News Dell Children's Creates Comfort Zone

Austin, Texas - (February 26, 2009) - The Emergency Department at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, a member of the Seton Family of Hospitals, has rolled out a new Comfort Zone project that provides a comforting environment to reduce the fear and pain that can accompany a child's visit to the ED.

Over the last eight months, the Dell Children's ED staff has been working on creating a team approach to address pain, anxiety and discomfort associated with the treatment of pediatric patients.

"We are creating a different kind of Emergency Department," said Dr. Pat Crocker, Medical Director of the Dell Children's ED. "It's one that children want to come to, one that makes them feel welcome and cared for, one that is non-threatening and one that sets the standard for children's care."

The "Comfort Zone" ED goals are to:
• listen to and believe children's report of pain
• ensure children and their families are viewed as partners in care; make pain management a fundamental component of care; working with families to evaluate promptly and treat effectively
• provide care that is individualized and holistic
• implement specific guidelines, centered on a holistic approach, using state of the art techniques both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods
• monitor and implement quality improvement plans to ensure optimal pain management
• provide education and training regarding pain management to patients, families, the public, hospital staff and the medical community

"The ED staff is raising the bar," said Diane Taylor, RN, CPN, Specialty Education Coordinator, Dell Children's ED. "For weeks the team has been training on pain management. By making an extra effort to listening and understanding a child's pain and fear they can provide interventions that will help calm and comfort the patient."

Dell Children's has implemented the following into the ED:
• Consistent utilization of Pain Protocol
• Use of Nitrous Oxide (a drug induced state with minimal sedation); Dell Children's is the only hospital in Central Texas to offer this to medically appropriate patients
• Anesthetic creams and sprays to numb area where injections are given or IVs are placed
• Use of intranasal medications to reduce anxiety and fear by using age-appropriate techniques such as a kid-friendly, fish-shaped device
• Utilization of "comfort positioning" during procedures; for example, allowing a child to sit in parent's lap, which gives the child a greater sense of control

Crocker adds, "It's impossible to create a 'Pain Free ED', but Dell Children's has taken efforts used at children's hospitals across the country and brought them together to create a one-of-a-kind pediatric emergency department that offers a comprehensive pain management program."