Pediatric Hospital Care
Your child receives expert care in a family-friendly environment, delivered by a team that specializes in caring for kids.
If your child needs care in the hospital, our experienced team works tirelessly to ensure your child’s health, safety, and comfort during their stay. As the only area hospital with neonatal unit, we provide the most advanced expertise in virtually every area of children's medicine. We use the latest approaches in children’s healthcare to give your child the very best care.
Our pediatricians, pediatric nurses, child development specialists, and other pediatric providers have advanced training working with children and their families. We offer a welcoming, healing environment that’s designed around children’s and families’ needs:
- All rooms are private, with a TV and a game station, and have enough space for parents to spend the night. We provide toys, activities, and the comforts of home to put your child at ease.
- Our family break room has a microwave, coffee machine, refrigerator, and washer and dryer to make it convenient for families who need to spend a lot of time at the hospital.
- Pediatric specialists help minimize the stress of hospitalization and help your child transition to home and school life after an illness.
You can visit your child at any time, and siblings can visit as long as they’re healthy — we make our patients’ health and safety a priority.
Preparing Your Child
If your child needs a medical test or procedure they haven’t had before, it can be frightening. We help you take away some of your child’s worry.
When your child needs medical care beyond a routine checkup at your pediatrician's office — such as a lab test, MRI scan, outpatient surgery, or a procedure in the hospital — there are things you can do to make it easier on your child. Our experienced pediatric care team offers suggestions to make your child feel more comfortable:
- Timing is important. If you tell your child too far in advance before the appointment, it may lengthen the amount of “worry time” for them. Consider this when you decide when to tell them.
- Explain the reason for the visit. Tell them in a simple, truthful manner, using words your child understands.
- Tell your child what will happen. Ask your doctor's office for information about the procedure, so you know how to explain it to your child. You can also ask your doctor to spend a few minutes with your child to prepare them for what to expect.
- Use the five senses when describing the visit. Explain what they’ll see, hear, smell, feel, and taste.
- Be prepared to answer questions. They may want to know how long it takes, whether it hurts, if you can stay with them during the procedure, or if it’s their fault they need the procedure. Some children may think they’re being punished for something they've done wrong.
- Tell your child it’s OK to cry or be afraid. Reassure them you’ll be there. For some procedures, your child can sit or lie on your lap. We’ll help find a position that’s most comfortable for your child.
- Practice relaxation techniques with your child. Teach them techniques such as deep breathing when they feel pain or counting forward or backward to help them relax. It can help your child gain a sense of control.
- Allow your child to bring a favorite comforting toy. Your child’s favorite games or books can distract them during waiting periods.
- Reward your child. Let them push the buttons on the elevator or pick out a small treat in the gift shop. This helps them make positive associations, which is particularly helpful if they have more than one appointment.
