Preparing for Home

Preparing for Home

What To Know Before You Leave the Hospital

Before you leave the hospital, make sure you have a complete list of contacts and phone numbers related to your child’s care.

Include:

  • Emergency contacts
  • Hospital numbers
  • Your child’s care team, such as their surgeon, GI doctor, and nurses
  • Community resources

Tips:

  • Keep a contact list in your phone.
  • Post a copy at home.
  • Use the Children’s Wisconsin MyChart app to keep track of your child’s information.

In an emergency, always call 911.

Follow-Up Clinic Visits

After going home, your child will need to return for follow-up visits.

To schedule a visit:

  • Call us at (414) 607-5280.
  • You can also schedule visits while you’re at the clinic.

The clinic team members will meet with you and your child to review your child’s care.

During your visit, the care team will:

  • Review your child’s condition and care plan.
  • Adjust medicines and dosages.
  • Order lab tests or X-rays if needed.
  • Check for any issues with the G-tube or health.
  • Continue your teaching and go over new information.

Bring the following to your child’s clinic visits:

  • A list of your child’s medicines.
  • Supplies your child will need while at the clinic or hospital.
  • A list of your questions or concerns.

Below is a list of the experts you and your child will see and what their roles are.

Clinic assistant:

  • Measures your child’s height and weight.
  • Checks vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature.

Clinic nurse or advanced practice nurse (RN or APN):

  • Reviews and updates health history.
  • Goes over medicines and prescriptions.
  • Talks about daily routines, activities, and therapies.
  • Answers questions and addresses concerns.

Dietician:

  • Reviews your child’s growth and feeding intake.
  • Suggests changes to feeding if needed.

You may get forms from different places. Choose the ones that are most helpful to you and keep them where they’re easy to find.

  • Your child may need a doctor-signed form for tube feeding or care at school. Please ask your clinic nurse for the G-tube site care and feeding authorization.
  • When the dietitian creates your child’s tube feeding plan, you will get a copy of the plan form.
  • When we order G-tube supplies, you will receive a copy of the G-tube supplies form.