International Patients

Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel is the only highly specialized care hospital in Israel and the Middle East providing multidisciplinary, comprehensive care solely to children. Schneider Children’s has set new standards of medical excellence in all fields of pediatric medicine. Our highly trained and dedicated staff works with state-of-the-art equipment and a unique multidisciplinary approach ensuring that every child receives the best treatment available.

As a center of international renown, we receive referrals from many countries in the region and further afield including Asia, Africa and Europe. Our international patients come from many countries such as Jordan, Turkey, Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstahn, Moldavia, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Palestinian Authority.

Schneider Children’s makes every effort to welcome our international patients and their families warmly, and ensure their confidence in entrusting their child to our professional care. We believe that children who feel safe and secure, recover more quickly. When parents are close by and are actively involved in their child’s care, treatment and rehabilitation are greatly enhanced. This is why we provide many services for our international patients.

Information Desk
The information desk is located in the atrium on the 3rd floor (ground level). It is open daily from 07.30-21.00 for the handling of general questions about orientation, telephone numbers of departments and clinics, and information concerning various services.
The main switchboard telephone number of Schneider Children's is 972-3-9253253.

International Patients Coordinators
Families are accompanied by a special representative throughout their stay. The patient coordinator meets the family on arrival and assists them through the admission and hospitalization process, and is always available to guide, coordinate and provide information and assistance.

Patient Coordinators:
Olga Godin
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 972-50-4057355

Veronika Rabinovich
Email: [email protected]

Sahir Zaid (Palestinian Authority)
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 972-54-2484258

Medical Services Cost Estimate
Schneider Children’s Medical Center is a member of Clalit Health Services (Israel's largest HMO), and accepts referrals from all other HMOs around the world. Upon receipt of medical referrals, Schneider Children's will respond with a tentative plan for treatment, a proposed date for admission or an outpatient appointment, the name of the treating physician, and the Medical Services Cost Estimate.
Schneider Children’s grants credit facilities to health insurance companies outside of Israel. In these circumstances, a Guarantee of Payment letter based on the tentative plan for treatment and initial cost estimate will be required prior to admission. Partial payment may be requested to cover anticipated tests. Following examination of the child at Schneider Children’s, a confirmed treatment plan will be forwarded to the insurance company. Following the child’s discharge, an itemized bill will be forwarded to the insurance company. Full payment should be received within 14 working days.

Hospital charges are based on the type of treatment provided including examinations and lab tests, as well as hospitalization days.

Patients not covered by an approved health insurance scheme will be asked to pay a deposit of the anticipated costs, depending on the treatment program.

Please note:
The Medical Services Cost Estimate is based on a tentative plan for treatment, which can change following the child’s examination at Schneider Children’s. Similarly, even the confirmed plan of treatment can change during the actual treatment process, since it is impossible to identify all the factors that can impact on your child’s diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Visa Requirements
The State of Israel requires all visitors arriving for medical treatment to obtain visas. Schneider Children’s will assist you in ensuring you have the correct documentation for your application. For more information, please visit or call your local Israeli Consulate. To locate details of the office nearest to you, visit the website of Israel's Ministry of the Interior.

Admission
Upon arrival at Schneider Children’s, you will be greeted by your patient coordinator who will assist you through the admission process, which will include processing the Guarantee of Payment forms. This is necessary even if your child is covered by an insurance company since you are ultimately responsible for the settlement of fees.

Please remember to bring with you all relevant documentation pertaining to your child’s health coverage, such as policy and registration numbers.

If you are paying your own account, you may be asked to pay a deposit of the anticipated costs of your child’s treatment. Schneider Children’s accepts payments in cash or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express).

The final account for your child’s treatment will be prepared on the day of discharge.

International Patients Coordinators
Olga Godin
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 972-50-4057355

Veronika Rabinovich
Email: [email protected]

Sahir Zaid (Palestinian Authority)
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 972-54-2484258

Telephones
We regret that it is not possible to use or receive phone calls from the nurses station in the hospitalization wards. Use of cell phones is permitted. The main switchboard telephone number of Schneider Children’s is: 972-3-9253253.

