Your Heart Guidebook

Congenital Heart Center

Welcome

Dear Patients and Families,

Welcome to the Congenital Heart Center at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. This guidebook was developed in an effort to provide you with valuable information, special resources and practical tools that will help guide and support you throughout your child’s journey here in the hospital as well as at home. It is filled with information on people, places, services, policies and amenities throughout the Congenital Heart Center so that you know what to expect along the way. It also contains a wealth of heart specific education material and health management tools related to your child’s illness. The team at our center is experienced in the care for all types of pediatric and congenital heart disease – medical care, surgical care, transplant and more. Care is provided to all ages –from prenatal care to adult congenital heart care. There are specialty clinics that address specific needs for particular groups of patients. And we have outreach clinics in many locations so that our pediatric cardiology care can be received closer to home.

This guidebook is an important resource for you and your child’s care team. You will refer to it and add to it often. When your child is discharged, please continue to use it and take it with you to your child’s doctor appointments and the emergency room. This guidebook should empower you to become an active partner in your child’s care and find the support that you and your family need during the various stages of your child’s heart journey.

We are here to help you through your child’s heart care; please let us know if there is anything that we can do to assist you.

Sincerely,

Wayfinding + Units

Heart Education + Care at Home

Patient and Family Support

+Special Programs

Contacts

Key phone numbers, addresses, websites; your address book

Wayfinding + Units

Wayfinding: Parking, finding your way around the hospital and the Congenital Heart Center

Units: Getting to know all about the unit(s) your child may be on, what to expect and helpful tips

Care Team

A who’s who guide to your child’s care team and what each member does for you

Heart Education + Care at Home

Heart Education : Definitions, diagnosis specific diagrams and details about your heart illness

More About Hearts: Education about congestive heart failure, endocarditis, immunizati ons and travel guidance

Care at Home: Education and planning for life at home heart care after surgery; medication management, guidelines and tips

Patient and Family Support

+ Special Programs

Support : Emotional, social and pr actical support resources for patients and families, both inside and outside the hospital

Special Programs: Research, Longitudinal Follow Up program, and other special programs that may be specific to your child’s diagnosis

Contacts

Congenital Heart Center Specific Phone Numbers

 Pediatric Cardiology Clinic: (734) 764-5176

 Pediatric Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (PCTU): (734) 232-7000

 11 West General Care: (734) 763-4387

 Brandon Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: (734) 763-4111

 Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery: (734) 936-4978

 Ronald McDonald House: (734) 994-4442

 Patient and Visitor Accommodations Program: (734) 936-0100 www.med.umich.edu/hotels

 Call Center: (734) 764-5176 ** Please use for questions after Discharge**

Mailing Addresses

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

11 West, SPC 4248

1540 East Hospital Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-4248

Pediatric Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (PCTU)

C & W 10 West 10-321

1540 East Hospital Drive, SPC 4288

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-4288

Congenital Heart Center

Pediatric Cardiology

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

1540 East Hospital Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-4284

Websites

Michigan Medicine Web Pages

 Congenital Heart Center, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

o www.mottchildren.org/congenital

 Michigan Medicine Patient Portal

o (families are encouraged to register patients, the portal is a secure way to manage important health information)

o To register: www.myuofmhealth.org

o For more information: https://www.uofmhealth.org/patient -visitor-guide/patient-portal

 What is Congenital Heart Disease?

o www.mottchildren.org/conditions-treatments/ped-heart/chd

 Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

o www.medicine.umich.edu/dept/cardiac-surgery/pat ient-information/pediat ric-cardiac-surgery

 Pediatric Cardiology

o www.medicine.umich.edu/dept/pediatrics/divisions/pediatric-cardiology

 Adult Congenital Heart

o www.umcvc.org/conditions-treatm ents/congenital-heart-disease

 Congenital Heart Center – Outcomes Report

o https://www.mottchildren.org/conditions-treatments/ped-hear t/outcomes-highlights-report

 Heart Guidebook

o An electronic version of this binder is included on the “Resources for Patients” page on the Congenital Heart Center webpage

https://www.mottchildren.org/conditions-treatments/ped- heart/resources-congenital-heart-patients

Patient and Family Social/Emotion al Support, Planning and Advocacy

 Please see the support section of this guidebook for a listing of support sites.

