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Parents' presence during resuscitative procedures

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Policy: Presence of parents during resuscitative procedures in the ER

Question: I was wondering if Children's Hospital Boston has a policy on the presence of parents during resuscitative procedures in the emergency room. My hospital is looking at expanding parental participation by allowing parents to stay in the corner of the room, with a nurse and a chaplain at their side, during procedures, codes etc. Is this a trend we should follow?

—Al Tagliavia, MD
Code Committee, Greenwich Hospital

Answer: Our Emergency Department has spent a great deal of time discussing perspectives and approaches to parental presence during resuscitative procedures. We have had forums for clinicians, met with the social workers and have reviewed the evolving medical literature. Our policy is that each critical case is considered separately, with the goal of involving the parents as much as possible, being considerate of both the patient's and the parent's needs. If the parent expresses interest, we utilize all appropriate resources (social workers, nurses and physicians) to explain to the family what is happening during the resuscitation. If the described resources are available, we will facilitate the parent's ability to stay in the room during the resuscitation.

Anne Stack, MD, director of clinical operations in Emergency Medicine,
Fran Damian, MS, RN, director of Nursing/Patient Services in Emergency Medicine, and
Eric Fleegler, MD, attending in Emergency Medicine.

©2007 Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved.

All information provided on diagnosis and therapy reflects the care environment of Children's Hospital Boston and related physician practices.
It is not a substitute for the professional judgment of a qualified heath care provider based upon actual examination of a patient's condition
and history. Therefore, it should not be construed as medical advice for any particular patient's condition, and may need to be altered in
different care environments. Please contact us if we can be helpful in answering any questions or to arrange for a visit or consult.
For more information or to visit a clinical department, visit www.childrenshospital.org.

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