Hospital Ready

I am the parent of a child with complex medical needs. I must be on my toes 24/7 for a medical emergency, 9-1-1 call, or visit to the hospital emergency room.

Believe me, it is so much better if you are prepared for any of these situations. It makes things go a little smoother when the true crisis happens. I am usually so frazzled at those times that having the bags ready takes some of the load off for me.

I have at least two bags prepared and ready to go. One for our daughter and the other for me.  Hers has her pull-ups, medication list, change of clothes, liquid thickener, and some of her pediatric drinks. I put an extra stuffed animal or blanket in her bag as well.

I do the same for my bag. It contains travel-sized toiletries and a change of clothes.

These bags are always ready and I take them with us to any ER visit. You never know when you'll be admitted.

As a family, we also have a written "Plan of Action" that helps our family stay organized during hospital stays. It includes things like:

• My husband has a full-time job and needs to make arrangements at work.
• Our other two children are home-schooled and need help from their Nana during the day.
• We live on a ranch and have pets, so each family members has specific chores and duties.
• Someone is assigned the task of notifying people and arranging their assistance.

Having a child that requires multiple hospital stays is so stressful. Whenever an emergency arises, no one is thinking very clearly. Having the "Plan of Action" in place and bags at the ready has helped our family so much in these situations. We are ready to go at a moment’s notice, and everyone has a clear idea of what they should be doing and when.

Learn about patient-centered Medical Homes, and the health care advantages they provide for children with disabilities and their families.