make the hospital a "home away from home" for children and their families.
M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital
As one of our system's pediatric hospital hubs, M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville brings a wide range of pediatric specialty care to our south metro and Minnesota River valley communities. From our dedicated pediatric emergency room to groundbreaking clinical trials, you don't have to travel into the city to receive the best children’s healthcare Minnesota has to offer.
Pediatric emergency care
Pediatric emergency care is also available in the emergency departments at these other M Health Fairview hospitals. Please note that the following hospitals do not provide pediatric inpatient services.
- M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center
- M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center
- M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital
- M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital
- M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
- M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center – East Bank
- M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center – West Bank
Lodging, transportation, and nearby accomodations
If you're traveling to the Twin Cities or the South Metro for care at one of our pediatric hospital hubs, preparing for your child's hospital stay also means arranging for lodging and transportation for your family.
To make the process easier, we've put together a list of accommodations near M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital and M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital. Many of these offer discounts for families of hospitalized patients, so make sure to ask when you call. The Twin Cities also has four Ronald McDonald House locations for free family lodging for those who need it.
We've also compiled some information about getting around the Twin Cities and south metro areas. M Health Fairview offers free daily shuttle service between our East Bank and West Bank campuses of M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, so you can easily get to your child's clinic or hospital appointment locations.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our accommodations team at 612-273-3965 or 800-328-5576 (toll-free).
Child and Family Life Services
Our Child and Family Life Services team is available at a variety of hospital and specialty clinic locations throughout our system.
Other resources
Billing and Insurance
Our patient-friendly billing and financial services team at M Health Fairview Pediatrics is here to make billing and insurance easy for the families we serve with a wealth of resources to help you manage billing, insurance, and out-of-pocket costs.
M Health Fairview App
With our free M Health Fairview app, it's easy to manage your child's appointments, handle bills, get your child's lab results, research pediatric providers, find locations, access MyChart, and more - all from your phone, wherever you are.
Medical Records
Your child's health information is confidential and is protected by law. As a parent or legal guardian, you have the right to view and request a copy of your child's medical record. At M Health Fairview Pediatrics, we are committed to protecting your child's privacy while making it simple for you to access the health information you need. Our health information management team is here to help you request your child's medical record, make changes, obtain birth certificates, and more.