Patients

• Remember that hospital beds are higher than the bed at home. The rails along the sides are up for your child's safety. A parent or older child can change the position of the bed, turn on and off the lights and television set or call the nurse from the remote control or the buttons on the bedside.
• Each room has a telephone so that parents and patients can receive calls if they wish. Local calls can be accessed by dialing 9 before the number. Long distance calls cannot be charged to the hospital room bill. A public phone is available in the main lobby of the John Sealy Hospital.
• Each patient room also includes a built in television. A guide to programs and stations can be obtained at the nurse’s station. In addition to commercial programming, UTMB channels discuss issues of health care and education that may interest parents.
• On both the 5th and 6th floors of Children’s Hospital children have access to a stocked playroom. In addition, teachers from the Galveston Independent School District man a classroom with computers on the 6th floor and stand ready to help recovering patients keep up with their friends at school.
• Across the hall from the 5th floor playroom, is the office of the Child Life therapy room. This is a magician’s closet full of projects and costumes, TV/VCR/Video Game stations and other equipment for more active patients.
• Parents of patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit have access to a newly appointed waiting room, the Dolphin Room, with comfortable chairs.
• Children hospitalized over major holidays are invited to take part in celebrations with parades, costumed guests of the season, and other holiday trappings:
  
  • At Christmas, Santa comes to the hospital.
  • At Mardi Gras, the wheel chairs and beds form floats and kids toss beads to the staff who stand in office doorways.
  • Valentines Day is a great excuse for a party.
  • At Easter, of course, there is an egg hunt and party as well.
  • The Fourth of July is for flags and marching music.
  • Halloween is for trick-or-treating.
  • Thanksgiving Day is for giving thanks. Parents and patients gather together for a Thanksgiving meal of turkey and “all the fixins.” Those who can, gather in a common room. Patients and families who cannot are served in their rooms. But everyone prays for those who remain in danger, and give thanks for loved ones who will soon be on their way back home.
  • And Queen Victoria makes a special trip to the hospital to crown the Dickens celebration in December.

Safety: A Number of Regulations Exist to Protect Your Child and Make the Hospital Stay More Comfortable

• Balloons: Because latex and rubber balloons can cause children to choke, Children’s Hospital allows only foil (Mylar) balloons in patients’ rooms.
• Cell phones: Cell phones emit waves that can interfere with the operation of medical equipment. Their use is not permitted inside the hospital buildings. To ensure the safety of your patient and others, please use cell phones only when outside.
• Electrical Appliances: Please contact the nurses’ station before bringing any personal electronic devices into the hospital. They can supply you with a list of approved machines.
• Medication: Nurses can administer only medication ordered by a hospital doctor in writing. If your child has been taking medicines before being admitted, discuss with the doctor on call whether these medicines should be continued.
• Security: UTMB maintains security personnel 24 hours a day with the responsibilities and powers of any police officer in Texas when on UTMB property. To report a crime or non-medical emergency at UTMB: call (409) 772-1111 or campus extension 2-1111. This number is answered 24 hours a day by certified telecommunications personnel who maintain two-way radio contact with UTMB police officers and guards on duty.
• Smoking: For the health of staff and patients, smoking is not allowed in UTMB Children’s Hospital, in other campus buildings or on campus grounds.