Parents' Guide

The goals of the staff are to provide high quality healthcare for your family and to keep your child safe during hospitalization. This guide offers some helpful information for family members. If you have any concerns, we are happy to help you. We wish your child a speedy recovery.

Meals for the Patient and Parent
The parent or guardian who remains with the child below the age of 13 or who actively assists in the patient's care will be provided a courtesy tray at mealtime. Room service also is available. Meals can be brought from home.

Beverages, Snacks and Utensils
An ice machine, water dispenser, coffee maker as well as milk, juice and pop are available. A cabinet is stocked with crackers, salt and pepper, peanut butter, forks, knives, spoons and straws.

Bathing While at the Pediatric Unit
Bath basins and soap are provided for bed baths. Parents are welcome to use the private shower located on 3 North. Linens for your use are available. Just ask for assistance.

Telephone Use at the Hospital
Dial "8" to get an outside line. To place calls to your child's room, callers may dial the main hospital number, 580.233.6100, and give the room number to the operator. Or, callers can directly contact the patient's room by dialing 249.9 + room number. Cell phone use is permitted any time.

Entertaining Patients
The Pediatric Unit has wheeled televisions hooked to VCR players with Nintendo. Ask your child's nurse about crayons and coloring books as well as infant and toddler toys.

Who May Visit Your Child and When
Please consider the health and safety of patients; anyone with signs of an infection, including a cold, should not visit. If healthy, parents and grandparents are welcome at any time and all others may visit. Please limit the number of visitors to two at one time. Children under the age of 13 are highly discouraged from visiting a patient under isolation precautions.

Sleeping Arrangements for Parent
A sleep chair or recliner will be provided for one parent or grandparent to stay the night with a patient. Siblings are discouraged from spending the night.

Security
The Pediatric Unit is not a locked unit. One parent, guardian or designated adult must be in attendance at all times. You are required to notify your nurse when leaving a child unattended and for making arrangements for a responsible adult to be in attendance. Pictures will be taken of all children under the age of 13. The unit has 24-hour video surveillance.

Preventing Accidental Injury by Falling or Suffocation
The side rails of your child's crib or hospital bed are extremely helpful in preventing injury. Your child must be inside the bed with the rails elevated any time the child is unattended, even for a moment. For children old enough to stand, the side rails must be all the way up. Your nurse will be happy to show you how to use the side rails.

We discourage parents from sleeping in the same beds with their children. Parents are not allowed to sleep in a crib or the same bed with their infants.

Diapers, Formula and Breast Pumps
Diapers (in sizes newborn, 2 and 4) and formula are provided for your child. Dry baby wipes also are provided-to use, simply wet them. If you would like baby formula heated, a nurse will provide you with a container with warm water. The Pediatric Unit does not use a microwave oven to heat formula because it may reduce nutrients and/or heat unevenly which may result in burning a baby's mouth. Breastfeeding mothers may ask for a breast pump if needed. Breast milk, properly identified with your child's name, may be stored in the refrigerator or freezer at the nurses' station.