Your Address Book

Cardiologist: ___________________________________________

Number: _____________________________________

Fax: _______________________________________

Email:_______________________________________

Cardiology Nurse Practitioner:

Number: _____________________________________

Fax: _______________________________________

Email:_______________________________________

Primary Care Doctor:

Number: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email:_________________________________________

Inpatient Social Worker:

Number: _______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email:_________________________________________

Cardiovascular (C-V) Surgeon: ___________________________________________

Number: _____________________________________

Fax: ________________________________________

Email:_______________________________________

C-V Nurse Practitioner:

Outpatient Social Worker:

Number: ______________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email:_________________________________________

Medical Equipment Supplier: _____________________________________________

Number: _____________________________________

Fax: ________________________________________

Email:_______________________________________

Number: ______________________________________

Fax: __________________________________________

Email:________________________________________

Your Address Book

Medical Equipment Supplier: ____________________________________________

Number: _____________________________________

Fax: _________________________________________

Email: ________________________________________

Home Care Agency: ____________________

Number: ____________________________________

Fax: ________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

Home Pharmacy: ________________________

Number: ____________________________________

Fax: ________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

Home Pharmacy: ____________________

Number: ____________________________________

Fax: ________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________

Compounding Pharmacy: _____________________________________________

Number: ______________________________________

Fax: __________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________

Other: _______________________________________

Number: _______________________________________

Fax: __________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________

Other: _______________________________________

Number: _______________________________________

Fax: __________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________

Other: _______________________________________

Number: ______________________________________

Fax: __________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________

Contacts

Key phone numbers, addresses, websites; your address book

Wayfinding + Units

Wayfinding: Parking, finding your way around the hospital and the Congenital Heart Center

Units: Getting to know all about the unit(s) your child may be on, what to expect and helpful tips

Care Team

A who’s who guide to your child’s care team and what each member does for you

Heart Education + Care at Home

Heart Education : Definitions, diagnosis specific diagrams and details about your heart illness

More About Hearts: Education about congestive heart failure, endocarditis, immunizati ons and travel guidance

Care at Home: Education and planning for life at home heart care after surgery; medication management, guidelines and tips

Patient and Family Support

+ Special Programs

Support : Emotional, social and pr actical support resources for patients and families, both inside and outside the hospital

Special Programs: Research, Longitudinal Follow Up program, and other special programs that may be specific to your child’s diagnosis

Wayfinding

COVID-19 Pandemic Note: Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

https://www.mottchildren.org/mott-patientvisitor-guide/family-visitors

Parking for Mott Children’s Hospital:

Self-parking: There are two options for self-parking at the hospital: Parking Structure P2 or P4.

From P4, take the parking elevator to level 3 to enter the children’s hospital via the pedestrian bridge on Level 3. The main hospital elevators are straight ahead.

From P2, enter the hospital on the 2nd floor, turn left, walk to the greeting desk near the Big Bird statue and enter C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. The main hospital elevator bank will be on the left after the chapel.

Bring your parking ticket to the security welcome desk to have it stamped for discounted parking at a rate of $2 for every 24 hours.

Valet Parking: This service is available in the valet circle in front of C.S. Mott Hospital for $10 per day.

Wayfinding

COVID-19 Pandemic Note:

Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

https://www.mottchildren.org/mott-patientvisitor-guide/family-visitors

Navigating throughout the entire hospital system:

Floor 2 is the connector floor between all of the hospitals and centers.

Please note these areas on the map above which you may need to visit during your stay:

 Med Inn

 Main Hospital Cafeteria

 Cardio Vascular Center

 Mott Children’s Hospital

Key Places at Mott

2nd Floor:

COVID-19 Pandemic Note:

Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions. The Family Center and Game Day Experience room are currently closed.

https://www.mottchildren.org/mott-patientvisitor-guide/family-visitors

 Security Check-In: At our main entrances, you will be asked why you are here and how you are feeling to screen for any contagious illness. Children with severe colds, flu or any other contagious illnesses will not be allowed to visit. You will receive a visitor’s sticker. Use the main elevator bank (#7) to get to all floors.

 Getaway Cafe: Featuring Subway, guest restaurants, child friendly food and yummy desserts. Hours of operation: weekday: 6:30 a.m. – 12 a.m., weekend/holiday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

 Chapel: The Mott Children’s Hospital chapel is located on the second floor, room 2780. It is open 24 hours a day.

