Pediatrics Services Emergency Room: 10 Tips
Children and young adults have a natural fear and misconception about hospitals and medical centers at large. They view hospitals as pain inflicting places rather than places where their medical concerns are addressed and treated. Several Pediatric clinics, therefore, find it hard to deal with these patients when they are brought in for medication. According to Frontline ER, pediatricians have therefore to observe the following ten tips when working with pediatric patients.
The Age Of The Pediatric Patient Matters
The emotional development together with the cognitive abilities of children evolve and change with age. This implies that the needs of these kids vary from age to age. Young children may be too afraid and confused while the teenagers may be conscious of the situation. Doctors should, therefore, keep the age of the patients in mind when explaining the procedures and treatment.
Create A Child-Friendly Environment
The smell can easily influence young kids, the doctors dress codes and the sounds. To achieve a successful pediatric treatment process, the doctor should be wary of the surroundings. The pediatric room can have colorful and luxury walls, soft, friendly beds or other toys to capture the attention of the young patients.
Be On The Same Level With The Child When Communicating
The pediatrician should always put themselves in the shoes of the young children and behave more like the children. The doctors can:
smile with the child especially during first meeting or when entering the room
Introduce themselves to the patients: kids would be comfortable to interact with the doctor in person
Learn the child’s name: knowing a child’s name can help put the suffering child at ease. Calling out their names helps them recognize you as a familiar person.
Engage their Parents
Depending on the varying age of the pediatric patient, Doctors can also involve the child’s parent as they can have different involvement in the whole process. The parents influence the child reactions to some situations. In other cases, the parents’ presence can help calm down a situation.
However, some parents often transfer their anxiety onto the children thereby making a situation look much worse. Doctors should, therefore, find a way of engaging parents in the whole process.
Parents too feel overwhelmed when they don’t understand the medical situation of their children. The pediatrician should take time and offer helpful information and answers in such situations.
Build a Rapport with Patients
The doctor should build a rapport with the patients to make them familiar with the environment of the pediatric rooms. The pediatrician can introduce themselves well for the first time, make jokes with them or even play with their toys. A child’s first impression about the nurse or doctor will always last longer. The rapport helps in getting rid of the fear that the patient might have about the doctor. The doctor should, therefore, endeavor to establish a positive rapport at the beginning of the mediation process
Build Trust with the Children
Doctors can find it challenging to talk to their pediatric patients whenever the patients found out that the doctor is intimidating. The pediatricians can find common ground and have fun with the young ones as this makes the doctors seem less intimidating. FrontLiner recommends the doctor to remove the white lab coats when addressing the children. This helps to foster a safe place for the patients as they make the doctor more and easily approachable. Building trust an understanding is essential in conveying a human connection between the two.
Less is More
After creating a rapport with the patients, doctors should make sure that unfamiliar faces do not get too close to the child especially during medication or injections. The unknown faces can easily intimidate the children and inflict fear among them, therefore only allow familiar medical personnel who are necessary for the patient’s room. Several people giving directions at the same time may feel chaotic causing more anxiety for the patient.
The patient room should only be accessible to their parents or a nurse and doctor who the child has built trust in.
Remember The Rights Of The Child
Just like adults, children have the right to privacy and medical care. Doctors should thereby not overlook their rights just because of their age. Some children can play a role when deciding about their care. Older children, for instance, may want their opinions to be heard and addressed.
Explain Before Touching
Children are always nervous about what the doctor performs on them. It is advisable for a pediatrician to explain what you are about to do. Use a vocabulary that doesn’t make the patient feel offended.
Deal Well With Challenging Situations
Some workers find it challenging to deal with children who have life-threatening medical issues. Medics can be compassionate about the patient and their families. Being empathetic about a situation is normal. However, they should not overstep the boundaries. Bear a strong heart and help save the life of the child. Educate yourself and promote a good relationship with the patients.
Dealing with pediatric patients can be easier if some of the tips are followed. FrontLine ER offers medical help to children. Parents can bring their children for treatment of any health condition.
