Special Visitor Request
Special visitors, entertainers, and/or a celebrity visit can bring entertainment to a hospitalized child and their family.
Thank you for your interest in visiting Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. All visiting performers, celebrities and groups must be at least 18 years and older and will be screened and scheduled through the Child Life and Integrative Care Division. With the safety of our patients in mind, we may not be able to accommodate all requests.
All applications will be reviewed for appropriateness of activity, infection prevention standards, safety, and scheduling availability.
Click here to fill out a Special Visitor Request form.
Please note: Completion of an application does not guarantee a visit.
Consideration will be given to events that are:
- Relatable entertainment that is educational and/or therapeutic
- Appropriate and engaging for all ages (primarily ages 2 to 18 years)
- Physically and emotionally safe (non-threating, non-violent etc…)
- Appropriate for the conditions of the patients (i.e., small groups, not too loud)
- Religiously and politically neutral
- Appropriate fit for available space ~ note: Group size may be limited
The following cannot be accepted:
- Religious, sexual, or political implications
- Food or donation of food
- Items containing latex (balloons, stickers, tattoos)
- Use of fire, candles, knives, or weapons
- Plants
- Animals – unless previously approved by Seacrest Studio team and Infection Prevention
- No music/lyrics that contain references to one or more of the following: violence of any kind, alcohol, drugs, sex, criminal behavior, profane, discriminatory, or abusive language
Planning your visit:
- MEDIA: Please note that media presence may interfere with patients’ experiences and are not encouraged. Any requests involving the media must be approved 2 weeks in advance.
- Events where vehicles would drive alongside the hospital are not alloweddue to limited viewing options for patients/families and potential disruption to the flow of visitors coming to and from the medical center. Special considerations are vetted through Protective Services.
- Special guests/visitors are aged 18 and older (this includes children or siblings of special guests). All special guests and visitors need to be mindful of personal health. Any visitor having recent contact or exposure to a communicable disease (cold, flu, etc), or having recent contact with an ill person, cannot be included in the visit.
- Previous successful experience entertaining and visiting with children is helpful.
- Special visitors will be allowed in areas pre-approved for that visit only. A Child Life and Integrative Care staff member will be with the visitor at all times.
- A member of the Child life and Integrative Care team will provide the guest with orientation to appropriate patient’s safety and infection control guidelines for the visit or event.
- We cannot guarantee the size of an audience or the number of patients due to patient’s conditions and availability. Note: the location of visit/event and health and safety of patients may limit the number of participants.
- The event should be interactive and no more than 30 - 45minutes.
- Attire must be appropriate for all ages to reflect Cincinnati Children’s Hospital dress code. The following dress code compliance is required:
- No open toes shoes, shirts with inappropriate slogans, short skirts/shorts, tank tops, or low-cut tops.
- Visiting groups are required to bring all the supplies necessary for the activity they will facilitate.
- All special visitors are required to complete a HIPAA form prior to a visit. Patient diagnosis and history are confidential.
- No photographs/video may be taken without prior approval from Child Life and Integrative Care and/or Media Relations.
- Cincinnati Children’s hospital is not responsible for any injury, loss of personal belongings or equipment.
- Patient and family safety is always prioritized, Cincinnati Children's reserves the right to cancel a visit due to hospital conditions, and /or discontinue special programs/events at any time if they are thought to be inappropriate or unsafe for patients.
