NARRATOR: Cincinnati Children's is located in the heart of Southwestern Ohio and is ranked
among the top pediatric hospitals in the nation.
Its reputation as a leader in improving child health has made it a destination for families
throughout the world.
BROOKE: Welcome to Cincinnati Children's.
I'm Brooke.
Let me show you around and help prepare you for your upcoming stay.
Today, I'll take you to places you'll likely visit, tell you about some of Cincinnati Children's
unique services.
And introduce you to some friendly faces.
One of the unique things about walking into Cincinnati Children's is all of the places
that you see kids playing—in waiting rooms, in playrooms, in activity centers, in patient
rooms, even getting ready for procedures.
Cincinnati Children's has the largest Child Life team of any hospital in the world to
help make coming to the hospital and tough procedures not so scary.
SANDY KAUFFMAN: Our job here is to make it a little less scary and to normalize the environment.
Children play.
That's how they live.
That's how they understand.
That's how they cope.
We use play, music, and holistic therapies to aid them in their healing and help make
it a little easier at the hospital.
BETH RALP: My daughter was worried about getting an MRI so Child Life specialists came in,
brought in a model scanner.
They put a doll on the scanner and then she played with the doll.
They showed her what the MRI would look like, what it would sound like, how it would feel,
which really helped to put Lillian at ease when she went to get her MRI.
SANDY KAUFFMAN: We participate in the care you receive here.
We assess ability, anxiety and put together a plan to help.
It might be that getting an IV is stressful for your child.
We provide support through these tough procedures.
We also put together activities coordinated with what the healthcare team is trying to
accomplish.
GLENN STANTON: My son was struggling with getting up after surgery.
Child Life put together a scavenger hunt.
Quickly after that, he was up and moving around the room to find the different items.
The thing I liked was they also made sure he didn't miss any school.
SANDY KAUFFMAN: We want to make sure that your child's experience helps them to more
positively cope with the stress of being in the hospital.
Ask for us if you think we can help.
BROOKE: Cincinnati Children's also helps make travel planning easier.
SCHEDULER: Can I get assistance for an out-of-town family for an MRI?
BROOKE: The scheduling team is ready to help make the most of your visit.
A nurse may talk to you and doctors first to figure out what services you'll need before
you arrive.
The scheduling team will then coordinate your clinic visits, blood tests, imaging.
This way you'll have a plan of where to go and who you'll see.
KAREN LONG: We promise to coordinate your visit so that you're away from home as little
as possible but not one common misconception is that we can get all of your appointments
scheduled in one day.
And some of the appointments take several hours so it's not always possible.
JAE AMOS: It's a really pretty powerful experience the first time you get here.
The doctors did a great job to really assess your child and understand what's going on.
They're definitely going to give you a lot of information so make sure you don't try
to cram it all in and take it all in at one time.
BROOKE: Guest Services is another great resource for planning your visit.
This team can help set up a place to stay, transportation, and fun things to see and
do in Cincinnati.
LAUREN QUILL: Guest Services is located in the family resource center -- it's kind of
a one-stop shop destination.
We assist out-of-town families with transportation options, discounted lodging and area attraction
tickets.
We get you to and from the airport and your hotel and operate shuttles to select destinations
like the mall and grocery store.
We give directions and help resolve any concerns related to your experience here.
Within the center, you can also relax, handle personal business and learn more about your
child's condition.
MICHELLE LAWRENCE: I often went to the family resource center.
It was a great place to go to relax after long drives for morning appointments.
It was also a nice place to go if I had to do some office work.
LAUREN QUILL: We have discounted and complimentary tickets to area attractions like the Cincinnati
Museum Center, the Reds Hall of Fame and more.
Transportation is not provided to these locations, but we can help arrange a ride.
BROOKE: We went to the zoo during our visit.
It was great to have a little down time built into our trip, and it's just a few blocks
from the hospital.
One last stop on our tour—the cafeteria.
It offers lots of options including foods free of the top allergens.
Ask Guest Services about the meal cards available to families who are staying overnight.
Food is delivered directly to the room and includes a drink, entrée, two sides and a
dessert; great for moms and dads.
Well, thanks for letting me show you around.
Best of luck on your journey.
You're in good hands.