Other important telephone numbers that you may need:
External Affairs: 972-3-9253742
Admissions: 972-3-9253727
Emergency: 972-3-9253656

You may telephone the wards at any time. The switchboard operates 24 hours a day, every day.

Note: For emergency enquiries after 21.00, please call the ER at 972-3-9253656,
or Fax 972-3-9210653.

Kitchen
In keeping with the dietary laws of the hospital, all foods are strictly kosher and supervised by an official Mashgiah (kashrut supervisor). Meals are prepared under the guidance of registered dieticians who have specialized in the nutritional needs of children and adolescents. In addition, if children wish to nibble on snacks between meals, the cafeteria and gift shop in the atrium on the 3rd Floor carry a wide range of popular products. Vending machines are also located at strategic places throughout the building.

Security
A full-time security team is on site at all times. Armed security guards are located at both main entrances to the building and carry out inspections before visitors are allowed entry. Regular patrols take place both day and night. In keeping with Israeli law, a fully equipped underground shelter is located in the basement on the 1st Floor. The shelter is capable of absorbing up to 700 (including critical care) patients, staff and visitors.

Who to Contact:
Gil Asher
Director of Security
Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel
Tel: 972-3-9253641
Fax: 972-3-9222995
Email: [email protected]

For Parents - Amenities
Parents - or another family member - are welcome to remain with their child 24 hours a day. For their comfort, convertible armchairs are located at every bedside throughout the hospital, and linens are distributed for overnight sleeping. Each patient room has its own shower and washroom facilities.
All parents staying with their children are given one hot meal a day at lunchtime, compliments of the Ezer Mizion volunteer organization, and also have the use of a private kitchen and lounge equipped with a refrigerator and hot water where they can prepare light snacks.
Snacks can be purchased at the cafeteria and the Gift Shop in the atrium on the 3rd Floor, or from vending machines located on various floors of the building. Emergency supplies are also available from the Gift Shop including infant feeding bottles, pacifiers, pumps, newspapers, games, books, batteries and so on. There is also a large pharmacy, fast food restaurants, post office, books, toys and gift shops at the neighboring adult hospital, Beilinson Medical Center.
Smoking is not permitted within the hospital building.

Helpful Facts about Israel
Capital: Jerusalem
Official Languages: Hebrew and Arabic; other languages spoken English, Russian, Amharic and most European languages
Population: 8.6 million

Climate: Mediterranean
Temperatures: Winter (December to February).
Spring (February to June)
Summer (June to September)
Fall (September to December)
Rainfall period: From October to March, although surprise showers have been known to fall in June
Public Transport: Dan and Egged bus companies
Israel Railways
Currency: New Israel Shekel
Exchange Rate: Fluctuating: $1 equivalent to NIS3.9; €1 equivalent to NIS4.9 (December 2014 exchange rate)
Newspapers: Local dailies in Hebrew, English (The Jerusalem Post and Ha’aretz), Russian and Romanian
Driving: On the right hand side of the road
International calling companies: There are four, all with competitive prices – Bezek, Barak, Golden Lines, Telecom
Local Mobile Phones: Cellcom, Orange, Pelephone, Golan

Israel Ministry of Tourism

Outpatient Appointment Service
You are invited to use this unique service for making appointments in one of our Outpatient Clinics. The Appointment Service is manned by personnel who will be pleased to pay you personal attention and provide you with the appropriate service that you need. Through the Service, you may make appointments, change prior appointments as well as enjoy a significant reduction in waiting time.

The service operates between Sunday-Thursday between 08.00-16.00.
Tel: 972-3-9253210
Fax: 972-3-9253269

Translation
Many of our staff members speak foreign languages, which increases the sense of familiarity and home. In addition to Arabic and English, other languages include Amharic, Russian, Spanish and French. In addition, our corps of volunteers is happy to assist in translation. All signs throughout the hospital building are in three languages - Hebrew, Arabic and English.

Medical Referrals
Initial consultation regarding the child’s condition and requested treatment can either be done by phone, email or fax.

