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About Comfort Kids

Participating online survey.Tell us about your experiences with tests/procedures.

• OUTPATIENT ADOLESCENT SURVEY (2009)
• OUTPATEITNT PARENT SURVEY (2009)

Quick links to pharmacolgical and diversion/distraction therapies

• Psychological techniques/diversion or distraction therapy
• Troubleshooting procedural pain management problems
• Information for Parents and Children
  • Going to hospital "What will it be like" interactive computer game and activity book
  • Relaxation and breathing techniques
  • Making the hurt go away
• Procedural sedation including nitrous oxide
• Pain management for newborns
• Workshops for Health Care Professionals 

Contact Comfort Kids Program  and Children Cancer Services( Procedural Pain Management Clinicians)

Dr Ian McKenzie, Director of Anaesthesia and Comfort Kid"s Chair  9345 5232 Lisa Takacs, Program Manager page 4877/ lisa.takacs@rch.org.au Olivia Hamilton,Program Educator page 7933 olivia.hamilton@rch.org.au Educational Play Therapy Department -  (03) 9345 5424  Comfort Kid's Program (03) 9345 -7933

Comfort First - Cancer Centre/PICS         (03) 9345 5453/4260 Jenny Cations pager 5805 Kari Peters pager 5606 Lydia Johnsey pager 4865 Karin Plummer pager 6867

Funding for this program provided by:

Proudly sponsored by the Staff of Safeway

Psychological techniques/diversion or distraction therapy

Positioning for Comfort

• Infant 
• Positioning for Comfort - Child
• How to help you child with tests and procedures: parent fact sheet -all ages

 

• Five coping strategies for children TM
  • calm breathing
  • muscle relaxation
  • mind pictures
  • busy brainwaves activity
  • positive self talk activity

Relaxation and Breathing Technique

• for adolescents (PDF)
• Comfort Kids' distraction boxes

Troubleshooting procedural pain management problems

• Referring a distressed child or referring a child for surgical preparation
• Referring a distressed child- RCH Child and family Psychology Clinic

Procedural sedation including nitrous oxide

• Procedural sedation clinical guidelines - ward/outpatients
• About nitrous oxide
• Procedural sedation learning guide for health care professionals
• Nitrous oxide learning contract
• Nitrous oxide accreditation tool
• Nitrous oxide: cylinders ,equipment /Location of "back up "equipment box for nitrous oxide

Parent fact sheet

• Chloral hydrate
• Nitrous oxide
• Midazolam

Pain management for newborns  

• Oral sucrose for procedural pain management
  • Sucrose information for parents (PDF)
• National Newborn Pain Practice guideline (PDF)

The role of Educational and Play Therapy for procedures

• About Educational Play Therapy
• Referring a distressed child or referring a child for surgical preparation

Going to hospital "What will it be like" interactive computer game and activity book

• About the book: features and activities

Workshops and training

Please download from the links below, information and registration forms for 2008 workshops and courses.  All registrations forms must be signed by the relevant manager.

• Procedural Sedation Leaders Workshop 2009 (Application form) (PDF)
• Comfort Kids Workshop 2009 (Application form) (PDF)

Research articles/conferences 

• 8th International Symposium on Paediatric Pain- June 7-11, 2009
• The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Paediatric and Child Health Division (2005): Guideline Statement: Management of Procedure-related Pain in Children and Adolescents.
• www.childcancerpain.org/

Historical Overview

Historical overview

In 2004 a multidisciplinary Steering Committee was initiated to address procedural concerns expressed by health care professionals throughout the hospital.The steering committee has been pivotal in developing the framework, resources and educational activities for the program. Over thirty multidisciplinary staff members have contributed to the development of this program. 

August 2005 The Comfort Kids Program officially launch to address the procedural pain management needs of a specialist paediatric hospital. The Comfort Kids program aims to provide guidance, education, resources and expertise in the management of children's discomfort, anxiety and distress before, during and after procedures. The Comfort Kid's Program is part of the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management Service.

The program works in collaboration with the Children's Pain Management Service, Department of Educational and Play Therapy, Department of Anaesthesia, Department of Paediatrics and clinical areas.     

When a child is in pain all caregivers-including teachers, ambulance attendants, fire fighters, day care workers, police officers, nurses, doctors,child care counsellors,physiotherapists, and blood technicians, among others- are in "loco parentis," and responsible for providing help and support to the child in pain.    Leura Kuttner