Although the patients undergoing a procedure or surgery at the Tidwell Procedure Center at CHOC Hospital in Orange are only in the unit for a short amount of time before they are discharged to go home or to another unit of the hospital, that doesn’t mean that their time in the unit isn’t important. We go the extra mile to ensure our preoperative unit patients feel comfortable and safe.
Child Life Services
There’s no place like CHOC for children and their families and one big reason for that is our outstanding Child Life Services team and their innovative programs. Certified child life specialists at the Tidwell Procedure Center make children as comfortable as possible and reduce each patient’s anxiety before and after surgery by working closely with the healthcare team in promoting patient-and family-centered care.
Child life specialists are among the first associates patients meet as they prepare for surgery or a procedure. They work with patients to reduce anxiety and understand the complex things happening to them in language they can understand and normalize the hospital environment by using appropriate medical equipment, photographs and other tools. They also provide distractions during painful or uncomfortable procedures by using pain management techniques that do not require medications. Our specialists give families the support and tools they need to better cope with the stress of surgery.
Patients and caregivers interested in seeing the hospital before surgery can book a pre-surgery tour. The tour familiarizes the family and patient with what they can expect to see and experience the day of surgery. The tour is tailored to each patient’s age, developmental level and condition being treated. Tour appointments must be set seven to 10 days prior to the desired tour date.
Spiritual Care Services
Surgery can be a stressful event for patients and their families. Many families find it comforting to know that they can practice their faith in the hospital. Through our Spiritual Care Services, our chaplain (who is a minister similar to a pastor or priest) is available to offer spiritual and emotional support, as well as the support families may need to practice their faith and spirituality in a way that helps them through the surgery process.
Spiritual Care Services are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. for all patients in the preoperative unit and services can be arranged by the patient’s nurse. Community clergy from all faith traditions may also available for families with urgent needs.
Family members may also wish to visit our prayer and meditation room, which is located on the second floor of the Bill Holmes Tower.
