Bud E. Bear Program

Pre-Operative Education for Children

Program Goals

1. To prepare your child for the routine of surgery.
2. To prepare your child for the sights, sounds, feelings and smells that are a part of surgery.
3. To give your child the opportunity to ask surgery-related questions or to express surgery-related fears or concerns.
4. To help your child know what is expected of him or her during and after surgery.
5. To help you, as parents, help your child cope by providing education on normal, age-related reactions to surgery.
6. To provide a suggested model for you to use when talking with your child about surgery.

Times

Monday – Friday, 12:45 p.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m.

Eligibility

Children ages 3 to 11 who are preparing for an upcoming surgery at Scott & White.

Registration

Typically, you and your child will be told about the program as your pre-operative schedule is being set up and you will be automatically registered for the program at that time. However, if you have not been offered this opportunity, please ask about the Bud E. Bear program. Pre-registration is helpful, but not required. You may call the Child Life Office to pre-register your child. Please feel free to call 254-724-5707, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Location

Participants meet at the 1D, AAU, on the first floor of the clinic. A Child Life specialist will come and pick you and your child up at approximately 12:45 p.m.

Program

The program begins as we walk from the Surgical Family Waiting Area to the Day Surgery area on the second floor. We watch a video called "Katie Goes to Short Stay Surgery." Katie is a puppet who shares her surgery experience with the viewing audience. The video is educational and entertaining. After the video, the children are given the opportunity for some "hands-on" interactive medical play. A Child Life specialist who is trained to discuss the upcoming experience unique to your child in a developmentally appropriate manner leads this session. Your child may be involved in an individual session or a group session, depending on the age, experience and type of surgery for your child and the other children. During this time, children can assume the role of a healthcare professional, as Bud E. Bear is examined, given play anesthesia, wakes up with an IV and so forth. Your child will also receive a "Very Important Patient" certificate upon completion of this section of the program. The program concludes with a tour of the actual operating room.

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