Grace's note: This web site which appears to be a part of the Joint Commission, an organization that provides accreditation for the health care industry, provides a useful pamphlet for children who need hospitalization or medical procedures.
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A page from: http://www.consumermedsafety.org/assets/speakup_peds.pdf which appears to be a part of the Joint Commission an organization that provides accreditation for the health care industry.
The Joint Commission is the largest health care
accrediting body in t
What can you do to prepare for your child’s visit to
the doctor’s office or hospital?
It is helpful to write down
the following information:
•
Your child’s medical history. Include vaccinations, allergies, current
health problems, and the dates of any surgeries and hospital visits.
•
A list of your child’s medicines. Include prescription and over-the-counter
medicines, vitamins and herbs. Be sure to include the amount your child takes.
•
General questions you have about your child’s health. Share this
information with your child’s doctor and
other caregivers.
What should you ask the
doctor?
•
Find out about all the tests and treatments for your child’s illness or
injury.
•
Ask how a treatment will help your child.
•
Understand that more tests or treatments are not always better for your child.
What if you do not understand
what the doctor is saying?
•
Tell the doctor you do not understand. Ask more questions. By asking
questions you are helping the doctor understand what you need.
•
Tell the doctor if you need someone who speaks your language.
How can you help prevent your
child from getting an infection?
•
Remind caregivers to wash or clean their hands before touching your child.
Hand washing helps prevent infection. Remind caregivers to wear clean gloves
when they do tasks such as taking blood, touching wounds or examining your
child’s private parts.
Taking medicine
safely
What can you do to make sure it is safe for your child to take a new
medicine?
·
Tell the doctor or nurse your child’s current weight or ask them to weigh
your child (in kilograms). Medicines for children are based on weight. Ask the
following questions:
·
Why does your child need a new medicine? How will it help?
·
What are the names of the medicine?
·
Is there written information about the medicine?
·
What does the medicine look like? Is it a liquid or a pill? What color is
the medicine?
·
How do I give my child this medicine? You should be able to repeat the
instructions back to the caregiver.
·
What are the side effects?
·
Remind the doctor or caregiver about your child’s allergies and reactions
to any medicines in the past.
·
Tell the doctor or caregiver if you do not understand any information or if
you have questions.
·
When you get the medicine, check the label for your child’s name, the
correct medicine name, amount and directions.
·
Can you cut or crush pills or put them in food if your child has trouble
swallowing them?
Ask the doctor or pharmacist. Some medicines may
not work or may be
harmful if cut or crushed. Ask if the medicine comes in a liquid or can be
given another way.
·
What should you do if your child has accidentally taken a medicine or taken
too much medicine?
Immediately call your local poison control center at (800) 222-1222 or call your doctor.
Having a medical
or laboratory test
What are medical and laboratory tests?
•
Medical tests include X-rays, MRIs and CT scans. Lab tests include blood
tests and urine samples.
What should you ask about medical and lab tests?
•
Ask why your child needs a test. Find out which test will be done and what
your child should be prepared for during the test. Find out if you can be with
your child during the test. Ask if your child can eat or drink before the test.
Are there any risks with medical or lab tests?
•
X-rays and CT scans use radiation. Some patients have received too much
radiation. Ask how they will make sure your child gets the right amount of
radiation for their size. MRIs use strong magnets. Metal can be pulled into the
MRI machine and injure the patient. Make sure to remove all metal, like jewelry
and hair clips. If there are any metal objects you are not sure about, ask the
staff. Also ask what has been done
to make sure your child is safe during the
test.
What should you do if your child is having a blood test or other lab test?
•
Ask to see the label on the container that your child’s sample is put into.
The label should have your child’s name and birth date or another piece of
information. See that the container is immediately sealed.
What should you do if your child is having an X-ray, MRI or CT scan?
•
Ask if your child will be given a contrast agent. This is a liquid that
makes organs and blood vessels easy to see on X-rays and other tests. Tell
staff if your child has had problems with contrast agents before. Immediately
alert staff if your child begins to itch or have trouble breathing after
getting a contrast agent.
Going to the
hospital
What is one of the first things you should do to help prevent errors in the
hospital?
•
Check your child’s identification band. Make sure the information on the
band is correct. Make sure caregivers check the band and ask your child’s name
before giving any medicine, test or treatment. Caregivers should also ask for
your child’s birth date or other identifying information.
Can you stay with your child overnight at the hospital?
•
Check with the hospital. Most hospitals will let a parent stay overnight.
It is important that you or someone you trust be with your child whenever
possible to be their advocate.
Your child needs to get an IV. What is this?
•
An IV is a way to give medicine directly into the vein. An IV should not be
left in any longer than necessary to avoid infection. Ask when the IV will be
removed. Tell caregivers if the IV area is painful, red or puffy.
Here are some tips to help you while your child is in the hospital:
•
Write down information. As an example, write down medicine names, amounts
and what they are for. You may also want to save test results, tips and
information from your caregiver.
•
Immediately tell caregivers if your child is in pain. They should check
your child regularly for pain.
•
Your child may be moved to another floor or department. Check that your
child gets the correct medicines and treatments after the move. Alert
caregivers if you think there is any confusion.
•
Ask visitors who are ill to call instead or come back when they are well.
Your child can easily catch illnesses.
•
All staff should wear an identification badge. Ask to see a badge if you
cannot see it.
Having a safe
operation
What can you do to help keep your child safe before going to the hospital?
•
Ask that any sedatives (sleep medicines) be given at the hospital and not
at home before going to the hospital. Talk to the surgeon and others who will
operate on your child. Ask how much experience they have performing the
operation. It is important that you are confident in the ability of the people
who will operate on your child.
What can you do to help keep your child safe before the operation?
•
Talk to the surgeon about the part of your child’s body that will be
operated on. Ask the surgeon to mark the part to be operated on while you are
in the room. This will make sure it is the correct part. Make sure the surgeon
marks only the correct part and nowhere else. Ask if you can stay with your
child until the sedatives (sleep medicines) begin working and your child falls
asleep.
What can you do to help keep your child safe after the operation?
•
Ask if pediatric specialists will be caring for your child in the recovery
area.
What can you do to make sure your child is safe after leaving the hospital?
•
Ask about the care your child will need at home. Get written instructions.
Get the names and phone numbers of people to call if you have questions or in
case of an emergency.
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