My son had some minor surgery this past month. His salivary gland had become clogged and he developed a mucocele on his mouth. In laymen terms, he had a bubble on his lip which he named Bobby. He was very proud of this bubble and used it to gross out his siblings and friends.
It was a simple procedure, but because I am a normal mother, I was obviously anxious. When we arrived at the hospital here in Cleveland I was immediately put at ease. I am always pleasantly surprised at how well versed, the hospital personnel are in the basic principles of empathy.
The Registration Clerk:
“A hospital visit can make anyone feel uneasy. Lets get your paperwork done and get you going.”
The Nurse (while taking my son’s blood pressure):
“You are probably feeling some squeezing on your arm. It will only be a few seconds and it will be over. There, 1, 2, 3, all done.”
The Anesthesiologist:
“You are 10 years old, and I bet you like to make some of your own decisions. Today you get to decide if you want an IV to go to sleep or an oxygen mask.”
The Life Care Specialist:
“It looks like you have some questions about your procedure today. I am here to tell you exactly what is going to happen each step of the way. Would you like to see my box of medical stuff? It will help me explain all about your surgery.”
The Doctor:
All I can say is that the medical care in Cleveland ROCKS!