NEW YORK, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Surgery can be a frightening experience for anyone, but for a child and their family, the level of fear and stress is often higher. Healthcare providers say reducing those anxieties in a young patient prior to surgery can lead to a better overall outcome. That's why several leading children's hospitals are working hard to make the entire experience comfortable, familiar and even fun.
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Research has shown that children who are engaged in an activity or have a distraction ahead of surgery feel more comfortable, and therefore less fearful. Child experts have developed a wide variety of activities to engage children and their families before surgery and during recovery. These activities range from creating a web page about their stay, to playing games that familiarize them with their surgery.
At the University of Michigan, patients often get to ride a battery- powered Hummer right into surgery. Donated by the local Hummer dealer, the miniature Hummers have started a new trend in healthcare that dealers across the country are following.
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