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How to Stay at the House

Welcome to Ronald McDonald House: Madison, a home away from home where families can find comfort, community, and a place to stay close while their child receives medical care.

Find everything you need to plan your stay with us, all in one easy place.

To stay at the Ronald McDonald House: Madison, you must meet all three of the criteria below:

  • Your patient is 18 years old or younger.
  • Your family lives at least 35 miles from Ronald McDonald House: Madison.
  • Your patient is receiving treatment through one of our medical partners: 
    • UW Health
    • UnityPoint Health Meriter
    • SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital
    • Central Wisconsin Center
    • Mendota Mental Health

Please contact your child’s medical partner and ask them to submit a referral for you to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

  • UW Health
    • Visit or call the Guest Depot at 608-890-8000, or contact Guest Services at 608-263-0315.
    • Waisman Center – Speak to your patient’s care team or call the Guest
    • Depot at 608-890-8000.
  • UnityPoint Health Meriter
    • Meriter Hospital on Park Street – Speak to or call the Perinatal Social Work team at 608-417-6027.
    • Child & Adolescent Psychiatry – Speak to your patient’s care team.
  • SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital
    • Speak to your Maternal Child Social Work team or call 608-258-6848.
  • Central Wisconsin Center
    • Speak to your patient’s social worker.
  • Mendota Mental Health
    • Speak to your patient’s social worker.
  • After we receive your referral, we will call you to confirm the information received and share more about what to expect.
  • On the day of your anticipated arrival, contact the House at 608-232-4660 after 8:30 am on weekdays, or 9:30 am on weekends.
  • If your patient has been referred to Ronald McDonald House: Madison before, you do not need to request a new referral from your medical provider.
  • Call the House at 608-232-4660 between 8:30 am – 8:30 pm Monday – Friday, or 9:30 am – 8:30 pm on Saturday or Sunday to request a room for the dates you will be in Madison for your child’s treatment.
  • Due to the unknown length of stay for most families, we do not know when rooms will be available at the House. On the morning of your anticipated arrival, please call the House at 608-232-4660 after 8:30 am on weekdays, or 9:30 am on weekends.
    • If the House is full, we will attempt to host families at partnered hotels.
    • If we host a family at a hotel, we pay the room fee; however, the family is responsible for any incidental expenses (such as room service, pay-per-view, snacks/beverages, enhanced internet, or damage to the hotel).
    • Note: hotels ask families to provide a credit or debit card to put on file in case you bill something to the room.
    • Most hotels will take a deposit of up to $50.00. If that would prevent you from staying at a hotel through us, please let us know.
    • If a debit card is used for the deposit, it may take 3-5 days from checkout for your bank or credit union to return your deposit to you.
  • Unlike at the Ronald McDonald House, we cannot guarantee a stay beyond what we are initially able to set up with the hotel.

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