Parents and Coping

The only way you can take care of your child is to first take care of yourself:

• Eat properly
• Take a break
• Call a friend
• Keep a journal
• Try to get enough sleep
• Know that it is OK to ask for help
• Ask questions and voice your concerns
• Read, write, listen to music to relax

Pre-Operative Tours

The Child Life Department provides pre-operative tours for children scheduled to have surgery, both in-patient and out-patient, and their families.

The tour includes a visit to areas of the hospital that patients will see the day of surgery while a Child Life Specialist explains what they see, feel, hear, taste, and smell the day of surgery. Pre-op tours help to:

• familiarize patients with the people and experiences they will encounter
• ease the child’s anxiety and reduce fears
• clarify misconceptions and answer questions
• develop trust in hospital staff

*If your child is scheduled for surgery and you want to arrange a pre-op tour or talk to a Child Life Specialist please call the office at 210-575-7399 or 210-575-7308.

Things to Bring With You

• comfortable clothes, pajamas, socks, and slippers
• patient’s favorite stuffed animal or blanket
• movies, books, magazines and music
• toys, board games, video games, and other activities
• pictures of family and friends
• a camera for special events
• snacks, with doctor’s permission

Pain therapy

Each patient at Methodist Children’s Hospital is routinely evaluated for pain using the Wong-Baker Faces Scale which allows children to communicate how they are feeling by pointing to faces on a scale that range from happy to very sad. Taking this information into account, doctors and nurses are able to help patients with pain relief through medication or when possible, non-drug therapies such as hot/cold compresses, massage, rest or re-positioning.

Counseling and Support

The Department of Psychiatry Clinical Liaison – Consultation Team provides psychiatric evaluation, triage and counseling to families of critically ill and chronically ill children. A behavioral medicine nurse specialist is on staff to meet the emotional needs of patients and their families. The Behavioral Medicine Psychiatric Assessment Team is available in the Emergency Room 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist the emergency room physician in evaluating behavioral health emergencies and recommending treatment options.