What to Expect

Clinic Visit

• Before your appointment
  • Fax us records. Ask your child’s primary care provider to fax us records about your child’s overall health and growth. Fax to 206-985-3121 for all surgery clinics (Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way and the Tri-Cities).
  • Provide test results related to your child’s condition. Most of the time, the doctor who refers you to Seattle Children’s will send copies of lab results, imaging studies, pathology slides and other helpful information. Ask your doctor to send them or bring copies.
  • Learn more about what to do before your appointment.
• What happens during a clinic visit?

  After check-in, a medical assistant will take you and your child to an exam room. Here is what you can expect:

  • You and your child will see a surgical nurse practitioner or a surgeon and surgical nurse. Meet our Pediatric Surgery team.
  • The provider will ask about your child’s health history and examine your child.
  • Meeting with the provider takes 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
  • Some children may need X-rays, blood tests or other tests. Sometimes we refer children to other specialists at Seattle Children’s. It depends on your child’s condition. Some imaging studies or doctor visits may need to be scheduled for another time.
  • We will try to answer all your questions. Please ask if anything is not clear.
• Will we have a treatment plan after the first visit?
  • Sometimes we can talk about a treatment plan during your child’s first visit. But some children need follow-up clinic visits and more testing before doctors can decide the best treatment.
  • If we recommend surgery, we will review the procedure and how to prepare your child. You can set up a date with the surgery scheduler on your way out or call 206-987-2794 later.
• What to bring
  • Test results related to your child’s condition, if your primary care provider has not sent them already. This includes results of lab tests and imaging studies.
  • Medicines or a list of them. Include nonprescription items like vitamins. Include the name, dose (amount) and instructions.
  • Forms you need to have signed by our providers, like forms for school.
  • Snacks for your child in case the appointment lasts longer than expected. Food is also available from the cafeteria at the Seattle hospital campus and coffee shop at the Bellevue Surgery Center.
  • Books, small toys or tablets for your child to play with during their visit. The first clinic appointment may be a longer visit, depending on your child’s needs.
• After the appointment
  • Before you leave, we will give you information about what will happen next.
  • Each provider who sees your child will write notes for your child’s medical chart. We will send a copy to your child’s primary care provider.
  • If you have questions between clinic visits, you can call 206-987-2794. The nurse line is option 4.
  • If your child needs follow-up visits or surgery, you can schedule on your way out or call 206-987-2794 later.
• How will we find out about test results?
  • If tests are done after your clinic visit, we will call you with test results or review them with you at a clinic visit the day the tests are done.
  • If you are a MySeattleChildren’s member, you can check online for some of your results.
• What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

  Call 206-987-2794 as soon as possible.

• Preparing your child

  If your child is having a test, these materials can help you prepare them:

  • CT Scan (PDF) (Spanish)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (PDF) (Spanish)
  • Getting an MRI While Awake (Video 4:17)
  • Getting an MRI With Anesthesia (Video 4:04)
  • X-Rays (PDF) (Spanish)
  • Ultrasound (PDF)

  Learn more about preparing your child for a clinic visit.

• Directions, parking and entering

  Find your location in our maps and directions section.

  Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to allow time for registration.

  More information

  For more information on visiting Seattle Children’s clinics, please see Your Child’s Clinic Visit.

• Preparing for surgery
  • Before You Arrive for Surgery
  • Preparing Your Child for Surgery
  • Talking With Your Child's Doctor About Surgery
  • Seattle Children’s: Before Procedure Checklist (PDF) (Russian) (Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Chinese)
  • Hibiclens Bathing Instructions for the Night Before Surgery (PDF) (Arabic) (Portuguese) (Russian) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)
  • Care Before a Surgery or Procedure (PDF) (Amharic) (Arabic) (Dari) (French) (Japanese) (Pashto) (Portuguese) (Russian) (Simplified Chinese) (Somali) (Spanish) (Tigrinya) (Ukrainian) (Vietnamese)
  • Amenities at the Bellevue Surgery Center and Seattle hospital campus
• Day of surgery

  We want your family to have the best possible experience on the day of your child’s surgery. That includes starting the surgery as close to schedule as possible. We partner with you to care for your child.

  • The Day of Surgery - Things to Bring and What to Expect
  • What to Expect on Your Surgery Day at Seattle Children’s Surgery Center (PDF) (Spanish)
  • What to Expect on Your Surgery Day at Seattle Children’s Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center (PDF) (Spanish)
  • Surgery Day for Me Coloring Book (PDF)
  • Patient story: The Softer Side of Surgery, Doctor Designs Personalized Dressings for Patients
• After surgery

  As soon as they are ready, we move your child to a hospital room or discharge them so they can heal at home. We also give you clear instructions on how to care for your child at home.

  • Going Home After Surgery
• Pain control
  • Acute Pain (PDF) (Amharic) (Arabic) (Chinese) (Dari)(Japanese) (Oromo) (Russian) (Somali) (Spanish) (Vietnamese) 
  • Regional Analgesia: Pain Relief to a Specific Area of the Body (PDF)
  • Pain Medicine After Outpatient Surgery (Amharic) (Dari) (Japanese) (Pashto) (Russian) (Spanish) (Tigrinya) (Vietnamese) (PDF)
  • Parents, Speak Up About Pain (Video 8:14)