 Family Center: Designed by families and health care professionals, the Family Center is a place for inpatients, outpatients and their families to learn, relax and become advocates for their health care.

 Lab/Blood Draw: If a blood draw is required for an outpatient visit, it can be done on this floor.

3rd Floor:

 Radiology: If a chest x-ray or radiology test is required for an outpatient visit, the radiology check-in desk is just a few steps from the elevator.

4th Floor:

 Frog Desk- Surgery Check-In: If you are checking in for heart surgery, your first stop will be our Frog Desk. This floor houses our operating rooms, pre-operative bays and surgical recovery unit.

8th Floor:

 Neonatal Unit (NICU): Take the main elevators located to the left of the main desk of the lobby. Once off the elevators, go to the neonatal welcome desk just a few steps from the elevators.

 Milk Room: Our unique milk room helps ensure that infants receive optimal nutrition through human milk during their hospitalization. Speak with your nurse to find out more information.

 Michigan Game Day Experience: This football themed space is available for children to play 7 days a week; hours vary. Please check with guest services for guidelines.

9th Floor:

 Birthing Center: For parents giving birth at our hospital, our birthing center is located on the 9th floor. To reserve a tour of the birth center, please call 734-763-6295

Key Places in the Congenital Heart Center

10th Floor:

COVID-19 Pandemic Note: Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

https://www.mottchildren.org/mottpatient-visitor-guide/family-visitors

 Waiting Area: Families waiting for a loved one undergoing cardiac surgery are asked to wait in the Level 10 Family Waiting Lounge where our staff will provide updates during the procedure. The waiting area is located directly behind the welcome desk on the 10th floor.

 Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (PCTU): Patients may be cared for in the PCTU after surgery. To locate from the ground floor lobby, take the main elevators (#7), located to the left of the main desk. Take the elevators to the 10th floor. Depending on time of day, Guest Services Specialists provide assistance at the welcome desk near the elevators, or a Clerk provides assistance at the desk inside the unit.

 Ronald McDonald House: Located right around the corner of the hospital or inside the hospital on the 10th floor, the Ronald McDonald House provides many of our families lodging. Please speak with your social worker for more information.

 Inpatient Lockers: Located in the 10th floor family waiting area.

 Inpatient Showers: Located in the bathroom across from the welcome desk on the 10th floor.

11th Floor:

 Pediatric Cardiology Clinic and Cardiac Surgery Office: For outpatient visits in the clinic, take the main elevators (#7) from the lobby to the 11th floor. There is a welcome desk just a few steps from the elevators. Continue to walk straight down the hallway, and the check in desk will be on your left.

 11 West Moderate and General Care Inpatient Unit: To find your way to 11West inpatient area from the lobby, take the main elevators (#7) from the lobby to the 11th floor. Go to the welcome desk, from there, go to the right from the desk and go through the double doors. A clerk will be located at the next desk and will assist you.

 Laundry: Washer and dryers are located in the family lounge on both the 10th floor and 11th floor. They are available for patient and family use, free of charge.

 Inpatient Showers: Located in each patient room.

“While my daughter was in the hospital, I used to take time to explore all of the different areas of the hospital. Not only did I learn where everything was, but it was a great way to spend some of the extra time.”

-Mom of a heart patient

CHC Units

Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (PCTU)

COVID-19 Pandemic Note:

Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

While tubes, wires, IVs, and monitors are a normal part of the PCTU, so is love and support from family.

 The PCTU is a 20 bed intensive care unit where your child will recover after surgery or when specialized intensive care is needed. We encourage family to visit at times that are convenient. When you arrive to the PCTU, stop at either the welcome desk or the clerical station to see if you are able to visit at that time. The PCTU clerk will check with your nurse and let you know if it is a good time to visit. Please call each time before you visit as the unit may be closed to visito rs due to sterile surgical procedures which often occur on the unit.

 Parents and legal guardians are welcome in the PCTU 24 hours a day. Between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., extended family and visitors are welcome with the exception of the time during nursing shift change. We ask that only parents and legal guardians stay during nursing shift change so that visitors will only hear medical information when you elect to share it with them. A parent or legal guardian may sleep at the bedside during your child’s stay.

 Your child’s length of stay in the PCTU could last one day to many weeks depending on the complexity of the medical condition and possible interventions. A team meeting, including the medical team and the family, is planned for patients staying longer than 2 weeks in the PCTU. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss short and long-term goals, and to discuss current medical status and treatment plan.

