It’s not uncommon for adults to have pre-surgery jitters prior to being wheeled in for a procedure.
The level of apprehension experienced by children prior to surgery also can be intense, so much so that some need anti-anxiety medications.
Staff at Bradford Regional Medical Center’s same day surgery department recently took a proactive stance on the issue with the purchase of a battery-operated mini Range Rover. The model car can be driven by children, roughly between the ages of 1 to 5, to the door of the surgical area to reduce their fear of being in the hospital.
Registered nurse Kim Douglas came up with the idea while reading an online article about another hospital that developed the concept.
“A hospital in Delaware spearheaded this program to decrease the need for anti-anxiety medications in young children because they were always scared when they came to the hospital,” Douglas explained. “(A mini car) gave them something to focus on so they weren’t so nervous. They found if they drove to the O.R. themselves it’s not like someone is taking them away — they’re actually going themselves.”
Douglas said the car was recently used for its inaugural run by a 4-year-old boy, who enjoyed running it down the hall.
“He did alright riding it, but when he went to the O.R. he was a little nervous,” Douglas admitted.
Sami Placer, director of surgical services at the medical center, added, “But it was less time for him to be nervous, if you can cut out five seconds (of nervousness), that’s five seconds.”
Douglas said Ron Orris, executive director of the Blaisdell Foundation, provided funds from the organization as soon as he heard of the request for the $300 mini car. She said the car has a pedal, a radio and lights. A remote control device, operated by the staff to prevent run-away cars or mishaps, is an added safety feature. Parents or guardians may also accompany the child during their ride to surgery.
“They think they’re driving it, but the nurse or whoever behind them is actually (monitoring it) so they can’t run into walls,” Douglas said of the young drivers.
She noted the hospital also has a treasure chest of toys to ease anxiety for children who may not want to ride in the car.
“This is a little more exciting for them,” she said while referring to the shiny black car.
Placer said the medical center will monitor how effective the car is for children who use same day surgery services. She said children make up about 10 percent of the patients who use the unit. The majority of surgery for youngsters include ear procedures and tonsil removal.
Placer, who is also director of clinical education for Upper Allegheny Health System, the umbrella organization for the medical center and Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital, said the mini car could be considered for the latter facility.
“I think we’ll see what type of success we’ll have here with it,” Placer said. “It’s a good way to measure if it could be used” at the other site in Olean.
