Family Centered Care

We are committed to a philosophy of family centered care, which, in addition to quality medical care, addresses the special needs of children and their families. Family centered care recognizes that children are not little adults and require a special brand of care, delivered in an environment uniquely designed ease the fear children feel by being more comforting and fun for kids, and supportive of families. Some examples of family centered care at Sutton Children’s are:

• Families will enter through a dedicated entrance and lobby. From there all the services and facilities will be accessible, without having to navigate through other areas of the hospital with a sick child. Admitting and other services will be located within the children’s hospital lobby.
• All our patient rooms will be private, with sleeping accommodations so a parent can stay overnight. There will be virtually no visiting restrictions for families.
• Little children need to play, and older kids need a place to hang out. A play room and teen lounge will help make life as normal as possible for hospitalized children, with birthday parties, visits from Santa, games and toys, music and videos, and even tutoring and homework – all managed by the child life staff.
• The child life staff also will conduct age appropriate education to lessen fear about procedures. The staff and volunteers will provide art and music therapy to help children cope with their illness, and bedside activities when a child is too ill to visit the play room.
• Nourishment areas, located on each floor, will be stocked with a selection of child-friendly foods so that a parent can fix a snack whenever the child is up to eating. Our dining services will offer menu selections that appeal to young tastes.
• A family wing will contain spaces that provide for the special needs of families, such as a hospitality room, chapel, overnight rooms, resource library with internet access, and laundry facilities.