 Nursing shift change: 7 a.m. - 8 a.m., 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., 7 p.m. – 8 p.m., and 11 p.m. – 12 a.m.

 Cell phones may be used at the bedside, but we ask that you please place them on silent or vibrate.

 We ask that all family and visitors wash their hands frequently, and always when entering and exiting your child’s room.

CHC Units PCTU

Care After Surgery or Du ring Critical Illness:

COVID-19 Pandemic Note:

Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

Children who undergo a cardiac surgery or need intensive medical care for their heart may be cared for using:

 Mechanical ventilator to provide breathing support

 Medicines to support blood pressure, heart rhythm, and others such as antibiotics for infection prevention

 Pain and sedation medications to provide comfort

 Chest tubes to drain any fluid that could collect around the heart or lungs

 External pacer wires that can be used to pace the heart as necessary with an external pacemaker

 Urinary catheter to monitor the urine output

 Intravenous catheters (IVs) to provide fluids, intravenous nutrition and medications

 Heart, artery and vein catheters for pressure monitoring and blood draws

 Monitors that display the heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation

After surgery, our patients go directly to the PCTU from the operating room without spending any time in a separate recovery area. Because of this, the bed space and nearby bed spaces may be closed for 1-2 hours or longer after your child’s return from the operating room. We use this initial time to ensure a safe post- operative recovery, stabilize your child, share medical information, obtain initial tests, and double-check all of the patient’s catheters, medications and ventilator settings.

CHC Units PCTU

COVID-19 Pandemic Note:

Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

Because the PCTU is a medical AND surgical intensive care unit, various invasive procedures routinely occur at the bedside. Most of these procedures require sterility and in some cases may be urgent. In order to provide the highest quality and safest care for our patients, families may be asked to step out of the unit during procedures.

Although bedside space is limited, we encourage you to bring in favorite stuffed animals, blankets, music boxes, or pictures that you may find comforting during your hospital stay. Please label your items with your name to prevent them from being misplaced. Potted plants, flowers, and latex balloons are not permitted.

Patient and Family Centered Medical Rounds typically occur between 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. daily during the week, and 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. on weekends. Team members discuss medical status and form a plan for the day during rounds. Parents or legal guardians are welcome to participate in rounds. If family members are unavailable during rounds, members of the medical team are available to answer questions and discuss the treatment plan throughout the day and evening.

When your child’s condition has improved you will then be transferred to 11 West. In order to be well enough to transfer out of the PCTU, your child needs to be off the ventilator, and have stable vital signs.

The experience you have in the PCTU is important to us and we need to hear from you. Expect a survey concerning your patient and family experience on the PCTU before you transfer to the 11 West.

H“Being there for rounds as much as possible was really important to us. We took notes, which really helped because it is easy to forget all the details later. Whenever we didn’t understand what was happening, we asked questions.”

-Heart Parents

CHC Units

11 West-Moderate and General Care

COVID-19 Pandemic Note:

The 11 West playroom and Child Life room are currently closed for infection prevention.

Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

11 West is a 32 bed unit composed of 12 Moderate Care beds and 20 General Care beds, on the 11th floor of the hospital. When your child no longer requires ICU care, the remainder of the care will be on 11 West. Moderate care is a step between ICU care and general care. Our goal is to help equip you to take care of your child at home.

Your child’s care on 11 West will be managed by a team consisting of pediatric specialists. This team includes Cardiologists, Cardiology Fellows, Residents, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and many other support services.

You will receive a tour upon your child’s admission or transfer to the unit. On 11 West, you will find nutrition rooms where patients can help themselves to water, juice and various snacks. A central family lounge includes a play room, a laundry room, and a Child Life room. There is also a pumping room for breastfeeding mothers.

Visiting hours are 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Parents and guardians are not considered visitors and are encouraged to stay with their child. We ask that all family and visitors wash their hands frequently. *Please note*

Children who are sick or have been exposed to infectious illness are not permitted to visit. During Flu season, if a patient is in isolation precautions, visitors under 12 years are not permitted.

CHC Units

11 West-Moderate and General Care

Please see the Mott website for current visitor restrictions.

Two people, 18 years and older, can stay at the bedside overnight. Each patient room includes a bathroom with shower, personal refrigerator, reclining chair, couch that folds into bed, TV and Internet. Your child’s stay on 11 West may last days to weeks, depending on your needs.

