Preparing for Your Child's Surgery

When you and the doctor decide it is necessary for your child to have orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital of New York-Prsebyterian the following information will be useful in helping you prepare for the surgery.

• Once the physician completes the surgery-scheduling sheet he will send it to our precertification office. You may contact the surgery scheduler at 212-305-0622 to set up a date for the surgery and give our scheduler any information that may be needed by your insurance company.
  
  
• Once the surgery date is obtained you will need to make an appointment with your pediatrician. Please try to make this appointment for the week before surgery. The purpose of this visit is to ensure that your child is ready for surgery and does not have any colds, viruses, ear infections, strep throat, etc.
  A few weeks prior to the surgery you will receive a conformation letter with the date of the surgery, a Surgery Consent form and a "Pediatric Medical Questionnaire"; please fill this out and bring it with you on the day of surgery. On the last page of this questionnaire is the Physician History which is filled out by the pediatrician. Ordinarily we do not require blood work or a urine sample to be done prior to surgery. Please have your pediatrician fill out the history and physical and fax it to the surgical scheduling office at 212-305-7314.
  
  
• X-rays: If it has been more than 3 months since you child has had a x-ray they may need another one prior to surgery, please check with your physician. If you have the recent x-rays at home please bring them with you on the day of surgery.
  
  
• Preoperative tests: Some patients may need certain tests before surgery, such as a CT scan or a MRI. Your physician will tell you if this is needed.
  
  
• Spine Surgery: Patients having spine surgery will need to contact the surgeon's office at least 8 weeks before the surgery date to plan for the preoperative testing and medications that they will need. (see "Scoliosis/Spinal Fusion Surgery")
  
  
• Preparing your child for surgery and hospitalization can be difficult. The Child Life Program at Children's Hospital offers tours of the hospital geared towards the child's developmental level. They can also provide guidance on how to prepare your child at home and what to bring with you for the hospital visit. They may be reached at 212-305-2607. The Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian website also offers a virtual preoperative tour. Go to www.childrensnyp.org and click on "Guide to our Hospital". Depending on the developmental level of your child, click here to read more on how to best prepare them for surgery and hospitalization
  
  
• The night before surgery the Ambulatory Surgical Unit will call you between 4 PM and 9 PM to tell you what time you should come to the hospital. If surgery is scheduled for a Monday they will call you the Friday evening before the surgery. The Children's Hospital entrance is at 3959 Broadway between 166th street and 167th street. There is valet parking in front of this entrance. Stop at the security desk and they will direct you to the 4th floor for admission. Self-parking is available at the hospital parking lot on the corner of Ft. Washington Ave. and 165th street.
  
  
• You will meet with the anesthesiologist prior to surgery and they will exam your child and answer your questions.
  
  
• You may walk with your child into the OR and once the operation is complete and your child has been transferred to the recovery room you may stay with them in the recovery room. The surgeon will speak with you after the surgery, therefore, please let the surgery unit staff know where you will be.
  
  
• One parent may stay over night at the child's bedside. There are parent beds available. Please speak to the nurse on the unit. If your child goes to the intensive care unit (ICU) one parent may stay overnight at the child's bedside.
  
  
• Guest accommodations are available in the Milstein Hospital building. Please call them in advance to make arrangements at 212-305-4820. These accomodations need to be reserved early. They cost about $200.00 a night. The radison hotel in Fort Lee, New Jersey is also avaliable and they provide shuttle service to the hospital. Their number is 201-871-2020.
  
  
• If you think your child will need special equipment, i.e. wheelchair, hospital bed etc, or placement in a rehabilitation hospital postoperatively, please contact the physician's office a few weeks before surgery to make these arrangements.
  
  If you have any other questions or concerns please contact our office at 212-305-5475.
  

Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York
3959 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York City 10032
phone 212-305-5475
fax 212-305-8271