The hospital can be a scary place for a child. That is why Emerson Hospital provides a caring Pediatric Intervention Team (PIT) to ease the fears and anxiety of children — and their families — wherever they are in the hospital.
What the Pediatric Intervention Team does
Whether your child is receiving care at Emerson or visiting a family member who is, our Pediatric Intervention Team is available to help them — and you — cope during the experience. We are here to:
- Guide children and families through the surgical experience, including day-of preoperative teaching so kids and parents know what to expect (preoperative teaching can also be arranged in advance of the surgical date by calling 978-287-3422)
- Help children through difficult diagnostic imaging exams and procedures
- Reduce fear and anxiety in children and families in the emergency department by providing coping strategies, distraction and medical play
- Ease children’s fears while they are hospitalized, creating a child-friendly atmosphere and offering activities for distraction and normalization
- Support families as they grow by providing short-term therapeutic support to families using Emerson’s maternity services
- Comfort children when they visit critically ill family members in an intimidating medical environment, and help families discuss illness and end-of-life issues in an age-appropriate way
- Help families talk to children about cancer in an age-appropriate way
The Pediatric Intervention Team
The PIT includes:
- A pediatric psychiatric registered nurse
- Two child life specialists, pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness and disability
- A consulting child psychiatrist
Podcast
Listen to a podcast with Vicky Hopley and Mallory Harrison, Emerson child life specialists, where they talk about their role on the Pediatric Intervention Team and how they assist parents in preparing a child for surgery. [Apple Podcasts | Google Play Music | Spotify]
