Hospital Visit Hacks

Hospital visits can be challenging for kids, to say the least.

Our daughter, Anika (12 years old), has been to the operating room with full anesthesia 29 times already and has been admitted to the hospital for other treatments and procedures on numerous other occasions as well.

Here are some of the tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way. I trust that some of these could be helpful to you too in the future!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻

– Take along a typed-out list of your child’s information. (Condition, procedure history, medication, allergies, etc.)

– Make sure the admin is done accurately during admission – a spelling mistake or allergy not noted on your child’s file can have serious consequences.

– Double-check that the hospital staff is giving your child the right medication (and doses) as prescribed by the doctor – also check that pre-op meds are administered in time to calm your child before they go into the operating room.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸 & 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀

– Bring along some of your child’s personal belongings – his or her own pillowcase and a soft toy will make them feel more comfortable (if the hospital allows it!)

– If your child needs to spend time in the Intensive Care Unit, you’ll probably not be allowed to sleep next to them. Ask if the hospital has rooms available for parents – some hospitals have rooms you can rent to be close by.

– If your child needs to stay in the hospital for a long period, ask the staff about complementary long-term parking options. If you are on a constrained budget, you can also find out about affordable meal tickets from the hospital’s kitchen.

– If you love a specific brand of coffee or tea, take some with you!

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

– If you need something – or if you’re not sure about something – ask! It’s your right to be there, and you are the one that should look out for your child’s best interests.

– Most hospitals will allow you to go into the operating room with your child and be with them until they fall asleep from the anesthetics – just ask if they don’t invite you in!

– Some hospitals allow you to take your child for a “stroll” in the hospital for a change of scenery – again, just ask!

– If you ask the hospital staff for something and you don’t get it, ask again. Don’t take no for an answer and remember that they also get busy and forget about requests. Remind them – then go to management if necessary.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆

– Remember that your attitude towards hospital staff makes a huge difference in how you – and your child – are treated.

– We’ve realized over the years that most hospital staff are overworked and very busy, so they can forget or miss some details

– Staying calm and collected (only to a certain point, of course) helps in most cases.

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

– Some specialists usually do their hospital ward rounds at a certain time of the day – try to find out when they will be in the ward if you want to speak to them so that you don’t wait all day! Also, remember that it’s your right to ask for a second opinion if you feel it’s necessary.

– If your child goes in for a procedure, try to find out how long the procedure will take so that you can go and grab something to eat or get out of the hospital for some fresh air – waiting in the hallway for an hour or two feels like days!

– If a doctor gives the staff instruction to medicate your child, follow up and make sure that it’s given in time. (We’ve found that pre-operation medication, which’s supposed to mildly sedate your child to reduce anxiety, is often given too late, with not enough time for it to work. Speak up. You don’t want this to be traumatic for your child, as he or she might have to go to the operating room again in the future.

– Try to see your time in the hospital with your child as precious, special bonding time. When you’re home with your child, there are usually things that distract you or need your attention – while in hospital it’s only you and him/her!

Remember that different hospitals have different rules, and apply the tips above only if it’s in line with the relevant hospital’s policies and procedures.

𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸!