Leaving the Hospital At Stony Brook Children’s, we practice patient-and family-centered care. This means families are important members of the treatment team. We take this approach not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because studies show that when the patient’s family stays involved, outcomes are better. This focus on better outcomes is the foundation of all of the care we deliver.
Our Advice
Get to know your child’s caregivers. Many parents find that the relationships they develop with their team members make a difference in the quality of their child’s stay.
Make sure you have been introduced to all of the people caring for your child. Talk with them. They are more than happy to give you the most up-to-date information on your child’s plan of care.
If you don’t understand what is happening or why a procedure is being done, please speak up. Don’t worry if it seems that you keep asking the same questions. There is a lot of new information to take in. It also helps to write things down. If you still have questions, you may want to schedule a conference with key team members. We are happy to do so because the more you know, the better decisions you will make about your child’s care.
Ronald McDonald Family Rooms
We have two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, one (in the Children’s Hospital) on Level 6, and one inside the NICU. These patient-free family respite rooms provide your family a place to rest and relax close to your child’s bedside. It provides many of the comforts of home, including a fully stocked kitchenette, a dining area, a comfortable sitting area with a large flat-screen TVs, a private shower, laundry facilities and a parent education/resource room (this is only available in Children’s Hospital). To prevent the spread of infection, families whose child is on isolation are not permitted in the family room for the duration of the isolation period.
The Family Rooms are staffed daily. We encourage you to take advantage of this warm, comfortable space as a way of taking care of yourself during what is often a very stressful time for families.
The Family Room: staffed daily from 9 am to 9 pm (hours subject to change).
Showers and Washer/Dryer: The anteroom of the lounge, which houses a washer, dryer, changing station and a shower, is available 24/7.
Playrooms
The Lippe Family Playroom and Garden is Located on Level 6. This room is always supervised by a child life specialist or volunteer. Each morning, children are screened before the playroom opens. Only children who are not contagious are permitted in. They are free to use the playroom without their parents or guardians present. Up to two siblings may accompany the patient to the playroom.
To prevent the spread of infectious disease, children who are on isolation, as well as their siblings, are not permitted in the playroom for the duration of the isolation period. If your child is on isolation, a child life specialist is happy to bring toys, games and other playthings to your child’s room or bring them into the Neutropenic Playroom.
Level 7 Lounge. Because teens need their own space to make friends, play video games and just chill outside of their hospital room, we’ve put in a lounge just for them on Level 7.
