Services Offered to Patients and Their Families
 |
A patient and her parents stop by the nurses' desk to check in
|
Patient Support & Education
People of all ages tend to feel overwhelmed and may lack a sense of control in a hospital setting.This is especially true for children and adolescents.Separation from friends and school, physical activity restrictions, invasive or uncomfortable procedures, and unfamiliar medical terminology add up to confusion and the possibility of children feeling like passive victims.Child Life plays a key role in guiding patients and helping them understand what is happening and find adaptive ways to cope.
Procedural Preparation
Our Child Life Specialists use many things, including medical play, books, pictures, and real medical equipment to help describe what will happen during a procedure. Children need accurate, reassuring, age-appropriate explanations of what is being done to them and why it is necessary. By clarifying what they will see, smell, taste, hear, and feel, children can gain a sense of mastery in an otherwise overwhelming environment.
Procedural Support
Whenever possible, Child Life encourages parents to be present with their child during a procedure. Before the procedure, we meet with you and your child to develop a positive coping strategy. With a large variety of coping techniques, distraction ideas, and comfort positioning, we collaborate with children and parents to find the best options. If a parent is unable to be present, Child Life staff is available to accompany patients to procedures.
The Activity Room
Evanston Hospital has a beautiful activity room which is available to patients and their families 24/7. If a child is unable to leave their room due to a weakened immune system or being contagious, we can bring elements of the playroom to them. We offer many games, books, puzzles, toys, and even movies and video games to keep children occupied. Diversional and therapeutic activities such as crafts, medical art, and baking are also available when supervised by the Child Life staff.
Medical play, or play with a healthcare theme, is encouraged by our staff. There is a medical play center in the activity room with X-rays, IVs, needle-less syringes, and other real and play equipment. This provides children an opportunity to reverse roles and act out what has occurred during their treatment. This child-directed play can be used by the Child Life Specialist to discover and address patients’ misconceptions, concerns, and fantasies.
Pre-surgical Preparation Program and Tour
|
Lizzie gets her temperature taken
|
The Child Life program knows how stressful it can be for both children and parents to come for out-patient surgery, no matter how “routine” the procedure. This is why we invite you to bring your child and their siblings to a Preparation Program prior to the scheduled surgery. The program is best suited for children ages 3-11, however many parents of young infants or toddlers attend and find the program informative and reassuring.
The program and tour is held nearly every Thursday at 4:00pm and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The best time to join us is the Thursday directly before your child’s admission date. Please call to confirm that you plan to attend. 847-570-2831.
If you are unable to attend the Thursday program but would like your child to receive preparation, please call and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Supporting Child Life
The Child Life program at Evanston Hospital relies on the continued generous support from organizations and individual members of the community. While the Starlight Foundation, TOYS я US, and Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation have helped us acquire some essential basic needs such as a playroom and teaching instruments, the fundamental day-to-day operation of the Child Life Program is supported by donations from individuals and families of the community. We greatly appreciate donations of any kind, such as stuffed animals or toys (must be new, never used), or monetary donations that help us maintain a fun, therapeutic atmosphere on the Pediatric and Adolescent Unit.