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Prep for Puppy Pre-Op
 

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Child Life Specialist Brenda Magno helps a patient find his puppy’s heartbeat at last year’s Puppy Pre-Op.

uppy Pre-Op has become a tradition that patient families and others in the know look forward to every year. The program allows children to bring their own stuffed animals to the Patient Entertainment Center and walk them through typical pre-operative hospital procedures. A limited number of toy puppies were available for children without stuffed animals of their own.

This year’s fun began on March 25 in the PEC. “It’s a great opportunity for any child to learn about medical treatment, as well as to learn about Children’s,” says Kelly Wicker, CCLS, Child Life specialist on 10 East and coordinator of this year’s events.

Children accompanied their pets through the PEC as they were admitted to the hospital, got vital signs taken, had blood drawn, got X-rays, had physical exams and were fitted with bandages or casts. Staff from the cast room, blood lab, medical play, admitting, radiology and other areas participated. In addition, the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit provided entertainment, and refreshments were served.

“The hospital environment can be overwhelming for a child,” says Wicker. “It’s important to prepare patients and families for their experience at the hospital. Puppy Pre-Op gives the kids a fun, hands-on understanding of what’s going on and gives them control by allowing them to play out their experience.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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