Copies of relevant medical documents and reports should be forwarded in English together with a cover letter preferably from the attending physician summarizing the child’s current medical history and the medical problem. Return contact details should be included. Should there be costs incurred in conducting the medical review at Schneider Children’s, such as evaluation of pathology slides or imaging studies, you will be notified of these fees in advance.

As soon as the material is received, a medical review will be conducted with the relevant specialists, and you will be contacted with our response. The information will include a tentative plan for treatment, a proposed date for admission or an outpatient appointment, the name of the treating physician, and a medical services cost estimate. Please note that a confirmed treatment plan can only be provided once the child has been examined by a specialist at Schneider Children’s.

Who to Contact:
International Patients Coordinators
Olga Godin
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 972-50-4057355

Veronika Rabinovich
Email: [email protected]

Sahir Zaid (Palestinian Authority)
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 972-54-2484258

Arrival
Once you have made your travel arrangements, you will need to notify us of pertinent details, mode, time, date and port of entry. Schneider Children’s will assist you in the event that special arrangements need to be made, such as ambulances, wheelchairs, etc.

You may arrive in Israel by air via Ben Gurion International Airport, by sea via Haifa or Ashdod ports, or by land, via several entry points in the east and south of the country. You will need to go through standard customs and passport control formalities.

Taxicabs are plentiful at all points of entry into the country. Schneider Children’s is about a 25-minute ride from Ben Gurion Airport.


Chaplaincy and Kashrut*
*Kashrut is the set of Jewish religious dietary laws

Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, as with other medical centers of Clalit Health Services, operates according to the principles of Kashrut and Religion and supervised by senior management at Clalit Head Office.

Schneider Children’s has its own in-house Orthodox rabbi, Rabbi Asher Laby, who is available at all times (excluding Shabbat) for assistance. Parents and children may talk and consult with him on both religious and medical matters. Rabbi Laby may be contacted at 972-50-4205574.

Where possible, Schneider Children’s will arrange to have representatives of the other major religions visit for consultation and support.


Local Facilities
A supermarket belonging to the Mega chain is located opposite the hospital entrance on Kaplan Street. An ATM machine is located in the lobby next to the Information Desk in the hospital building.

Snacks can be purchased at the cafeteria and the Gift Shop in the atrium on the 3rd Floor, or from vending machines located on various floors of the building. Emergency supplies are available from the Gift Shop including infant feeding bottles, pacifiers, pumps, newspapers, games, books, batteries and so on. There is also a large pharmacy, fast food restaurants, post office, books, toys and gift shops at the neighboring adult hospital, Beilinson Medical Center.

A shopping mall is in walking distance of the medical center on Jabotinsky Street, replete with shops, restaurants, movie theaters and so on.

Sabbath Arrangements
The preparation of food for the Sabbath is completed on Friday. Warming of cooked food, including porridge, is conducted according to Jewish Law in the central kitchen and in the various hospital departments.
Elevators operate according to a Sabbath schedule from the start of the Sabbath till darkness on Saturday evening, except at night.

Volunteers in all the wards distribute Sabbath candles every Friday afternoon. Due to safety concerns, only distributed candles may be used and these may only be kindled on the 3rd floor (ground level) in the atrium. It is not permitted to light Sabbath candles in the hospitalization wards.

There are no patient discharges on the Sabbath. Patients will be required to remain in hospital until Saturday evening after the end of the Sabbath.

Discharge Procedure
Optimally, you will be advised of the pending date of your child’s discharge at least two days prior to the event, so that you will have sufficient time to make preparations for your return travel home. Your special representative from the External Affairs Department will be available to assist you with arrangements.

On the day of discharge, a detailed medical report will be given to you in English addressed to the referring physician including lab tests and imaging studies. You will receive full instructions from the discharge nurse regarding the continuing care of your child both en route home and thereafter. Where indicated, and if distances allow, you may be required to return periodically to the hospital for follow-up care, and you will be informed about the appointment made for your child. Alternatively, you may receive appropriate referrals to your local hospital for follow-up care.

Payment procedures need to be finalized with the Admissions Department, who will provide you with confirmation that this has been done.

Where indicated, medications will be prescribed for your child and given to you prior to your departure.