One Night in Akron Chilren's Hospital

My son, who is a type 1 diabetic had a hyperglycemia episode and was admitted to spend the night at Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio.

We arrived in an ambulance and were met at the front door by an emergency room staff that really seemed to care about every minute they put into my son's care. He was taken immediately to a private curtained examination area where a nurse took his vital signs as an admissions specialist quietly took his insurance and other basic information from me.

His blood sugar was tested and other tests were ordered. The television, conveniently positioned on an adjustable arm in his examination area was turned on, tuned to a music station and positioned so that he could see it. The nurse asked both of us if we had any questions and my son was handed a volume and channel control button as the nurse slipped out to take excellent care of another patient waiting in the area next door.

Within minutes the doctor on call came in to tell us what to expect and to ask questions and even before he left, an aide was there with a wheel chair to take my son to his room. He was pleasant and joked with my son on the ride to the proper floor.

The room was clean and well lit, he was shown around and all precautions were taken to assure my son's privacy as he dressed in his hospital gown and an IV was inserted into his arm for his stay there. He was made comfortable with an extra pillow and blanket and again the television was tuned to a station appropriate for a teen-aged boy.

The tests that had been ordered in the emergency room were done quietly and my son slept peacefully through the night, except when nurses had to come in take his vital signs, check his IV status, and take his food order for the next day. Each time, they identified themselves, went quickly about their tasks and left us only after offering to answer any questions we might have. (The chair in my son's room was a pull out bed on which parents could spend the night with their child and I was offered a pillow and blanket for additional comfort.

By the next morning my son was a new boy, his color and energy had returned and he was joking with the staff. He was able to eat his breakfast and lunch and by afternoon he was ready to go home thanks to the professionalism and efficiency of the professionals at Akron Children's Hospital.