Preparing Children for a Medical Visit: Resources from Elliot Hospital’s Child Life Program

Visiting the hospital can be intimidating for children. At Elliot Hospital, we strive to make every visit as comfortable and stress-free as possible. One of the ways we achieve this is through our outstanding Child Life Program, which has developed a series of resources to help children and their families understand what to expect, making the visit less stressful for everyone. 

What Does the Child Life Program Do? 

Our Child Life Program is dedicated to helping children understand and feel more at ease about their hospital visits. Certified Child Life Specialists assist infants, children, teens, and families in managing the stress and uncertainty that comes with illnesses, injuries, trauma, disabilities, death, and bereavement. They offer developmentally and psychologically appropriate interventions such as therapeutic play, procedure preparation, and education to alleviate fear, anxiety, and pain. The team has developed a series of books and videos that explain various tests and procedures, including MRIs. These resources are available on our website and YouTube channel, making it easier for a family to help their child prepare. 

Making MRIs Easier for Children   

At Elliot Hospital, we have a specific book about Elliot the bear designed to prepare children for MRIs. Elliot explains the process in simple terms. Families can also hear the book read aloud on our YouTube channel.  

In addition, before their scan, children can experiment with a model MRI machine that looks just like the real thing and even makes the same sounds. This helps children understand what to expect and feel more comfortable. 

Reducing the Need for Anesthesia 

Together, the MRI team and Child Life team now perform many more MRIs for children without sedation, by using valuable resources created by our Child Life team. This program allows children to try having an MRI while awake at one of our outpatient locations, eliminating the need to come to the hospital. This process eliminates the need for fasting and allows a parent to accompany them into the MRI suite. A backup appointment is also scheduled on another day if the child cannot complete the MRI without sedation. This approach has been incredibly successful. Melinda Smith, MRI supervisor, reports that out of 197 children who tried the non-sedated MRI, only two required anesthesia. That’s a 99% success rate! Our average anesthesia has been reduced by 19% in less than one year. This is great news for kids and families. 

Learn More about the Elliot Hospital Child Life Program. 

Additional Preparation Books 

In addition to the MRI book, Elliot Hospital offers a variety of books to help children prepare for different medical experiences. These books can be found on our website. To hear the books read aloud, visit our YouTube channel. Topics include: 

Pediatric Unit Preparation Books 

• Pediatric Unit Admission 
• Clean-Out Admission 
• Clean-Out Admission (Sensory Sensitive Version) 

Emergency Room Preparation Books 

• Vitals 
• IV Start 
• X-Ray 
• CT Scan 
• MRI 
• Surgery 

Outpatient Preparation Books 

• Doctor’s Office Visit 
• Surgery 
• Non-Sedated MRI 
• Sedated MRI 
• EEG (Routine In-Office) 
• EEG (Take Home) 

Support from Child Life Specialists 

At Elliot Hospital, we believe that providing honest information about what to expect can help children cope positively with new or stressful experiences. 

We are dedicated to ensuring that every child feels safe and comfortable during their visit. Our Child Life Program and the tools they have developed are key components of this commitment.  

For more information, please visit our website to access our preparation books and videos. We are here to help make your child's hospital experience as smooth and stress-free as possible!