Your Child's Health Care Team

Your child may meet many new people while he or she is at the hospital. Here is a list of who some of them are and what they do.

Doctors

Consulting physician: A doctor who specializes in a particular area. This doctor may be asked by your hospitalist or primary doctor to help diagnose and treat your child.
Pediatric hospitalist: A pediatrician who works with children in the hospital, including the Pediatric Unit, the Emergency Department, Labor and Delivery and the newborn nursery. They work with your child's primary care provider.
Pediatrician: A doctor who is trained to give medical care to children.
Primary care provider: The doctor (or nurse practitioner) your child sees for checkups and sick visits. This may be your pediatrician.

Care coordinator/discharge planner: A nurse who stays in regular contact with your insurance company and arranges and coordinates home care services.
Certified Pediatric Nurse: A CPN is a nurse who has taken a certification test and has received professional recognition of specialty knowledge in the care of children.
Nurse practitioner: A nurse with special training who works with a doctor and may oversee your child's care.
Registered nurse: A nurse who is educated and licensed by the state to provide health care and teach about health, the body, medical terms and medications.

Care partner: A person who helps nurses check things like temperature, blood pressure, height and weight.
Child Life specialist: A person who helps children and their families cope with the health care experience by explaining what will happen and why in terms your child can understand. They may use play and other age-appropriate activities and education to help prepare your child for medical procedures.
Dietitian: A person who specializes in nutrition. They evaluate a child's nutritional needs and help families plan for dietary changes.
Health unit coordinator: A person who can answer your non-medical questions. A HUC can be found at your unit's front desk.
Lactation consultant: A person who gives breastfeeding education and support to nursing mothers.
Social worker: A person who is educated and licensed to help families deal with issues related to having a child who is sick or injured. They can help you with community referrals and financial resources that can provide your family with support and necessary services.

Physical therapist: A therapist trained to improve a patient's movement, balance and coordination.
Respiratory therapist: A therapist trained to evaluate and provide treatment to children with breathing problems.
Speech therapist: A therapist trained to help children with speech and swallowing problems.