As a pediatric hospital, our staff members are specially prepared to care for children.

Here is an overview of some of the health care professionals you may meet during your visit.

Medical and Surgical Staff

Attending physician: the physician in charge of and responsible for your child's care.

Resident physician: physician with advanced training in the care of hospital patients. The resident reports to the attending physician on your child's progress every day.

Fellow: physician who has completed residency training and is undertaking additional training in a pediatric specialty such as orthopaedics or urology.

Consulting physician: physician with expertise in a particular area. This physician may be called upon by the attending to help diagnose and treat your child.

Medical students: as a teaching hospital, students participate as part of the medical team.

Nursing Staff

RNs at the Hospital have special training in the care of children and many have additional training in a specific pediatric specialty. They work as partners with your child's doctor to provide care.

Nurse manager: the nurse manager or head nurse supervises the unit. You may discuss any aspect of nursing care, hospital services or your child's comfort or needs with the nurse manager.

Primary nurse: this nurse is responsible for planning and coordinating your child's care throughout the hospital stay.

Advanced practice nurses: registered nurses with additional education and clinical training in a specific area of health care. These nurses work in all areas of the hospital to perform physical exams and procedures, order lab tests and teach parents about issues related to the child's care.

There are several kinds of advanced practice nurses, including:

Clinical nurse specialists who specialize in one area of nursing, such as diabetes or oncology.

Nurse practitioners who perform physical exams, diagnose patient problems, treat illness, educate patients and families and may also participate in research.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists who are educated and licensed to administer anesthesia.

Family Services Staff

Child life specialists: these staff members are child development experts. They manage the social and emotional needs of hospitalized children through age-appropriate activities including play and art. Staff members supervise play rooms, coordinate play therapy programs and consult with the school system to tutor school-aged children.

Social workers: these professionals help families adjust to illness, access community resources and plan for post-discharge needs and services.

Patient services coordinators: these registered nurses are members of the Social Services Department. They orient children to the hospital, coordinate activities of the intensive care family lounge and provide updates to families of children who are having surgery.

Other Professional Staff

Bereavement coordinator provides support and counseling to grieving family members and helps families find support services in their communities. For more information, click here.

Chaplain is available for spiritual support and also administers sacraments. In addition, the chaplain can help you reach clergy from other faiths.

Nutritionists, including Registered Dieticians and Dietetic Technicians, are nutrition experts who evaluate and modify a patient's eating patterns. They work with family and medical staff to recommend dietary changes that will promote recovery and prevent complications.

Occupational therapists build on skills learned in physical therapy. Patients apply these skills accomplish tasks such as dressing, bathing and other age-appropriate activities.

Physical therapists help patients move independently by building strength and restoring function to the greatest extent possible.

Respiratory care practitioners evaluate and treat patients with breathing problems.

Speech therapists evaluate and treat patients with speech and/or hearing problems as well as those with swallowing disorders.