Your Presurgical Checklists

• Have I scheduled a physical exam with my child’s primary care physician within 30 days before the operation?
• Has my primary care physician completed and signed the medical history and physical examination form?
• Have I notified Language Services if my child, family or I have special communication needs, such as hearing impairment, visual difficulties, foreign language translation or other need?
  •     Language Services: (202) 476-5444
• Have I received authorization from my insurance company for the operation, if required by my insurance contract?
• Have I reviewed the Pre-Surgical Tour online? Have I considered bringing my child to Children’s Hospital on a Sunday afternoon for the pre-surgical tour? For more information, call (202) 476-3812
• Have I discussed my child’s medical history with the surgeon?
  • The reason for the surgery
  • Medications my child is taking
  • Allergies to medicine, food, or latex
  • Reactions to anesthesia or to a blood transfusion
  • History of nausea after anesthesia or medication
  • Immunization record
  • Previous illnesses or operations
  • Previous hospital stays (admissions), tests, or treatments
  • Anything that might put my child at risk during the hospital visit
• Have I asked my surgeon about any special equipment I may need at home after surgery?
• Have I arranged for someone to care for my other children while I am at the hospital?
• For families coming from out of town: have I called Concierge Services at (202) 476-6160 for help making travel and lodging plans?

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The Day Before Surgery

• Does my child have a cold, a fever, a rash, or fever blister? If so, please call the surgeon immediately. The operation may be postponed.
• Have I talked with my child about the operation?
• Have I reviewed the information about anesthesia and the instructions about eating and drinking?
• Has my child taken a thorough bath or shower and removed all make-up, nail polish, piercings, and other jewelry?
• For post-surgical care at home: do I have plenty of clear liquids, such as water, sugar water, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, apple juice, pulp-free juices, breast milk, Pedialyte, soft drinks, popsicles?
• Do I have a supply of acetaminophen products at home?
• Have I planned quiet games and activities for my child for after the operation?
• Have I made arrangements for transportation to and from Children’s National? Do I have directions?
• Have I made arrangements to be with my child or have another adult present while my child recuperates at home?
• Have I arranged for someone to care for my other children while I am at the hospital?
• If I need to cancel my child’s surgery, have I contacted the surgical coordinator?
• Do I have all of our insurance information ready to bring with me to the hospital?
• If Children’s National called me and I was called and was unavailable, did I return the call?

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• Picture identification card (for parents and patients over 18)
• Insurance card for the patient
• Statement of non-availability, if covered by TriCare
• Referral/authorization, if covered by an HMO
• Proof of guardianship (foster parent papers, court orders) if you are not the parents of the patient.
• Your child’s Social Security number
• The “Consent to Surgery” form that your child’s surgeon gave you
• The original medical history and physical (H&P) exam form completed by your primary care physician
• Any outside x-ray or other imaging films and/or lab results

Other items to bring for the comfort of you and your child:

• Comfortable clothing and a change of clothes
• Your child’s medications
• Containers for glasses, contact lenses, or any assistive devices such as hearing aids
• Your child’s favorite toy, blanket, or comfort item
• Special bottle, nipple, pacifier or sipper cup
• Something to occupy your time while you’re waiting, such as magazines, knitting, or your laptop computer 

What Not to Bring

• Valuables, such as jewelry
• Siblings and other relatives or friends
• Food or drink into the Surgery Preparation and Recovery Center

Due to space constraints, we must limit the number of people coming to the hospital to only parents/guardians and patients. If your child will be staying at the hospital after the surgical procedure, the medical team will advise you when other guests are permitted.