Support Services for Families
The Cardiac Center and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have excellent supports for families facing the numerous challenges that may come with having a sick child.
Heart and Mind Education Day
As a parent or family member of a child with congenital heart disease, one of the best things you can do for your child is to stay up-to-date with your knowledge of cardiac care. The Cardiac Center offers an annual Education day as an opportunity for parents of Cardiac Center patients to learn, to meet other families and to ask questions of our doctors, nurses and other staff members.
Cardiac Nurse Liaison
If your child is an inpatient, this nurse will be assigned to your family and will help you throughout the Hospital experience. The nurse will meet you before any procedures and go with you to meetings with the surgeon, cardiologist and other team members. When you are waiting during surgery or other procedures, the nurse will update you every hour. After the procedure, the nurse will care directly for your child. She or he may also be your child’s primary nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
Social Workers and Child Life Specialists
The Cardiac Center has social workers and child life specialists dedicated to cardiac patients and their families. Recognizing the therapeutic value of play for hospitalized children our Child life specialists, teachers, art and music therapists are specially trained to help children cope with illness and stress through play, creative arts and music therapy. Social workers provide help directly or connect families to resources for long-term housing, stress management, financial and insurance issues and much more.
Nutrition services
The Cardiac Center has dedicated nutritionists on staff who will work with you and your child to encourage healthy eating behaviors and provide nutritional assessments and guidance. Our nutritionists are available for all cardiology patients, including: patients with congenital heart disease who need nutritional assessments and guidance on calories; oral or tube fed children; patients with organ transplants, pulmonary hypertension or congestive heart failure; patients who need general dietary recommendations due to risk factors for coronary heart disease; and children with bone density issues who need help with calcium or vitamin supplementation.
Referral Nurse Liaison
The Cardiac Center has a full-time referral nurse liaison who coordinates second opinions and referrals to the Cardiac Center and helps doctors and others manage the patient’s treatment. The referral nurse liaison serves as an invaluable resource for families seeking treatment at the Cardiac Center.
Learn more
For more information on any of these services as well as additional services available to families at CHOP, please contact us at 215-590-4040 or cardiac@email.chop.edu.
Contact Us
For a second opinion, cardiac referral, or for more information.
267-426-9600
To schedule an outpatient appointment.
215-590-4040