Daily Routines

Your first visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital may seem overwhelming. But you will adjust to a daily routine as the hospital becomes more familiar to you and your child.

Before your first visit

Visit our Before You Arrive page for helpful information on how to prepare before your first visit. You can also take a virtual tour, learn your way around, and access a St. Jude Campus Map. 

To learn more about St. Jude campus resources, such as getting to campus, parking, transportation, or where to eat, you can visit our Campus Information page or use the Our St. Jude patient app.

What to expect

Your first visit may take longer than usual. St. Jude staff will ask for information about your child to help us provide care and treatment.

A typical day at the hospital may follow this schedule:

1. Check in at Patient Registration so your child can receive an identification (ID) armband. The armband must stay on your child’s arm until they leave the hospital for the day.
2. Get a patient schedule with your child’s appointments for that day. You may also view the schedule and check for changes in the Our St. Jude patient app or in St. Jude MyChart. 
3. Go to Pre-Clinic Assessment and check-in with the patient representative, who will tell the proper clinic that your child has arrived. 
4. Meet with clinical care team members.
5. Receive treatment.

Other steps may include:

• Testing to help us diagnose, treat, and track your child’s response to treatment. These tests may include imaging, blood tests, and other laboratory tests. St. Jude staff will explain the tests to you. If you have questions, please ask.
• Meeting with a psychologist, social worker, chaplain, or child life specialist
• Attending school through the St. Jude School Program
• Counseling about food and clinical nutrition
• Visiting other specialty clinics
• Receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, or speech-language therapy
  

Meet your patient representative

Patient representatives are in every clinic and in waiting areas at our reception desks. Always check in with the patient representative for your child’s first visit and before each outpatient visit. This person tells the proper clinic that your child has arrived.

Patient representatives offer customer service for all outpatients and their guests. They are a great source of help and information.

Learn more