Pediatric Frequently Asked Questions

How do we get to the office or hospitals? Your child’s appointment will be in the pediatric clinic on the 4th floor of the Pavilion at St. John’s Hospital. Check out the maps on this web site
If you have further questions, call the office at 217-545-0702 or 217-545-3170.

How do we get to the office or hospitals? Your child’s appointment will be in the pediatric clinic in Room 2W106 of the Carol Jo Vecchi Women & Childrens Center. Check out the maps on this web site   If you have further questions, call the office at 217-545-7377 or 217-545-3170.

When will my child have surgery? Our plan is to discuss this and schedule a date for surgery during your appointment with the surgery team. This allows you to leave with an appointment and make plans for your family. If you need to check calendars, work schedules or make child care arrangements after the appointment, you may call the nurse and discuss a date for surgery.

What do we need to bring to the doctor’s appointment? Please bring your child, insurance card, list of current medications, list of current physicians caring for your child, and a list of questions for the surgeon. If you are in a managed care plan for insurance, please bring insurance authorization/ referral. If your child has had xrays, CT scans or MRIs for the problem bringing you to the surgeon please bring reports AND films or a CD with pictures IF the tests were not done at Memorial Medical Center or St. Johns Hospital.

Will you see patients for second opinions about surgery or are you concerned if we want to get a second opinion? We will see children for a second opinion about surgery. We realize it my be a very difficult decision to let you child go to surgery. We encourage parents to seek second opinions whenever they feel the need. We want you to be certain that you have made the best decision about your child’s care.

Who checks insurance?/Do we need to check insurance before surgery? Many insurance companies require certain procedures, surgeries, or inpatient hospital stays be screened/pre-certified/pre-authorized/pre-notified. It is important that you know the requirements of your insurance plans. Failure to meet precertification requirements may cost you money. The office staff will do the insurance precertification for you. If you want to do this or to verify the check has been done, please contact your insurance company. You may request written verification of the precertification. Your insurance may require us to use specific hospitals for tests and surgeries.

Is this a problem? It is common for managed care companies (PPOs or HMOs) to encourage or require you to use a specific hospital. It will help us plan for your child’s care if you know which hospital your insurance requires you to use. We are presently only doing procedures at St. John’s Hospital but can usually help obtain approval for your child’s surgery to be done at this facility.

Does my child need lab work done before surgery? Many children do not need any lab work done before surgery. We will discuss this with you during the office visit. How do I prepare my child for surgery? Please talk to the nurse during your child’s office visit about specific instructions for your children. In general, we recommend that you talk to your child a few days before surgery (about one day for each year of age, for example if your child is 4 years old, start talking about surgery, no more than 4 days before surgery), consider reading a storybook about surgery with your child and answer your child’s questions in concrete terms.

What do we need to do before surgery? Please do not give aspirin, aspirin products, Advil, Motrin, or ibuprofen for 10 days before surgery. These medicines affect platelet function which can lead to clotting problems. Tylenol may be given anytime during these 10 days before surgery. Please let the nurse know if your child has a temperature over 101, is taking antibiotics, or has breathing problems such as a bad cold or cough before surgery. These things may affect your child’s surgery.

When do we need to come to the hospital before surgery? You will need to be at the hospital 1 ½ to 2 hours before surgery. We will discuss this at the office visit.

When does my child need to stop eating and drinking before surgery? The newest guidelines from the Anesthesiologists are based on a child’s age. Infants receiving breastmilk or formula only need to be off feedings for a few hours. Older children need to be off milk and solid foods for a longer time period. All children may have clear liquids (water, apple juice, white grape juice, lemon lime soda) until just a few hours before surgery. We will discuss the specifics for your child at the office visit. We will call you the day before surgery to confirm the time of surgery and give you specific directions for stopping food and liquids and when to arrive at the hospital. Is there any medicine to calm a child down before surgery? There are a few medicines taken by mouth that can be given before surgery to calm a child down. Children pick up on their parents’ emotions so try to act as calm as is possible. If you think your child may need medication please talk to the surgeon, nurse or the anesthesiologist before surgery.

Can I be with my child until he/she is asleep? You can accompany your child to the front desk of the operating room. It is then only a few steps between this area and the operating room. St. John’s does not allow you to be in the operating room but the staff assure that your child is asleep very soon after leaving you.

I have questions about anesthesia (going to sleep). Will I be able to talk to the anesthesiologist before surgery? Yes, you will be able to talk to the anesthesiologist. This is one of the things you will do at the hospital just before surgery. Please bring in a list of questions. The anesthesiologist is the doctor who determines how your child will receive medicine to go to sleep and what medicines your child will receive. He or she will want to know if anyone in your child’s family has had problems from anesthesia.

When can I see my child after surgery? As soon as your child’s condition allows.

Will my child have pain after surgery? Your child may have some discomfort or pain after surgery. We have made great progress in treating pain in the last 5 – 10 years. The surgeons or anesthesiologists may inject numbing medicine in the incision during surgery to minimize pain sensations. Usually after outpatient surgery, pain medicine (liquid or pills) will be sufficient to treat the pain. For surgery requiring a hospital stay, IV medicines are available to treat the pain. We encourage you to give your child pain medication on a schedule for the first 24 – 36 hours after surgery. Research and experience are teaching us that pain medication works best when given on a schedule that keeps the pain under control. Children taking pain medicines on a schedule also use less medication than children who are given medication only when in pain. Please discuss any questions or concerns about pain or pain management with your child’s surgeon or nurse.

What is the recovery time after surgery? This will depend on your child and the surgery being done. We will discuss this in the office and again after the procedure. Please call us with any specific questions after the surgery.

How do I care for my child after surgery? The surgeon will discuss specific information such as incision care, pain medication to give, etc with you after surgery. What do we do if we have questions after surgery? Please don’t hesitate to call the office with questions or concerns after surgery. If you have questions during the day, please call the nurse in the office. Evenings and weekends, please call the answering service at 545-8000 to page the pediatric surgeon on call. There is a surgeon on call 24 hours a day.

Does my child need to come back to the doctor after surgery? Yes! Usually your child will need at least one visit to the doctor after surgery. This appointment will give the doctor a chance to be sure your child is healing after surgery. It also gives you a chance to ask any questions you have since surgery.

If my child stays in the hospital overnight, can I stay with him/her? Yes. Pediatric units have a place for you to stay with your child. Please ask about the specifics at your appointment.

Is there a place to stay besides the hospital? Yes. There are many places to stay: Ronald McDonald House is close to the hospital. There are several hotels/motels in Springfield, also. Ask the nurse about accommodations at the office visit.