Your child's hospital experiences?

[MaryAnnDVC]

We had two very different experiences at two different hospitals...I was telling someone about this, and she said that the Boston Children's Hospital experience was probably more common than the Hasbro Hospital. I was wondering what others have experienced.

DD had two biopsies (both negative) a year and a half ago in Rhode Island. The first, at Hasbro Children's Hospital, DH went into the operating room with her and stayed until she was completely knocked out. (Only one parent could go.) (Actually, for little kids, they have little vehicles that they can drive into the operating room. ) The 2nd time, at RI Hospital (next door to the children's hospital), we were both in the operating room while she was put under. Both times, we were brought to her and were there when they woke her up. I had taken a tour of the hospital years ago when it opened, and was very impressed with how kid AND parent friendly it seemed, and having spent a bit of time there over a one year period, they lived up to their promises.

Two weeks ago, DD(now 14) had a procedure at Children's Hospital Boston. They took her to surgery alone; two hours later, the surgeon came to the waiting room to tell me how things went (extremely well...she's fine), and said someone would get me when she was settled in in recovery. 45 minutes later, someone came. DD asked me "what took so long??" She was in a lot of pain, and didn't get further medication until I asked. Also, two younger children (about a 9 yr old boy and a 4 yr old girl) were both VERY upset when they were brought in and came to and their parents weren't there. One nurse commented to the little girl, "Oh come on...there are worse things in the world"...like what? The war? To a 4 yr old, I think not having mom or dad there IS the worse thing.

FYI, Boston Children's Hospital is considered the best in the country, and we've been very impressed with the doctors there. It's definitely bigger and busier than the RI hospital, but does it need to be at the expense of child/parent friendliness?

 

[SeaSpray]

First of all, I hope your DD is alright!!

Secondly, I think those nurses need some lessons in how to deal with children! GRRR! How dare she say something like that to ANY child, much less a little 4 year old!!

I had to bring my DS who was 10 at the time, to Children's Hospital in Boston, for a bone scan, and fortunately the people we came in contact with were very friendly and we were able to stay with DS throughout almost the entire procedure. We had to step away from his bed during the actual scan, but we were still within his line of vision, and they put on a Disney video for him to watch during this.

When my other DS, who was 13 at that time, had to be admitted to a local hospital when he had pneumonia, he was treated very well by the nurses, and the only time I wasn't with him was during the actual chest x-rays, but I was right outside the door of the x-ray room.

I hope those insenstive nurses are the exception rather than the rule, when it comes to dealing with ANYONE who is ill, but especially children!!!

 

[cinlee3]

When my then 6 mo. old DS had surgery I wasn't allowed to go into the operating room. The anethesiologist carried him in. When the surgery was over 2 1/2 hours later the surgeon met with us in a special room in the waiting area and explained what took place and then we were taken to recovery.

I have not heard of them letting you go into the operating room until the child was put under. It seems like it would be so much less traumatic for them. I am sorry your DD was scared

 

[Denine]

When my DD was 6 weeks old she was admitted to Rainbow Children's Hospital in Cleveland, from another hospital in the area. We were transported via their critical care ambulance. Everyone was wonderful from the ambulance people to the doctors and nurses and ancillary people.
I was with her at all times. Dh and I were present went they did an EEG and I was able to hold her after all the electrodes were applied.
DD is fine, it turned out to be something minor, they just wanted to be sure since she was so young. She is a healthy 6 month old now.

I would complain about the insensitive nurses. That is horrible and I am a nurse!

 

[aprincessmom]

Our GP is affiliated with both Children's and RI Hospital (he's an instructor for Brown Medical School). The one time DD was really sick when she was an infant, he said that if we had to hospitalize her he'd rather she went to RIH or Hasbro because he felt that care they gave both the child and the parent was more compassionate and personal than at Children's. He felt the medical care from a sheerly technical aspect was about equal.

My brother spent a great deal of his early life at Children's Hospital in Boston. Based on what we lived through, the medical care from a technical aspect was great, the overall care was more along the lines of what you observed. Not very compassionate unfortunately.

I've heard good and bad from Children's and while I realize it is tops in it's field, there are many other hospitals that provide as good or even better overall care.

 

[Piglet]

My DD is a patient at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia quite often (at least twice a year) and has had numerous procedures done there. They are excellent and are great with the kids and the parents. My DD had 2 different procedures and both times my DH and I were with her when she was put under and was with her when she came out of it.

They also have made room for both my DH and myself to stay with DD every time she has been admitted. They state that one of us might not be able to, but every time they have allowed it.

They are just awesome at Phila.


Melinda

 

[TEENEE]

My DD has been in the hospital many times. She was two days old when she had her first surgery, the second surgery she was 5 y/o. We were with her up until they took her in the OR for both surgeries. In both cases we had a nurse that stayed with her from the time that we got to the hospital until she was in recovery. We were not with her when she was put under. I would not want to witness that. When she was 5 she didn't want to be wheeled into the or so the anethesiologist carried her in. Before she went into the OR the nurse gave her a stuffed animal to hold onto. When she woke up her dad and I with with her along with her doggie. My experience with our childrens hospital has been great. They take care of the whole family, including siblings.

 

[JAP]

Our experience with Children's Hospital here in Columbus was a good one.

DS had to have hernia surgery last month. He is 21 mos. We had our own recovery room with sink and bed and comfy chairs. There was also a very nice/clean play room for the children while waiting to go to surgery.

We were allowed to go into the prep area. DS was in a crib on wheels. The anethesiologist spoke with us while in this prep area. We were not allowed to go in with DS when he was put under, now were we allowed to be in the operating room at all. DS had his blanky and favorite kitty with him. I am sure it was traumatic but I could do nothing.

DH and I had to wait in our recovery room. The surgeon called us at the nurses station an hour later when the surgery was complete. She indicated he did well and would be down after he woke up. I was a little concerned about not being there when he woke up but they would not let us up on that floor. Children's Hospital procedure.

Once they brought him down the nurses checked in with us for the last 2 hours of our stay. DS did fairly well and I was overall pleased with our experience.