 Nursing shift changes are from:

o 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.

o 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

o 7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

o 11:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

 Team rounding typically occurs from:

o 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

We encourage you to be a part of shift changes and present for team rounding, your input is important to your child’s care.

While on 11 West, your specialized team will work with you to prepare and equip you to provide care for your child at home. The multidisciplinary team partners with you and your child to provide individualized education. Staff will work with you until you feel comfortable and competent in providing all care necessary.

“Never be afraid to ask! No question is silly!”

-Parent of a heart patient

Notes and Questions:

Key phone numbers, addresses, websites; your address book

Wayfinding + Units

Wayfinding: Parking, finding your way around the hospital and the Congenital Heart Center

Units: Getting to know all about the unit(s) your child may be on, what to expect and helpful tips

Care Team

A who’s who guide to your child’s care team and what each member does for you

Heart Education + Care at Home

Heart Education : Definitions, diagnosis specific diagrams and details about your heart illness

More About Hearts: Education about congestive heart failure, endocarditis, immunizati ons and travel guidance

Care at Home: Education and planning for life at home heart care after surgery; medication management, guidelines and tips

Patient and Family Support + Special Programs

Support : Emotional, social and pr actical support resources for patients and families, both inside and outside the hospital

Special Programs: Research, Longitudinal Follow Up program, and other special programs that may be specific to your child’s diagnosis

Care Team

The Congenital Heart Center has many healthcare professionals working as a team to ensure your child receives the best medical care possible. The roles of the healthcare team are described below. Those with an asterisk are members who participate in daily rounds often.

Care Team Member Role

*Care Manager

A registered nurse who works with you and the medical team to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home. They solve problems that may delay a patient’s discharge, and arrange for visiting nurses and equipment once your child is home.

Cath Lab Technician

*Child Life Specialist

*Clinical Care Coordinator (CCC)

A specially trained technician that assist the doctor in the heart catheterization procedure.

Child life specialists support children and siblings during stressful hospital experiences. This is done largely through play and other fun activities.

A clinical care coordinator (CCC) is a nurse specialized in the care of cardiothoracic surgery patients. They provide discharge education and procedural assistance.

*Clinician Assistants Healthcare professionals, who assist the rounding team and provide helpful information to families throughout their stay in the PCTU.

Education Specialist

Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician

EP Technician

*Family

An education professional who supports and advocates for school engagement and academic progress for patients, and can help families communicate with their child’s school.

A specially trained technician that monitors and tests cardiovascular performance using EKG equipment, using electrodes to record the electrical signals of the heart.

A specially trained technician that assists the doctor in electrophysiology tests and procedure, as needed due to abnormal heart rhythm.

People who know the patient best and provide information about the patient’s history and current condition. Family takes on many forms and can include: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster family, guardians, members of the community, and many others.

Genetic Counselor

Guest Service Specialists and Unit Hosts

Medical Assistant

Professional with specialized genetic training who provides information and guidance to patients and families and to the care team about risk for inherited conditions.

They may be located at welcome desks. They can assist you with questions, directions, checking in visitors, and parking validation.

A trained healthcare assistant who supports the work of physicians, nurses and other health providers, and who supports patient experience.

Care Team Member Role

*Medical Social Worker Medical social workers help support children and families during stressful hospital experiences. They offer counseling, assist with lodging and insurance, and link children / families with resources near home. They also provide services on an outpatient basis.

Medical Student A student in the midst of medical school.

Nursing Student A student in the midst of nursing school.

Occupational Therapist (OT) Members of the patient’s rehabilitation team who help maximize the patient’s independence in order to support improving, maintaining or restoring skills for activities of daily living.

*Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons Cardiac surgeons are the leaders of the surgic al team, and perform heart surgery. They work closely with the cardiologists and doctors in training.

*Pediatric Cardiology Attending

Pediatric cardiologists are the leaders of the medical team. They work with cardiac surgeons and other doctors-in-training such as pediatric cardiology fellows and pediatric residents. They diagnose and treat congenital and pediatric heart diseases, perform heart catheterizations, decide with the surgeon about heart surgery, and provide care before and after heart surgery. One of these doctors may be your child’s primary cardiologist.

*Pediatric Cardiology Fellow Doctors who are completing a training to specialize in pediatric cardiology.

