Heart Center

Coming to the hospital

When your child comes to Boston Children's, she may need:

• an outpatient procedure
• an inpatient procedure
• a same-day admission

Outpatient procedures

For outpatient procedures, your child arrives at the hospital and can usually go home the same day.

Inpatient procedures

For inpatient procedures, your child will be admitted to the hospital a few days before her procedure and will be assigned a patient room on 8 East, our cardiac inpatient unit. Your child's procedure and diagnosis will determine how long the hospitalization will be. We will make every effort to keep her length of stay in the hospital as short as possible while keeping her health and well-being our top priority.

Same-day admissions

Your child's procedure will be performed the same day you arrive at the hospital and your child will be admitted to the hospital after the procedure. Your child will not have to stay in the hospital the night before surgery. Any tests needed before the procedure will be done during a clinic visit a few days before surgery.

We notify all families ahead of time about which type of appointment they will need. Our staff will also answer any questions that may come to mind. 

For more information on any type of patient admission, please call us at 617-355-2079. 

Care locations at Boston Children's main hospital location

Each care location within the Boston Children's Hospital Heart Center is designed to help patients and their families feel more comfortable during their visit. In each area, you’ll find just the right combination of experts and resources to provide the care that your family needs.

The Cardiology Outpatient Clinic: Farley 2

• Located on second floor of the Farley Building
• In addition to providing outpatient services, the clinic also performs many inpatient tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) and echocardiograms (ECHOs). Read more about our Cardiology Outpatient Clinic.

The Inpatient Unit: 8 East 

• Located on the eighth floor of the Main Building
• This 28-bed unit is where our patients stay if they need to be in the hospital overnight, as when they’re admitted for an inpatient cardiac catheterization. Patients may also be transferred here after they are discharged from the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Read more about 8 East.

The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU): 8 South 

• Located on the eighth floor of the Main Building
• After cardiac surgery, patients receive their care in our cardiac ICU. Patients who require intensive treatment, but not surgery, are also cared for here. Read more about our CICU.

The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: 6 South 

• Located on the sixth floor of the Main Building
• Our laboratory includes high-technology suites and recovery rooms for inpatient or outpatient cahterization procedures. Read more about the Cath Lab.

The Operating Rooms (or Surgical Suites)

• Located on the third floor of the Main Building
• These surgical suites are reserved and outfitted specifically for our cardiac patients.

Understanding your coverage

If your child is being admitted to Boston Children's Hospital and you are not sure of your health insurance benefits, please call the number on the back of your insurance card, and they will give you the details of your plan.

• Adding a new child to your insurance
  If you are the insurance guarantor (the person financially responsible) for a newborn, you must add your new child's name to your insurance within 30 days of birth.
• Elective procedures
  All patients electively scheduled will be referred to the Patient Access Center (PAC) for insurance authorization. If we are unable to obtain insurance authorization, your elective admission may be postponed.
• Long-term hospitalizations
  If your child is in the hospital for more than a calendar month, your child may be entitled to SSI (Supplemental Security Income) Disability. Speak to your social worker for additional insurance opportunities.

International patients

If you are from a country other than the United States, please call Children's International Office at 617-355-5776 or email international.center@childrens.harvard.edu to schedule all inpatient and outpatient appointments.

Billing

You will receive a minimum of four bills after your child's surgery. These will be from your child's:

• Cardiologist
• Cardiac surgeon
• Anesthesiologist
• The hospital

In addition, if your child is seen by another physician from a department other than cardiovascular, you will receive a bill for those services, as well.

For questions about patient billing, call 617-355-3397.

Financial assistance  

If you do not have insurance, or if you need financial assistance, call 617-355-7201.