Your child’s time in the hospital will be more fun and less scary thanks to our child life specialist. This professional explains medical care in simple, kid-friendly ways and offers games and activities to brighten their mood. That means more peace of mind for your whole family.
You can expect attentive care at St. Cloud Hospital no matter which level of support your child needs:
- General medical or surgical care – Routine help and monitoring for a wide range of conditions
- Progressive (intermediate) care – Frequent checks of vital signs and a higher nurse-to-patient ratio
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) – Life support from a pediatric intensivist (critical care doctor) and round-the-clock monitoring after a serious injury or surgery
The hospital also has a pediatric short stay and infusion unit. It provides up to eight hours of care for children who may need monitoring, but not a hospital stay.
Before a vaccination, lab test or certain imaging procedures, your child’s physician at St. Cloud Hospital may offer the option of nitrous oxide. Through a face mask, your child breathes in a safe, odorless gas that relaxes them and prevents pain. It wears off soon after the procedure, so your child can quickly return to normal activities.
Your child’s care may be in the hands of a pediatric hospitalist—a physician or advanced practice provider who works only at the hospital, so they can respond to your child’s needs in a timely way. If your child needs critical care support, a pediatric intensivist—a physician with a specialty in pediatric critical care, would be called in to provide the special care that your child needs. After your child returns home, your pediatrician or family medicine clinician will resume their care.
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