*Pediatric Nurse Pediatric nurses are registered nurses who provide expert nursing care to children and families. They provide care in our clinic, pr ocedure areas, intensive care and general care units. They are specially trained eyes and ears available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

*Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Pediatric nurse practitioners are masters or PhD prepared nurses who provide advanced nursing care. Pediatric nurse practitioners work closely with the attending doctors. They jointly manage the care that is provided in the acute or critical care units after heart surgery as well as your child’s ongoing cardiovascular care.

Pediatric Psychologist Pediatric psychologists have PhD training and support the interplay between development, behavior and health. They work together with the medical team to evaluate and provide treatment to promote mental health, coping and development.

*Pediatric Residents Doctors who completed medical school and are training to specialize in the care of children.

*Pediatric Surgical Fellows Surgeons in training to become pediatric cardio / thoracic surgeons. They complete a twoyear training program to specialize in pediatric cardiovascular surgery.

Phlebotomist Phlebotomist is personnel that specialize in drawing blood from patient.

Care Team Member Role

*Pharmacist A clinical professional with a doctorate in pharmacy who has education, training, and experience in the use of cardiovascular medications including appropriate dosing, side effects, and drug interactions.

Physical Therapist (PT) Treats injury or dysfunction with exercises and other physical treatments to improve movement function.

*Physician’s Assistant (PA)

A healthcare professional who has specializ ed training to provide healthcare to patients under the supervision of a doctor.

*Registered Dietitian Registered dieticians assess the dietary needs of children with heart problems and suggest diet changes. They help with infant formulas, tube feedings, and suggest diets for children with obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure), and high calorie needs.

Research Personnel Research is how medical teams learn about the best treatment for diseases and conditions such as congenital or acquired heart disease in children. You and/or your child may have the opportunity to participate in a research study. You may be approached by one of our research investigators, a research coordinator, or a research nurse, all of whom have specialized training in research practice and protocols to assure that research is safe and consistent.

Resident Assistant

*Respiratory Therapist

Sonographer

Assists the medical team with ordering tests / procedures, and for insurance for medication.

A clinical professional with specialized education in airway and ventilator management of infants, children, adolescents and adults to assist with breathing.

A specially trained technician that performs echocardiograms (Echos) and ultrasounds. Pediatric Cardiologists look at the images from Echos to diagnose medical conditions and monitor heart function.

Speech & Language Pathologist

Members of the patient’s rehabilitation team who commonly assist children who have feeding problems. They can help with skills needed to eat by mouth – swallowing, sucking, and mouth movements.

Spiritual Care Providers

Clinically trained clergy/religious leaders who specialize in offering spiritual and emotional care and support to patients and their families and hospital caregivers.

Technicians (Techs) Specially trained individuals that assist the nurses, doctors and families.

Volunteers Volunteers are lay people that come to the hospital to entertain and play with patients, hold them, rock them when needed.

X-Ray Technician

A specially trained individual that take x-rays and other radiology diagnostic tests.

Cardiologists

Cardiologists

Cardiologists

Cardiologists

Dieticians

Cardiac Surgeons

Cardiac Surgery Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)

Cardiology Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)

Wayfinding + Units

Wayfinding: Parking, finding your way around the hospital and the Congenital Heart Center

Units: Getting to know all about the unit(s) your child may be on, what to expect and helpful tips

Care Team

A who’s who guide to your child’s care team and what each member does for you

Heart Education + Care at Home

Heart Education : Definitions, diagnosis specific diagrams and details about your heart illness

More About Hearts: Education about congestive heart failure, endocarditis, immunizati ons and travel guidance

Care at Home: Education and planning for life at home heart care after surgery; medication management, guidelines and tips

Patient and Family Support

+ Special Programs

Support : Emotional, social and pr actical support resources for patients and families, both inside and outside the hospital

Special Programs: Research, Longitudinal Follow Up program, and other special programs that may be specific to your child’s diagnosis

Heart Education: Diagrams

The Normal Heart:

The heart has 4 chambers; 2 top chambers called atria which collect blood returning to the heart and 2 bottom chambers called ventricles which pump blood out of the heart. The right atrium collects blood returning from the body after delivering nutrients and oxygen to the body tissues. The blood then moves to the right ventricle which pumps this blood to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood gets rid of a waste gas (carbon dioxide) and picks up a fresh supply of oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood returns back to the heart and collects in the left atrium before draining into the left ventricle where it is then pumped into the aorta (large blood vessel) which carries blood to the rest of the body.

