Procedure Sheets
Designed to Help EDUCATE Parents
For some children, going through a medical test or procedure can be very frightening. For parents, watching their child have this experience can be just as unnerving.
That's why Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC has created a series of patient procedure materials to help manage expectations and alleviate some of the fears that are associated with medical procedures.
"As a hospital that is focused on family-centered care, we have an obligation to care both for the children who are referred to us for tests and procedures, and for their families," said Andrew H. Urbach, MD, medical director for clinical excellence and service. "These materials help them know what to expect when they come to Children's for a specific procedure. A level of natural discomfort comes with not knowing what's coming; we feel that these sheets can help reduce that anxiety—and can help referring physicians address questions from their patients and families."
Physicians can feel comfortable distributing the sheets to parents after prescribing a particular procedure for a patient at Children's. Currently, more than 40 procedures are available online, including many of the most commonly prescribed procedures such as EKGs, ECHOs, colonoscopies, capsule endoscopies, pediatric X-rays, voiding cystourethrograms, blood draws, circumcisions and more. There also is information on general anesthesia and procedural sedation.
Each sheet is written at a middle-school reading level and features colorful, child-friendly illustrations that show children how their surroundings will look during a procedure. The library can be accessed directly at www.chp.edu/procedures. The materials print quickly on standard 8.5" x 11" paper from any standard black and white or color printer.
"These materials explain the basics of each procedure and focus on what the child and parent will experience before, during and afterwards," said Dr. Urbach. "We received input from parents and physicians in creating them and feel parents and referring physicians will find them to be extremely helpful in better understanding what to expect from their visit to Children's."
