Family Advisory Council

At NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital, your child's health and safety are most important. Your care team will partner with you and your family to make your stay safe. There is nothing better than working together as a team!

Always feel free to ask questions if you are concerned or would like something explained. If you see an unwanted change in your child's condition, please let a member of your care team know right away.

Each day, your child’s care team will meet with you to keep you informed about your child’s care. This is called rounds. Rounds typically occur at the bedside twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Your child’s care team will listen to concerns, answer questions, and explain the treatment plan.

If you would prefer to discuss your child’s medical treatment in a language other than English or in sign language, an interpreter can be arranged at no cost. Just ask a member of the staff.  Equipment for patients who are hearing or visually impaired is also available.

Upon discharge, you will receive written instructions on how to care for your child at home.

Because you know your child best, you are an important part of your child’s care team. During rounds you are encouraged to:

• Ask your care team to introduce themselves and make a note of their names
• Actively participate by sharing your insights, questions, and concerns
• Feel free to speak up if there is something you do not understand, and ask your care team to explain it in a different way, or draw a diagram
• Tell your care team if you notice any changes in your child
• Ask questions about your child’s care, treatment, and plan for the day

Some sample questions to ask:

• What do the test results show and mean?
• What is each medicine my child is taking? Why is my child taking it/them? Are there any side effects?
• Will other doctors (i.e., specialists) be involved in my child’s care and, if so, why?  Who are they?  When will I meet with them?
• What are the next steps?
• What needs to happen before my child is ready to go home?

You may find it helpful to keep a notebook to write down your questions or information to share during rounds.

Always trust yourself and your instincts. If something seems different or unusual, it is OK to say!

The safety of your child is important, and there are several ways you can help keep your child safe:

• Share your child’s medical history with your child’s care team, including medicine(s) taken.
• Describe your child’s medical issues, prior treatments, procedures, and/or surgeries.
• Tell your care team if your child has any allergies.
• If your child’s hospital identification band comes off or is unreadable, ask for it to be replaced.

When your child is admitted, your care team will review any medicine(s) your child takes at home. It is helpful to take a picture of all current medicine(s) labels, making sure the information (name, dose, frequency) is easily readable. At the time of discharge, remember to take your child’s written medicine(s) instructions home.

Your child must wear their hospital identification (ID) band at all times while in the hospital. Your care team will check your child’s hospital ID band before tests, procedures, giving medicine(s), and delivering your child’s food tray.

A Rapid Response Team is a special hospital team that can be called by your child’s nurse if your child’s condition changes quickly. The Rapid Response Team consists of at least two of the following healthcare professionals: critical care nurse, physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, and respiratory therapist. The Rapid Response Team works closely with your child’s primary physician and nurse to provide care. The team can be called any time of the day or night. If you have questions about the Rapid Response Team, please talk to your child’s nurse or physician.

Children often feel more comfortable in the hospital when they have some of their own things from home. We encourage you to bring a few personal items to be used during your child’s stay, such as:

• Favorite pillow or blanket
• Easily cleaned toy, doll, or stuffed animal
• Favorite video game or music
• Pictures of family and friends

Your health is important too! Here are a few ideas from Family Advisory Council parents and caregivers:

• Stay hydrated
• Rest or take short breaks and go for a walk
• Ask for and accept help. Social Work, Child Life Services, and Pastoral Care and Education are here to support you
• Be kind to yourself
• Consider writing in a journal
• Ask to speak to a Family Advisory Council member who had a similar experience
• Remember to eat
• Look into relaxation and/or meditation methods
• Celebrate the successes, no matter how small

Your child’s care team wants you to feel confident and prepared to leave the hospital. Below is a checklist created by Family Advisory Council parents and caregivers in collaboration with hospital staff:

• Have the phone number for your child’s doctor(s)
• Keep an updated list of all your child’s current medicine(s)
• Be comfortable using all your child’s equipment
• Plan to have all the supplies you will need at home
• Review all discharge instructions and ask if you have any questions
• Schedule your child’s follow up appointment(s) or know who to call to schedule them
• Have the name(s) and phone number(s) of who to call if you have any questions during your child’s first week home
• Plan your transportation home from the hospital
• Have clean, comfortable clothes for your child to wear
• Have the right food for your child’s diet at home
• Make arrangements if you need help with your child at home
• If needed, arrange home care services
• If you are not comfortable with your child being discharged, it is OK to say

Parking is complimentary on the day of discharge when you show your child’s discharge papers.