Quality and Outcomes Reports - Emergency Medicine

Comfort Measures

Why we measure it - It is important to us that each patient is made as comfortable as possible. We ask our clinic and hospital patients and families to tell us about their experiences. We have many ways to reduce pain and anxiety, including a process that starts with frequent assessments and includes patient-specific interventions to reduce pain and anxiety. It is important to us to understand how we are doing. We get feedback from patients and parents through a survey and use it to help find better ways to control pain and anxiety.

What this means - Our team of caregivers have access to pain specialists at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin to help manage pain and anxiety. Focusing on patient comfort while treating a variety of conditions is what families find we do well.

About the data - This graph shows the percentage of patients and families who responded "Always" to the survey question, "Do you think the emergency room staff did everything they could to help control your child's pain?" The response options for this question are: always, usually, sometimes and never.

Related dimensions of care:

What we're doing to provide the best care:

• If a procedure is needed, the best equipment and support staff add to our ability to take care of children in a safe environment.
• We know that pain and being scared are concerns of patients and families in the Emergency Department. Our staff focuses right away on a child's comfort. We measure pain scores on all of our patients, including infants, throughout the Emergency Department visit. We use child-centered comfort measures and/or medicines to help our patients be more comfortable during care.
• Child Life specialists are part of the care team and make our patients comfortable during anxious times.
• We have a full range of options to help your child during procedures, including a number of medicines, depending on your child's needs.
• Families traveling from long distances are encouraged to use our Family Accommodations Program to make travel arrangements and coordinate appointments. Children's Hospital has partnered with non-profit organizations like Ronald McDonald House and Kathy's House to offer comfortable, "home away from home" accommodations. Local hotel chains on our referral list also offer discounts for patient families.

Patients and families:

• Bring a full list of your child's medicines. Be sure to include over-the-counter medicines such as vitamins and supplements.
• Children should not eat or drink anything (including water) if you suspect they have a deep cut or broken bone. This is because they may need surgery.
• Have your insurance card and paperwork available. We may need to gather relevant information from you before seeing the doctor.
• Bring the name, address, phone and fax numbers of your child's primary care and/or referring doctor so we can update him or her on your child's care.
• Ask questions if you don't understand the plan of care or if you are not sure how to care for your child at home.

Referring physicians:

• Referring physicians can access our specialists for consultation or transport 24 hours a day. Call our physician referral line at (800) 266-0366.  
• Health care providers from outside of our southeastern Wisconsin service area are encouraged to use our web-based
  e-Consult service. This service is available for non-urgent patient cases only and gives providers access to our specialists to review patient cases, obtain medical advice or second opinions, and receive care recommendations for rare symptoms and illnesses.
  e-Consult is not to be used by the general public, parents/guardians or families.
• Care guidelines for medical professionals
• Educational materials
  • Pediatric Rounds
  • Webcasts
• Pocket Directory

If you have questions about this information, email us or call (414) 266-6556.