Home > Media & Press Releases > Press Releases > UMC is the "Ouchless Hospital" for Kids

Saturday, November 01, 2008

UMC is the "Ouchless Hospital" for Kids

When a child has to undergo a procedure or test, the last thing the child or parents should worry about is whether it will hurt. UMC’s new pediatric sedation unit is designed to help children, whether inpatient or outpatient, to be more comfortable as they undergo medical treatment.

Sedating children is significantly different than sedating adults because children have different physiological and psychological needs and, as a result, sedation can affect their bodies in ways that adults might not experience. Therefore, the expertise of pediatric clinicians and child life professionals is essential for safe and effective sedation. UMC’s Pediatric Sedation & Outpatient Services Unit is led by the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine specialists. These healthcare providers are a team of fellowship-trained, board-certified pediatric critical care physicians, pediatric ICU nurses and child life specialists. Pediatric critical care physicians are trained in providing sedation and analgesia to sick and injured children. Pediatric ICU nurses are highly skilled at monitoring pediatric patients. Child life specialists use their knowledge of child development to help kids deal with the sometimes emotionally and physically demanding aspects related to procedures and tests and hospitalization.

“If a child is comfortable and less anxious, their procedure or test is much more likely to go smoothly.” stated Dr. Meena Vohra, medical director, Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at UMC. “Therefore, the sedation process can play a very important part in providing the best treatment for children.”

The Pediatric Sedation & Outpatient Services Unit is located on the 3rd floor of the UMC Trauma & Children’s Center, 1800 West Charleston Blvd. The unit is adjacent to the Pediatric Emergency Department. Staff members can be contacted at (702) 383-2089.

Contact Information:
Tammy McMahan
(702) 383-2090
Tammy.McMahan@umcsn.com
University Medical Center
1800 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102