15
August
2018
|
17:00 PM
America/Chicago

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital is First Non-Children’s Hospital Certified by ChildKind International

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital is the first non-children’s hospital, and only the ninth hospital in the world, to be certified by ChildKind International. ChildKind Certification recognizes healthcare facilities that demonstrate institution-wide excellence in their assessment, prevention and treatment of children’s pain.

“This certification by ChildKind is the result of the ‘patients first’ philosophy inherent in the fabric of our organization. This further demonstrates Central DuPage Hospital’s commitment to excellence and we are pleased to join other leading pediatric institutions in this recognition,” said Jeffrey Loughead, MD, medical director, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital.

The ChildKind surveyors praised Central DuPage Hospital for a “culture of comfort” and the enthusiasm and camaraderie the staff brought to this issue. They highlighted the administrative support for pain management noting the hospital has numerous pain resource nurses, seven Child Life specialists and a Pediatric Pain Committee. They specifically recognized Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Michele Habich, DNP, APN/CNS, CPN, for her national reputation in pediatric pain.

“Unfortunately, the incidence of pain in children is fairly high as many experience pain as a result of their health condition and/or from the medical interventions we use to improve their health,” said Habich. “At Central DuPage Hospital, we maintain high practice standards and provide patient and family assurance that we will do everything we can to prevent and/or minimize the frequency and severity of pain.”

Prominent pediatric institutions that have received the certification include Boston Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.

"As part of our ongoing mission to improve the quality of children's pain care around the world, ChildKind is proud to certify Central DuPage Hospital for demonstrating a passionate commitment to children's comfort,” said Neil Schechter, MD, ChildKind President. “This formal recognition of the Central DuPage staff and administration is a testament to their superior dedication to pediatric pain prevention and relief."

To achieve certification, hospitals must demonstrate The Five Principles of ChildKind:
• Presence of a facility wide policy on pain prevention, assessment, and treatment which demonstrates clear institutional commitment to pain relief
• Ongoing education on pain for staff, trainees, and patients
• Evidence of the sustained use of developmentally appropriate process for pain assessment
• Specific evidence informed protocols for pain prevention and treatment including pharmacological, psychological, and physical methods
• Regular institutional self-monitoring within the framework of continuous quality improvement

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital is a collaborative program for pediatric care in the Western Chicagoland area. Serving approximately 1 in 3 pediatric cases in the region, the program has vastly increased local access to pediatric specialty care in the western suburbs, providing access to more than 150 board-certified pediatric specialists. These pediatric specialists work with experienced pediatric nurses and other compassionate caregivers to treat thousands of infants, children and teens each year.

The ChildKind initiative was conceived by the Special Interest Group on Pain in Childhood of the International Association for the Study of Pain to reduce pain in children. ChildKind International is endorsed by the American Pain Society (APS) and the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN).