Staying HereReservationsFamilies with a child (age 21 and younger) receiving medical treatment for serious illness and who live a minimum of 50 miles from the House may request a reservation for a room at Ronald McDonald House of Durham. All first-time guests must be referred by the patient resource manager or social worker familiar with the patient’s case. A referral does not guarantee a room. The Director of Operations will confirm by phone or by letter, and verify room availability for each reservation request. Due to lack of space, a priority system for assigning rooms is listed below but in each case, medical need is the overriding factor.
For additional room reservation information, call the Director of Operations reservation line at 919-416-3955. Voicemail is available on this line 24 hours a day. RoomsThere are a total of 18 rooms and 5 bone marrow transplant suites available for families. A family may occupy only one room. There is a limit of four people per room, however many rooms are small and accommodate only 2 or 3 people. Each room has a sink, TV/VCR, alarm clock, phone with voicemail (no charge for local calls), pillows, towels, blankets, and sheets. Most rooms have shared showers and bathrooms, few rooms have private bathrooms. All transplant suites have a small kitchenette and private bathroom. Families have access to a fully equipped communal kitchen, dining area, living room, playroom, computer room, and free laundry facilities. CostsA $10.00 per night fee is requested for each room and a $15.00 fee is requested for each suite. Families are welcome regardless of ability to pay. Check-In and Check-Out
Check-in times are from 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Families are given door codes, phone extension, house rules, and tour at check-in. View the check-in packet (pdf). TransportationDuke University Medical Center provides a van service from the House to the hospital and clinics. Weekday service begins at 6:15am, with scheduled pick-ups several times a day (schedules are provided at check-in). The Information Desk at the hospital will phone the van service for return transportation to the House. Night service runs from 6:00 pm – 6:00 am by request. LocationRonald McDonald House of Durham is located at 506 Alexander Avenue, Durham, NC. View directions to the House. Ronald McDonald House Family Room is located on the 5th floor of Duke Children’s Hospital, steps away from the pediatric and neo-natal intensive care units. Learn more about the Family Room. Office HoursRonald McDonald House of Durham Business Office is open weekdays from 8:00 am – 9:00 pm; weekends and holidays from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm. House phone number 919-286-9305 is available to reach families at the House anytime. After office hours, the caller must know the room extension (provided to guests at check-in). The hospital staff has a 24-hour emergency number to reach families at the House, if necessary. Infection ControlSome children staying at the House are highly susceptible to infectious diseases. To avoid unnecessary risk, families are asked to observe the below rules: If anyone in your family has been exposed to infectious diseases such as chicken pox, measles, flu, RSV, viral or bacterial infection, mumps, hepatitis, whooping cough in the past 30 days you will not be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham. Anyone wishing to stay at the house that has received oral vaccine such as polio, chicken pox in the past 60 days have to be evaluated before allowed to stay. Staff must be notified when a resident is ill with a contagious disease, such as a viral infection, vomiting, diarrhea, or other communicable diseases such as mumps, measles, chicken pox, etc. Families are asked to wash hands carefully at all times. Good hand washing is essential to minimize risk of infection. ChildrenAn adult must accompany patients and siblings at all times. Children staying at the House may not be left unattended. Children are not allowed in the Business Office area.
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 “This place is better than a home-away-from-home. It is home.” |
