If your child is facing a condition, injury, or you have the suspicion he or she may be facing a serious illness, a Texas children's hospital may be a better option for you and your child rather than seeking treatment at a traditional large medical center or community hospital that provides care centered toward adults.
Although these hospitals can be skilled providers for adults, it might benefit your child to receive treatment at a facility that was designed specially for children, their parents, and also understands the psychological and physical needs that go along with treating a child with the worst illnesses.
These hospitals also can help children who need "simple" procedures like having their tonsils out or having tubes put in their ears.
What Do Children's Hospitals Do Differently? Children's hospitals provide a full set of services for children who are seen both as an inpatient and as an outpatient including cardiology (heart), oncology and hematology (cancer and blood diseases), pulmonary (lungs), diabetes and endocrinology (hormonal concerns), and liver and kidney disorders.
Even "basic" services like well child exams and eye exams can be performed.
Pediatric Transplant Centers Some hospitals for sick children also have transplant centers.
Children's hospitals that provide transplants may be a better option for your child than a general medical center that treats patients of all ages because of the availability of donors they receive.
The staff and physicians at a children's hospital are specifically trained to know how to make your child comfortable during treatment.
He or she has a passion for helping these youngsters and are aware of what special needs children require before and after transplants or other procedures.
Some pediatric transplant centers are also working on methods to keep your child healthier after transplant, and how to reduce the number of medications that commonly come with side effects your child may have to take.
Pediatric Trauma Centers Many children's hospitals have pediatric trauma centers.
This means that if your child goes has a traumatic or serious injury, they will be in the hands of specialists.
They will be treated by doctors who intimately know the special needs of children, and about how to make your child more comfortable during a serious situation.
It's not just inpatient stays whom benefit from these hospitals.
Many children's hospitals also provide care for children who need treatment in an outpatient setting.
Helping Other Children Many of these hospitals carry out their work under top-notch academic medical centers.
This means these hospitals do research in a wide range of fields that pertain specifically to children's health and treatments for complex - and even simple - pediatric conditions.
"But what does this mean for me?" you may be thinking.
This means that your child will benefit from the most up-to-date knowledge possible.
Your doctors will be experts in their fields, and will know about the most advanced diagnostic methods and treatments available to help your child.
Your child's doctors will know how to best treat your children, and how to achieve the best possible outcome for your child.
Additionally, you may seek comfort in knowing that your child's treatments today can help children tomorrow.
You may have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials at a children's hospital, finding an testing cures for future generations.