PEDIATRIC UNIT GUIDELINES

Our Pediatric nursing staff believes that each child is a unique individual, born with certain needs and rights. We are here to provide the care that is specific to each child's personality and development.

We recognize that a family's presence is important to the emotional and physical well-being of the patient. We welcome and encourage family participation in the child's daily routine.

Our nursing staff strives to work together with the family to minimize the difficulties of the child's illness and hospitalization, and to make the experience a more pleasant one.

General Information
All visitors are asked to stop at the Clock Tower in Pediatrics and check in with the Health Unit Coordinator, who will direct you to the appropriate area. Family members and visitors experiencing cold or flu symptoms should not visit patients. Also, if you, a family member or visitor have been exposed to a communicable disease such as, chicken pox, measles or mumps, please do not visit until cleared by a physician.

• Shower and laundry facilities for the immediate family are available on the Unit. Please check with your child's nurse for more information.
• Food service is available in the Four Seasons Dining Room on Ground floor, which serves a full menu. A vending area offers snack foods and drinks.
• A refrigerator and microwave are provided in the Family Lounge for use by families with a patient in Pediatrics or the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Please label any food you place in this area, and note that food in the refrigerator and or cupboards belongs to other families staying on the Unit.

Pediatric Unit
General visiting hours are daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Parents and grandparents are allowed 24 hour visitation. Siblings and children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult family member.

• A lounge is provided for adult family visitors to get away and relax.
• Because of latex-sensitivity and safety issues latex balloons are not allowed in the hospital, including pediatrics. Mylar (foil) balloons are accepted.
• Sleeping facilities are provided for one parent or adult family member (older than 18) if he/she wants to spend the night in the patient room. Your nurse will discuss any special visiting restrictions should they apply.
• Two to three visitors are welcome at one time.
• We encourage you to limit visiting time to allow the patient rest periods.
• Patient meals are served at 8 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. A pediatric dietitian is available for special dietary needs or preferences.
• Visitors should check with the nurse before bringing food or beverages.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Please follow the previous guidelines as well as any special instructions that may affect the patients.

• For the first 24 hours following admission, we ask that only parents/legal guardians visit the patient to allow the care team to settle and stabilize your child.
• Once stable, limit visitors to three immediate family members only. One of the three must be a parent unless previously
  arranged with the nurse.
• General visiting hours are daily from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 8:30 p.m.
• Parents are allowed 24 hour access, but may be asked to leave the room from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m.; 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., 7:00-8:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. to midnight, to allow for change of shift activities.
• Ideal visitation time is 15-30 minutes.
• Use the designated entrance or exit to the Unit.
• Visitors may be asked to leave the room upon request of the nurse or physician. Visiting may be restricted if an emergency is in process.
• If the curtain is pulled or the door is closed to the patient's room, check with the nurse before entering.
• Due to the limited space that must be shared in the Family Lounge, we ask that large extended families utilize other areas in the Hospital to congregate, and come to the Unit to visit in limited numbers. Such areas include: The Main Lobby area on First Floor; Four Seasons Dining Room, or family rooms at the Ronald McDonald House (if registered). For quiet reflection time, families may use the Chapel located on the first floor by the North Elevators.
• We discourage parents from bringing food and eating at the bedside.
• A limited number of beepers are available. Ask your nurse for more information.

Hospital Team
Each patient has a Hospital Care Team, one of which is a primary physician who is responsible for coordinating care. There may be other physicians or residents caring for your child. A team of nurses also works with the family to provide the best plan of care for the child. In addition to physicians and nurses, other hospital staff that may be involved in the care of your child include: respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and Child Life Specialists.

Child Life
Our Child Life Specialist staff is concerned with the emotional impact of illness and hospitalization. They work closely with families and health care providers to treat the whole child, making every effort to minimize the stressful and potentially negative impacts of hospitalization, and to maximize opportunities for positive and supportive experiences. The Child Life Program is funded by Children's Miracle Network.