Left Heart

Receives oxygen‐full blood from your lungs and pumps it through the aorta to the body

Right Heart

Receives blood from your body and pumps it through the pulmonary artery to the lungs where it picks up oxygen

Heart Education:

Definitions

ABG (Blood Gas): A blood test used to gather information about oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to provide information about the function of the lungs and delivery of oxygen to the body.

Angiogram: An x-ray of blood vessels that require injection of a contrast agent.

Antibiotics: Medications to stop the growth of bacteria in the body (commonly used are amoxicillin, vancomycin, and gentamicin).

Arrhythmia: An abnormal heart rhythm. An electrocardiogram (EKG) provides information about abnormal heart rhythms.

Arterial (art or a) line: Tube placed in the patient’s artery to monitor blood pressure and draw blood.

Artery: A vessel that carries blood from the heart to the other parts of the body.

Atrium: One of the hearts two upper chambers where blood collects before going to the ventricles.

Balloon Valvuloplasty: A procedure which involves insertin g a balloon-tipped catheter into the opening of a narrowed heart valve. The balloon is inflated, the valve is stretched open, and the catheter is removed.

Blood Pressure: The pressure of the blood in the arteries.

Cardiac Catheterization: This procedure involves inserting a catheter into a vein or artery and guiding it into the heart. It’s done to obtain diagnostic information by sampling oxygen content of blood, measuring pressures and evaluating the structural components of the heart. Cardiac cath can also be used for treatment of some types of disorders.

Cardiology: The study of the heart and its functions in health and disease.

Cardiomyopathy: A type of heart disease in which the heart is abnormally enlarged or thickened, which causes the heart to pump blood less efficiently.

CT scan or Computerized Tomography Scan: A specialized ra diology procedure that provides more detailed images than a regular x-ray.

Central venous line (CVP or CVC): An IV tube placed in a large vein so the tip is near the heart (“central”) to measure pressures, give medications and fluids, and to draw blood samples.

Chest Tube: A tube placed in the space around the lungs or the heart to drain fluid.

Congenital Heart Defect: Part of the heart or its major blood vessels that isn’t formed properly and doesn’t work as it should at birth. The term congenital heart disease is sometimes used when talking about the scope of heart defects.

Congestive Heart Failure: A condition in which the heart’s ability to pump is impaired.

Cyanosis: A bluish discoloration of the skin due to a shortage of oxygen in the blood.

Heart Education:

Definitions

Diuretic: A medication that increases urine output (commonly used are diuril (chlorothiazide), lasix (furosemide), aldactone (spironolactone).

Echocardiogram (ECHO): An ultrasound of the heart. A way to look at the heart and see the structures of the heart and how the blood travels through the heart.

ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) : An advanced technology that acts as a person’s heart and lungs to support a person who is recovering from surgery or disease, or during a surgical procedure.

Edema: Swelling or puffiness.

Electrocardiogram (EKG /ECG): A picture of electrical impulses produced by the heart.

Extubate: To remove the breathing tube from the trachea (airway).

Foley catheter: A tube inserted into the urethra with the tip resting in the bladder used to collect and measure urine output.

Hybrid procedure: A heart procedure using both surgery and cardiac catheterization techniques.

I and O: Intake and output of fluid.

Intra-cardiac line: A tube placed inside the heart to monitor pressures and possibly used to give medication.

Inotropic Agents: Medications to help support heart function and blood pressure (Eg: dopamine, epinephrine, milrinone).

Intubate: To place a breathing tube through the nose or mouth into the trachea (airway) to assist with breathing. It can be connected to a ventilator.

Lipids: Nutrients that are fats and, in proper preparation, can be given as IV nutrition.

Narcotics: Pain medication (commonly used are morphine, fentanyl, diuladid, and oxycodone).

Nasogastric (NG) / Feeding Tube: a tube that is inserted into the nose and down the esophagus (food pipe) and into the stomach to deliver breastmilk or formula for nutritional support for patients who are not able to eat enough on their own.

NPO: Nothing by mouth – no drinking liquids or eating food.

Oxygen saturation (sat): Percentage of oxygen in the blood.

Pacemaker: An electrical device that regulates the rate of the heart.

