Kid Friendly Doctor Visits

Dr. Kia Nelson: Going to the doctor can be a stressful experience for both you and your child. Some kids even have meltdowns about the thought of going to their pediatrician's office.

Hi, I'm Dr. Kia Nelson. As a practicing pediatrician at Sauk Prairie Healthcare's Wisconsin Heights Clinic, it is my goal to make clinic visits as kid friendly and
stress free as possible. I never want any child or teen to skip an appointment due to not feeling welcome or comfortable in the clinic.

In this video, I'll share four insights into how we try to make the clinic visit a positive experience.

Okay, here are four intentional things we do to make your child's visit fun and less stressful.

Number one: having a dedicated pediatric space in the clinic.

One nice aspect about some clinics including here at Wisconsin Heights is that we have an entire wing of the clinic dedicated to our pediatric patients. We are able to room patients into the space quickly so they aren't waiting in the general waiting room, which can be an anxiety producing time for families. This keeps the kids in a familiar environment that is geared towards children and appears more playful and less intimidating. We are actually in the middle of updating the space as well. We just painted the rooms and we'll be adding more kid- and teen-friendly artwork in addition to our under the sea themed exam table. Hopefully it will feel more like a fun adventure for the kids rather than a scary appointment.

Play is also a huge part of how kids experience and understand the world. This is why the second way we make the visit less scary is to have lots of books, toys, stickers, and coloring pages on hand. For children with sensory difficulties, we even have sensory friendly toolkits, which includes various sensory tools that they can use during the visit and keep for future appointments or community outings.

Okay, we are on to number three: familiar faces. Consistency and knowing what to expect is a helpful way to decrease stress for kids and for families. We are fortunate that we are a small clinic and the entire staff is able to get to know my patients. From the receptionist to the nurses, to the other providers, you'll be seeing faces that you know and recognize, which really helps kids feel at ease.

Fourth and last: it is so important to make sure the child is at the center of each and every visit. We involve kids and teens as early and often as possible in their care to help them build confidence during the appointment and allow them to feel like they're being heard when it comes to their health. We often adjust the visit to meet their needs, like doing physical exams on parents' laps or making a second appointment to not overwhelm them on the first visit.

It's the reality that sometimes we have to do certain procedures or discuss uncomfortable topics during the visit to provide quality care. But that doesn't mean we can't do our best to make the clinic environment as relaxing and as fun as possible.

If you found this video helpful, please like and share with your friends, and if you're looking for a doctor for your child, come see us here at Wisconsin Heights Clinic.