Pre-op education program, OR tours lessen anxiety for children facing surgeryby Heather WoolwinePublic Relations Gordon “G” Veser, 4, and his brother Quinn, 5, listen as Betsy McMillan, MUSC child life specialist, explains what happens when children visit the medical center for surgical procedures. But this explanation isn’t full of medical lingo and it certainly isn’t as threatening as one would expect. Instead, McMillan uses her stuffed patient, Schroder, to familiarize G with the types of instruments and procedures he will encounter when he returns for eye surgery two days later. “Some children want to know everything and others don’t want to have much to do with the explanations,” McMillan said. “Sometimes their biggest concerns are when they’ll be able to play with the toys in the holding room or when they’ll be able to see mom and dad after surgery.” McMillan, along with child life specialist Jennifer Redfern, helps to soothe nervous minds and hearts prior to surgery by offering tours of operating and recovery rooms through the Scrub Club, a preoperative education program for children having day surgery. Surgery is frightening enough for an adult, so it’s not hard to imagine the worries about pain, separation from parents or scary hospital fantasies children may entertain in the days prior to a procedure. “It’s important to help children understand what to expect so that when they do come in for the procedure they’ve had a chance to explore and express any feelings they may have about surgery and the hospital,” McMillan said. “By talking, playing, and exploring children may feel happier and more in control. The tour is also a great time to let parents know the best ways to continue to prepare their children once they return home and in the days leading up to surgery. Nervous parents equal nervous children so we try to make everyone feel more comfortable and familiar with what will happen.” During the tour, children see and touch medical equipment they may come in contact with and are encouraged to ask questions. Children also meet nurses and anesthesia staff as they ride through the preoperative area, operating room area, and recovery room. They may even ride around in one of the MUSC Children’s Hospital’s special red wagons. G and Quinn enjoyed wearing their operating room hats and
booties and
especially enjoyed putting medical bracelets, tubes, and stickers on
Schroder
and G’s stuffed dog, Susan.
Child life specialists make hospital stay more normalby Heather WoolwinePublic Relations During March, child life specialists throughout the country are honored through National Child Life Month. Child life specialists are devoted professionals who strive to make a child’s health care experience as smooth, understandable, and normal as possible. MUSC’s Child Life department provides specialists on all inpatient units, in ambulatory surgery and selected clinics, and the pediatric emergency department. Sandra Oberman, child life director, said child life specialists provide opportunities for developmental, therapeutic, and medical play, as well as play in conjunction with procedural support, which promotes coping strategies. Play helps establish a relationship with the child, may reveal the child’s fears and anxieties, and may promote coping and control, Oberman said. Child life specialists work collaboratively, preparing children for surgery and procedures, providing parent education and support, and acting as resources for other hospital staff. In addition to the well-known Atrium on the 7th floor of the MUSC Children’s Hospital, child life specialists also use two play spaces in Rutledge Tower to accommodate children during various health care experiences. “When children come into these spaces, they have choices of what they want to do,” Oberman said. “For instance, if a child has food issues, we may encourage the child to play in the housekeeping or kitchen area. But if that child would rather paint, that’s OK too. Their artwork may be revealing and beneficial. It is important to let the child lead the way.” By meeting children’s emotional and mental needs during a health care experience, child life specialists reduce patients’ anxiety, increase cooperation, reduce the need for sedation, and improve patient and parental satisfaction. “Departments like child life and programs like the Scrub Club tours are what differentiates us from other hospitals and makes children’s hospitals unique,” said Betsy McMillan. To learn more about the child life program at MUSC Children’s Hospital, go to http://www.musckids.com. The Child Life Council, sponsor of Child Life Month, is the professional association for child life specialists and has a membership of more than 2,600 child life professionals in the United States and Canada. Scrub Club Tour Information
Please call Jennifer
Redfern at 792-2466 to make an appointment. Friday, March 26, 2004
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