CHOC Children's Emergency Department
Emergency Department Child Life Specialists
An emergency visit to the hospital can be scary for children of all ages. The child life specialists in the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department at CHOC Children’s Hospital work with children and their families to make emergency visits to the hospital less stressful and frightening. When children arrive at the hospital, they are often crying, nervous or anxious because of the pain or symptoms they are experiencing and the fear of what will happen once they are being treated.
Child life specialists
work with children to make them less nervous or anxious and better able to understand and feel comfortable with the hospital experience. To do this, they use special play techniques that help patients feel more comfortable with the hospital environment. Movies, video games and activities like blowing bubbles or coloring might just look like fun, but in the hospital they keep children distracted and help ease their worries.
Another important role of the child life specialist is helping patients understand how the medical team assists them during their visit. They have special teaching tools for every procedure or test that might be needed. Books, practice dolls, pictures and play medical equipment also help patients understand and prepare for their care. During procedures children can watch a movie on tablet, play a game or engage in other fun activities.