• Child Life offers opportunities for play, learning, preparation and support for treatments such as surgery, x-rays, and other medical procedures, medical play, self-expression, family involvement, socialization and mastery of difficult experiences.
• Pediatric patients need to play even when in the hospital. The Playroom, Teen Lounge, CMN Oncology Solarium, and CMN Backyard Patio are provided and offer opportunities for age appropriate games, toys, and activities. The Pediatric staff recognizes the need for patients to have a safe environment away from medical procedures. Therefore, medical procedures are discouraged in the activity areas, and patients may be asked to return to their rooms when those procedures are necessary.
• The Playroom is for patients ages 11 and younger, with adult supervision. The Teen Lounge is available to patients age 12 and older, and for patients age 5-11, with adult supervision. The CMN Oncology Solarium is a family room/playroom for patients and their families, in the Cabin area. The CMN Backyard Patio is open during seasonable weather and is available to all patients (with adult supervision) and their families.
• A VCR (as well as a list of movies) is available in each patient room and in the family and teen lounge. Movies can be checked out (one movie at a time, please) at the nurses station. There is a limited selection of PG-13 movies, which will require a parental consent if being used by a patient younger than 13. "R" rated movies are not allowed to be viewed on the Pediatric Unit. Also available for patient use are Nintendo 64's, Super Nintendos, Segas, Play Stations, Gameboys, and other electronic hand-held games. Ask your Child Life Specialist or nurse if you are interested in one.

Patient and Family Services
Support services are available through the Patient and Family Services department. You may contact the department directly at (715) 387-7890, or contact your nurse for assistance.

Spiritual Services
Chaplains are available to assess your spiritual needs at any hour.You may request their presence in times of distress, for leading prayers, for listening and discernment, or for a referral to the pastor of your faith community.

The Hospital Chapel is located on One North near the Main Lobby. Services include an Ecumenical service on Saturdays at 7 p.m.; Mass on Sundays at 9:15 a.m.; and Mass on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday at 12:15 p.m.

Hospital volunteers are available to escort patients to the Chapel if requested. All Chapel services also are televised live on Channel 20 for viewing in the patients room.

If you would like to contact a Chaplain, please notify your nurse.

Ronald McDonald House
The Marshfield Ronald McDonald House (RMH) serves as a temporary home away from home for parents and families of children receiving medical care for a serious illness.

If you live more than 30 miles outside of Marshfield's city limits and are interested in staying at the RMH, feel free to call and make arrangements. The office number is (715) 387-5899 and registration is between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Smoking Policy
Saint Joseph's Hospital does not allow smoking in the facility or on Hospital grounds. This policy also applies to the CMN Backyard patio on Pediatrics. Please help us maintain our smoke-free environment.

Parking
Free parking for family and visitors is available in the Hospital's main parking lot and under the parking deck, which are accessible from Kalsched Street. (See parking map.) Additional parking is available across Kalsched Street. Please be aware of posted areas, such as fire lanes, handicapped parking, and staff lots. Parking permits are avialable on the pediatric unit for parking in the conference center parking lot.

Safety Precautions
Illness and hospitalization may be a new experience for you and your child. Please follow these safety precautions while your child is hospitalized:

• Always wash your hands before and after holding or caring for your child to help prevent the spread of infection.
• Your child's activity is dependent on a physician's order. If it is okay for your child to be up, he/she must be supervised at all times.
• Everyone must wear slippers or shoes at all times when up walking.
• Crib side rails must be up at all times unless you are crib-side caring for your infant or toddler. Never leave your child in a crib with the side rails lowered. When raising the side rail, always double check to make sure it is latched.
• Wheelchairs are for transportation purposes and not for play. When children are in wheelchairs they must have adult
  supervision.
• If your child uses the high chair, be sure to use the safety belt.
• Children age three and younger must sleep in a crib. For active children, a dome cover will be placed on the crib.
• For safety reasons, parents are not allowed to sleep in the crib with their child.

Confidentiality
We are extremely protective of our patients and their families. We will not release information about a patient to anyone other than the patient's legal guardians. Patient condition conversations should not take place in a public area. Consult rooms are available for private conversations regarding medical care. We request and expect parents and visitors to respect the privacy of our patients and families. Please do not ask the nurses about other patients and their medical condition.