CHOC Pre-Admission Program Guide
Hello Hospital is a program designed to help reduce patient and family fears prior to their scheduled procedure. A Recreation Therapist/Child Life Specialist will introduce future patients and their families to the hospital environment, procedures, and equipment with the goal of reducing the child’s anxieties.

CHOC understands that the experience of your child undergoing surgery can be stressful. The Hello Hospital program provides a non-threatening way for children to become familiar with CHOC before hospitalization.

Hello Hospital Tour
CHOC’s Hello Hospital tour helps children and parents learn what to expect when a child is scheduled for a procedure or surgery at CHOC. The tour will last approximately one hour and will include:

• Video—A video tour of CHOC will be presented to highlight a child’s hospital stay from admission to discharge
• Medical Play—This “hands on” experience will allow children to become familiar with the medical equipment they are likely to come in contact with during their stay. Equipment may include stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, needle-less syringes and more
• Questions and Answer Session—Parents may have the opportunity to ask nurses questions regarding their child’s stay while the children engage in medical play
• Tour—A tour of the hospital units where your child is likely to stay will be given

Preparing Your Child for Surgery
When to prepare your child for surgery is important. The Child Life Department recommends that your child attend Hello Hospital within 7 days of his or her scheduled surgery. Please call (714) 532-8473 to schedule.

Following are ways to help reduce your child’s anxiety prior to surgery:

• Gather information about your child’s procedure and understand why he or she needs surgery
• Be honest and sensitive when your child asks questions about his or her surgery
• Encourage curiosity and exploration
• Reassure your child that undergoing the procedure is not a punishment and that the doctors and nurses are there to help
• Use simple language to describe the procedure to your child
• Listen to your child’s concerns
• Allow your child to take an active role in preparing for the procedure