| A hospital stay can be traumatic for both you and | | | | tour of the facility? |
| your child. Fortunately the chances of your child | | | | If your child has a particular disorder such as |
| requiring hospital care are very low. Only about | | | | leukemia, what is the hospital's past record in |
| five out of every hundred children are hospitalized | | | | caring for such cases? Is the hospital a center for |
| in a year. However, if you do have to hospitalize | | | | this type of disorder? If not, and the disorder is |
| your child, proper preparation for the experience | | | | serious you might want to search out a center |
| can make it easier for both of you. Your doctor | | | | that specializes in your child's problem. |
| will probably recommend a hospital. Whether the | | | | Prior to the time to leave for the hospital, you |
| patient is an adult or child, one always wants to | | | | want to learn as much as possible about what is |
| know such information as the overall reputation of | | | | going to happen there. Most bookstores and |
| the facility, the expertise of the staff and | | | | libraries have clearly written, age appropriate |
| whether the emergency room is staffed on a | | | | books about a child's first visit to the hospital. |
| twenty-four hour basis. However, where children | | | | Often these involve a story about a child who has |
| are concerned there is additional criteria that do | | | | to be hospitalized and their experience. Read one |
| not pertain to adults. You will want to know if | | | | or more with your child. Explain clearly and |
| parents can visit their children twenty-four hours | | | | honestly what will happen in the hospital. If your |
| a day, whether the parent can remain in the | | | | child is under six years old you can do this two or |
| room with the child throughout the period of | | | | three days before the hospital stay. Older children |
| hospitalization and if the parent can be with the | | | | should have longer advance notice, like a week or |
| child during tests and treatments. Keep in mind | | | | two. |
| that children feel more secure and less | | | | When it is time to go, let your child take a couple |
| traumatized in any experience where their | | | | of comfort items such as a favorite doll or teddy |
| parents are present to soothe and comfort them. | | | | bear. Be careful here though if the hospitalization |
| You will want to know how the pediatric unit | | | | involves a contagious disease. In this case |
| caters to children. For example, is there a | | | | anything your child brings will be destroyed or |
| playroom available? And you need to ask what | | | | sterilized prior to discharge. So don't bring |
| percentage of the hospital's patients are children. | | | | something that your child will not want to part |
| The more children a hospital services, the more | | | | with. However, do try to have some familiar |
| accustomed the staff will be to fulfilling the needs | | | | objects in her hospital room such as a favorite |
| of child patients. You also need to know the | | | | toy, game, or book. Just be sure, that in case of |
| pre-admission practices of the particular hospital. | | | | a contagious disease, it is easily replaceable. |
| Do they offer the parents and children a special | | | | |