Procedure Management Program
From a child’s point of view, even little things can loom large. While adults call needle biopsies, spinal taps, and similar tests “minor procedures,” they are big and scary to kids. Many children with chronic illnesses must undergo repeated minor procedures. While adults call these and others “minor procedures,” they are big and scary to children.
Through our Procedure Management Program we are able to address a major source of stress and anxiety for chronically ill children. For several years we have done this in partnership with the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Children under the care of the Hematology/Oncology doctors sometimes need to have procedures such as bone marrow biopsies, lumbar punctures (spinal taps), and radiation treatments. During these treatment’s the Division of Pain Management have had a doctor there to provide anesthesia and sedation services. By sedating the child we can reduce the child’s anxiety about or fear of the procedure or the doctors. We designed this system to reduce the amount of time the children have to go without food ahead of time and to allow parents to be in the procedure room with their child as they are sedated and are also there in the recovery area when they wake up. This care model gives your medical providers the ability to do the tests necessary to care for your child without putting your child through the fear and pain that sometimes accompany these procedures.
We are happy to announce that we have extended our partnerships to the Divisions of Orthopedic Surgery, Neurology, Dermatology and Radiology to help with several of their procedures. Our physicians will work with your primary specialist to provide a safe and comfortable experience for your child. Some of the procedures involved include PICC line insertion, lumbar punctures, whirlpool debridements for Epidermolysis Bullosa, and some fracture castings. Not all procedures will need our services but for those that do, we will do our best to make your child’s experience the best possible.
