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