Your Doctor Will Answer Your Questions
Before and after the surgery, your child may be seen by more than one doctor. The attending physician is a pediatric specialist who is responsible for your child's care.
Resident physicians or fellows from the University of Washington are doctors who are receiving pediatric training and are supervised by the attending physician. Medical students may also be present.
If you have questions about your child's care, ask the attending physician or your child's nurse.
Here are some helpful questions to ask your child's doctor. Read them over before your child's surgery.
Condition
- Do you have any written information that I can use to learn more about my child's special health needs?
Surgery
- What day and time is the surgery scheduled?
- When should I arrive?
- When can my child last eat and drink?
- Do I need to wait in the Surgery Center while my child is in surgery?
- When will I learn that my child is out of surgery and what his condition is?
- Will there be any noticeable changes to my child's body?
- How long will he be in the hospital after surgery?
- What will hurt?
- Do I need to schedule a follow-up appointment with a clinic after my child is discharged?
- Who do I ask to talk to if I have questions about my child's follow-up care?
Medicine
- What is the name of the medicine? What is the medicine for?
- Is it safe to give if my child has allergies or adverse reactions to some medicine? Is the dose correct for my child's weight?
- When we go home, how am I supposed to give it? What time each day? With or without food? What is the best way to measure my child's liquid medicine?
- If my child is still taking the medicine once we go home, how long should my child continue taking it? When should I see an improvement?
- What side effects may occur? What do I do if they occur?
- Is the medicine safe to give with other medicines or dietary supplements? What food, drink or activities should my child avoid while taking the medicine?
- Who do I call if I have questions about the medicine?
Support
- Are there any support groups where I can connect with other parents?
- Do you know of any other local or Internet-based resources?