There is a tremendous responsibility that comes with being the primary caregiver, especially when it comes to choosing the very best hospital for your child’s medical needs. And of course, choosing the best hospital can greatly increase your child’s health outcome. Here are the top 3 tips to consider when searching for and selecting the hospital that will give your child the best chance for a successful outcome.
1.Find a Children’s Hospital.
Pediatric care is not the same type of care that an adult would receive, because children aren’t just tiny people. Children need to be cared for by a team of healthcare specialists that work specifically with children, since kids can be particular sensitive and vulnerable to changes, such as how their bodies respond to anesthesia. A children’s hospital will have pharmacists, nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and specialists who are trained to work with children and their families.
At a children’s hospital they will also have the correct equipment as well as pediatric specialists who best understand how to diagnosis and care for a child. The diagnosis and treatment protocols of serious illnesses and diseases in children can be very different than how it would otherwise be treated in an adult. Plus, studies have found that pediatric care at a children’s hospital is safer, has fewer complications, and has lower mortality rates than pediatric care given to children in an ‘adult’ hospital setting.
2.Ask Questions About Success Rates and Experience.
When your child is being treated for a serious medical condition or illness, ask about the success rates that the hospital and the doctor has had with that particular medical condition. Find out how many ‘cases’ have been treated at that hospital and how those numbers compare to other children’s hospitals. If your child is going to need surgery, ask about infection rates. Also ask about readmission rates and mortality rates for your child’s procedure. How do they measure their success in treating your child’s particular condition?
Success rates are important, but if a particular hospital has only had a handful of cases pertaining to your child’s condition, then it’s also important to see if there are other children’s hospitals that have more expertise and experience in treating your child’s condition. After all, it’s no surprise that research shows better results at hospitals and with physicians who have had more experience in certain procedures or with certain medical illnesses. It’s also a good idea to look into the credentials of your physician and hospital staff, the range of pediatric services the hospital offers and the facilities they have, as well as patient satisfaction and the hospital’s involvement in research and education, which means they are more likely to stay abreast of new treatments and technology that become available.
3.Look for third party validation.
The Women’s Choice Award, Best Children’s Hospitals spotlights some of the best children’s hospitals across the nation by using an objective ranking methodology. Hospitals are rated based on their services and capabilities, which include: family centered care, dedicated pediatric emergency department, pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care units, child life specialists, participation in pediatric health research, accreditation by the Joint Commission, pediatric trauma center accreditation, family sleeping accommodations, and so on.
Children’s hospitals were also rated based on the number of beds they have per board certified pediatric profession in a range of specialties, which include anesthesiology, radiology, orthopedics, cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, nephrology, gastroenterology, urology, oncology, and neonatology. To find the hospitals that have earned the Women’s Choice Award, Best Children’s Hospitals designation, go to www.WomensChoiceAward.com or click on the link above.
Selecting a hospital that you feel will give your child the very best care can be stressful, but by doing your research and asking the right questions, you can make an informed decision and feel more confident in selecting the best children’s hospital for your child’s needs.
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