Planning Your Visit

• If a care team member you don’t know comes into your child’s room, ask for an introduction.
• Be honest. Tell the Care Team everything they need to know about your child—even if it’s something that makes you a little uncomfortable to talk about.
• Let kids speak for themselves when possible. We try hard to take care of our child’s needs—but kids should be able to answer questions directly—and able to ask them, too.
• Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to ask for a simpler explanation of your child’s condition. If you hear medical words or abbreviations you don’t understand, ask for an explanation.
• When you are worried or sleep-deprived it can be hard to understand or remember what a caregiver tells you. Write down information you’ll want to remember.
• Tell the team if your family has any special religious, cultural, home care and/or financial needs that will affect the treatment plan and your child’s care after you return home.
• If something “just doesn’t feel right,” please speak up. You are an expert about your child, and your concerns are important.

As critical members of our care team at Children’s Hospital of Georgia, our team of Child Life Specialists are specially trained to help children understand their care and provide a sense of normalcy while they are in the hospital. Our team members work with children of all ages, one-on-one, to explain clinical care or procedures so young patients better understand why something needs to be done. 

Contact the Child & Adolescent Life Department at 706-721-5503 for more information.

To make your child feel more at home, you may want to bring several of his favorite items from home. Be sure to label all items. We recommend bringing:

• A favorite toy, game, book, blanket or other comforting item
• A favorite photograph
• Personal-care items: toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, shampoo
• Pajamas, gown, robe, slippers, shoes and socks
• Comfortable clothes to wear home
• Baby-care items if needed
• School books and assignments
• List of child's medicines with dosage amounts and pharmacy telephone number
• List of allergies to food and medicine
• Hospital records from other hospitals as well as doctor's telephone number
• Any special equipment needed (glasses, splints, etc.)

Remember to Pack for Yourself

• Any medications you are taking
• Telephone numbers you may need
• Money for dining room and vending area
• Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Personal-care items
• Small projects for quiet time

Don't forget to bring identification such as Social Security card, health insurance information or Medicaid card and your child's medical history. Also, be sure and notify your insurance company about your child's procedure.

Managed-Care or Contractual Insurance Agreements

Children’s Hospital of Georgia participates with a variety of insurance companies and managed care contracts. Please check your insurance policy to ensure that you have satisfied your insurance company requirements. Failure to do so may mean a loss of some benefits which you would be responsible for paying.