Resource For Children Demystifies Hospital Visits (NAPSA)—A new family resource to help children prepare for a hospital visit can be as close as a computer. “Arthur’s Guide to Children’s Hospital Boston,” hosted by everyone’s favorite aardvark, Arthur, and his friends from the Mare Brown books and the PBS television series, has just been added to the new Children’s Hospital Boston Web site at www.childrenshospital.org. “The ‘Arthur’s Guide to Children’s Hospital Boston’site can fill a critical need for any family—no matter where they live—whose child must visit a hospital for the first time,” says Cynthia Levin, Director of the Center for Families at Children’s Hospital Boston. “Visiting a hospital can be very scary to a young child, especially if they’re going because they’re sick. So it’s important that parents prepare their children before they go.” The guide was created to answer someof the questions children may have about coming to the hospital and to help prepare the entire family for the visit. While some children will be able to surf this site independently,it’s a great opportunity for parents to explore this guide together with their child and talk about their upcoming visit. Designed to look and read like a school report by Arthur and his friends, “Arthur’s Guide to Children’s Hospital Boston” describes hospital experiences in simple terms. The guide covers in detail three types of visits: doctor’s visits, preoperative visits and hospital stays. In each, kids can read about the staff they may meet—from re RS en Te a ‘hs Op isitestspattown Kinds Ve Arthur and his friends prepare kids for their first hospital visit. doctors and nurses, to radiologists and nutritionists and even clowns who entertain patients. Because a hospital can feel like a big place to a child who doesn’t know his or her way around, families can read about the many locations in a hospital. Finally, the guide also features some cool activities children can do before, during and even after their visit to the hospital, including “Buster’s Waiting Games”and “E-mail a Friend.” Grown-ups can find information geared toward them on the main Children’s Hospital Boston Website. Two popular features for parents are the “My Child Has” search feature, which includes information about 1,200 childhood illnesses and conditions; and the “Experience Journal” where young patients and their families have shared their personal medical experiences. Parents can also request an appointment online. Thesite includes general information about the hospital, as well as a rich variety of resources about each departmentandspecialty.
