We make visits to the hospital easier for kids
Visits to the hospital can be especially stressful and scary for kids. The team at Tufts Medical Center does every possible to make hospital visits easier for kids. Here’s what you, as a parent, and your kids should expect.
Before your visit
Make sure you know your child’s medications, how they should be taken, and why they should be taken. Keep an updated list of your child’s medications in your wallet or purse.
Your medication list should include:
- Name of the medication
- Dose
- How often your child takes it
- Why your child takes it
- Any vitamins and over-the-counter (OTC) products your child takes
- Medication allergies your child may have
- Name and telephone number of your child’s pharmacy
All of this information is useful to make sure your child gets safe and appropriate care.
During your child’s stay
When you and your child arrive on the unit at Tufts Medical Center, staff members will help you become familiar with the environment.
Settling in
You will meet physicians and nurses who will talk with you about your child and his or her health history. You may also be asked to help staff members know more about your child by filling out a health questionnaire. You need to inform your child’s doctor and nurse about any medications your child is taking and the dosages, as well as any known allergies. Please ask any questions you or your child may have.
Room assignment
We’ll try to assign you to the type of room that you asked for, but this isn’t always possible. If you’d like to talk about your room assignment, just ask your child’s nurse.
ID band
Your child will be given an identification bracelet when admitted. This includes your child’s name and medical record number. For your child’s safety and protection, this band must be worn at all times during hospitalization.
Visitors
Tufts Medical Center encourages visitors for our patients. Visiting hours are between 2 – 8 p.m. Parents and grandparents may visit any time. There are times when your child’s need for rest or the needs of his or her roommate may require an adjustment of hours or number of visitors per visit. Visitors under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. If there are times when your child does not want visitors, please let the primary nurse know.
Visitors who are 16 years old or younger must be screened for colds and viruses before each visit. We ask that you check in with a nurse before entering a patient’s room. To protect patients from illness, anyone who is ill or has been in contact with a contagious disease (such as chicken pox) should not visit until any danger of spreading the infection has passed. Ask a nurse if you are uncertain about possible infection.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit have unit-specific visiting practices. Please check with the nurse before visiting these units.
One parent is allowed to stay in the child’s room. No one under the age of 18 is allowed to stay overnight. If two parents want to stay overnight, we have several family rooms for additional adults. These rooms have limited availability and are on a first-come-first-served basis. Talk to your child’s nurse if you would like to inquire about room availability.
Going home
At Tufts Medical Center, we make every effort to ensure a smooth transition home for you and your child. Whenever possible, discharge plans begin as soon as your child is admitted. During your child’s stay, his or her physician and nurse will arrange for you to learn how to care for your child at home and how to provide for special needs.
Discharge planning
Whenever possible, your child’s discharge will be confirmed the evening before it is scheduled to occur. Your child’s physician or primary nurse will review the plans for the day of discharge and the anticipated discharge time. Please plan to leave the hospital by 10 am on discharge day, and make transportation arrangements in advance to ensure a timely departure so the room can be ready for another child being admitted.
Massachusetts law requires the use of child passenger restraints for children 12 years and younger in automobiles; please remember this when making transportation arrangements. Hospital staff will assist you in acquiring medications and supplies for your child, if needed.
When your child is discharged, prescriptions may be filled at our outpatient pharmacy located on the 3rd floor of the Atrium Building. Our pharmacy accepts most prescription plans; credit cards and checks are also accepted.
