Inside Peek Into Medical Professionals Working in Pediatric Intervention Teams

A pediatric intervention team might help your hospitalized child

Every child is unique and has different emotional, psychological, social and developmental needs when hospitalized, at any time in his or her life. Parents, teachers and others try to meet the needs of a hospitalized child, but it may be necessary for medical professionals to intervene on a child's behalf, if it involves a serious illness, injury or lengthy hospitalization. Thus, the word intervention is used.

Taking an inside peek into the role of medical professionals working in pediatric intervention teams may open new horizons of understanding for parents, family members, teachers and others, who do not comprehend what is involved, when a child is hospitalized and a pediatric intervention team enters the picture.

What is a pediatric intervention team?

The Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA, offers the following definition.

"The Pediatric Intervention Team is a multidisciplinary group that consists of child life specialists, pediatric/psychiatric nurses, a social worker and a consulting child psychiatrist/psychologist." (1)

What is the role of a pediatric intervention team?

"The Team recognizes the unique psycho-social needs of hospitalized children and their families. The services the team provides are based on the emotional and developmental needs of children from infancy to young adulthood. Through careful preparation and continuing support, the team aims to minimize a child's anxiety in the health care environment and promote opportunities for growth and mastery of the hospital experience." (2)

Doctors or other pediatric specialists hospitalize a child when necessary. Hospitalization for any reason can be a frightening experience for him or her, partly because of the separation from his or her parents, family members and others.

A hospital also presents a strange environment that even a well child may not be able to understand or accept. A child many not know what is happening and become frightened. He or she may be confused, disoriented or in severe pain.

Parents become extremely concerned when a child is sick, in need of surgery or is hospitalized because of an injury. They may need mental, emotional or spiritual support in order to understand, as well as to cope with what is happening with their child.

Hospitalization can be traumatic for any child. It results in a dramatic upheaval in his or her routine. Hospitalization for school age children means the loss of time from school, as well as participation in other school and family activities that are important to them.

One child may appear to cope well with his or her illness, surgery or injury, as well as the change in his or her environment, while another child may find it extremely upsetting and confusing. He or she may tend towards aggression, violence or developmental regression or begin to exhibit abnormal behavior patterns, like withdrawal.

At this point, the intervention of a psychiatrist or psychologist may help.

Parents might be the first to recognize the reality that their child is having difficulty coping and adjusting to hospitalization, but at times, it is the child's doctor or nurse that realizes professional medical intervention could assist the child and his or her family, with the adjustment to hospitalization.

What kinds of services do pediatric intervention teams offer?

The kinds of services offered will depend to some extent upon the length of the child's hospitalization and his or her general health status. The location of the hospital, involvement of other medical facilities and availability of pediatric intervention personnel may determine what kinds of services are available for a child and his or her family. For instance, in a remote or rural hospital, medical or surgical specialists, psychiatrists or psychologists may not be on staff and a referral may be necessary.

Larger hospitals are able to offer a more comprehensive, well-coordinated assessment and evaluation, treatment and discharge program for a child hospitalized over a long time.

In-hospital pediatric intervention provides continual patient care and monitoring, in conjunction with advanced nursing care that incorporates emotional and psychological sensitivity for the child and his or her family.

Care, compassion and concern are a vital part of maintaining a high quality of care while a child undergoes medical-surgical treatment or procedures of various kinds.

The child, as well as his or her family, will receive age-appropriate education and training with regard to medical or surgical treatment in conjunction with current, technological advances. This may include the use of dvds, videos or cds, as well as formal or informal, one-to-one or family counseling.

Crisis counseling may be necessary when a child is critically ill or dying. Bereavement counseling, life support or isolation of a child in order to prevent infection, may be necessary.

As the child progresses health wise, age-appropriate play and on-going education, becomes an important part of the child's daily activities. This may involve one-to-one education or a school outreach program, depending upon the mental and emotional status of the child, his or her age and general health.

Discharge planning is always important for the safety and protection of a child. If necessary, community agencies may become involved, for example, when a child needs a wheel chair or ongoing transportation for cancer therapy.

A social worker may assess a home situation, with respect to a child's placement, housing or financial needs, prior to his or her discharge from hospital.

Follow up medical-surgical treatment may be necessary. Ongoing assessment and evaluation by doctors or specialists, psychiatrists or psychologists may continue after discharge, when indicated.

While parents may appear reluctant to accept pediatric intervention for their hospitalized child, they soon begin to realize its value and appreciate the integrity and respect of the pediatric intervention team, as it helps them to overcome many of their fears.

Most children do benefit tremendously from pediatric intervention.

If you are the parents of a child who is going to be hospitalized, seeking advice from your family physician regarding possible pediatric invention while your child is in the hospital, may prove to be beneficial for everyone, particularly your child.

(1) http://www.emersonhospital.org/support/pediatric_intervention_team/

(2) Ibid.