PIV or IV:. A peripheral intravenous (IV) line that is used to give intravenous hydration and medications. Typically seen in veins of the hands, arms or feet.

Stent: A device that is placed in the heart or blood vessels to open an area to allow blood to flow through more easily. A cardiac catheterization is typically used to place a stent.

TPN: Total parenteral nutrition – a way to give nutrition by IV. Regular IV fluid is simply fluid with sugar and salts (electrolytes) while TPN provides proteins and other nutrients for someone who is unable to eat for a longer period of time.

Vein: A vessel that carries blood from other parts of the body back to the heart.

Heart

Education:

Definitions

Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs): Electrically powered pump designed to increase the amount of blood the heart is able to pump through the body. Most VADs are surgically implanted in the chest in the area around the heart, and connected to the ventricle that needs help pumping blood.

Ventilator: Breathing machine.

Ventricle: One of the heart’s two lower chambers. They ar e the muscular chambers that contract to pump blood.

Vital signs (Vitals): Temperature, blood pressure, heart rate (how many beats per minute) and respiratory rate (how many breaths per minute).

Notes and Questions:

More About Hearts: Congestive

Heart Failure

What is Congestive Heart Failure?

CHF occurs when the heart does not pump as well as it should and is not able to meet the demands of the body. Congestive heart failure (CHF) does not mean the heart is going to suddenly fail or stop working. When the heart cannot pump enough blood to the kidneys, they cannot filter extra fluids out of the body and into the urine. This fluid can build up in the lungs and the rest of the body, causing difficult breathing and swelling.

Children born with certain types of heart problems are at risk for developing CHF. Not all children with heart defects will have CHF.

CHF can occur gradually. If your child has CHF, you will notice some signs and symptoms that happen over a period of time. The type and number of symptoms are different in each child.

What are symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure?

 Persistent fast breathing: If you are caring for a child with CHF, the best time to observe their breathing is while they are sleeping. Children naturally breathe faster when awake or crying.

 Hard breathing: You may see muscle pulling or “sucking in” between and below the ribs or the breast bone (retractions). You may see some widening of the nostrils when breathing in, or hear a grunting or wheezing sound with breathing. Some children with CHF may have more trouble breathing when they are lying down.

 Cough and congestion: It may be difficult to tell if these symptoms are related to CHF or a respiratory illness. A fever and nose drainage are generally symptoms of a respiratory illness, not congestive heart failure.

 Changes in skin color: Look for a grayish, mottled (lacy or net-like patches) color or paleness.

 Sweatiness: Look for cool, clammy skin or sweat on the forehead. This may happen when active, feeding or at rest.

 Decreased amount of urine: For babies, this may mean they have fewer wet diapers (less than 6-8 a day)

More About Hearts:

Congestive Heart Failure

(continued)

Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure:

 Swelling or edema: Look for puffiness in your child’s hands and feet and around their eyes. For adults, puffiness in their legs or feet.

 Changes in activity: Look for a decrease in activity, an increase in time spent sleeping or tiring more easily.

 Feeding difficulties and poor weight gain: For babies, this may mean taking longer to finish bottles or eating less than usual.

 Irritability or restlessness

 Fatigue

How is Congestive Heart Failure treated?

Congestive heart failure is treated by finding and removing the cause or by giving medicines to help the heart work more easily. Some common medications that are usually given are:

 Diuretics: These medications help remove extra fluid from the body tissues. Expect to urinate more frequently. Common diuretics used are Lasix® (Furosemide), Diuril® (Chlorothiazide) and Aldactone® (Spironolactone).

 Captopril or Enalapril: These medications lower your child’s blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood out to the body.

 Carvedilol or Metoprolol : These medications help to slow down the heart rate so that it can pump better.

Other things that you can do to support recovery:

 Provide quiet areas for rest

 Avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures

 Avoid people who are obviously sick

More About Hearts: Immunizations & Infection Prevention

Can children with heart disease receive immunizations?

 Immunizations are given to infants and children to protect them from serious illnesses such as diphtheria, hepatitis, whooping cough, polio and others. It is recommended that children with CHD receive routine vaccinations according to pediatric guidelines unless otherwise noted by their pediatric cardiologist.

Immunizations before or after heart surgery:

 Children who are having heart surgery should not receive routine immunizations 2 weeks before surgery and it is best to avoid routine immunizations for 6 weeks after heart surgery (this does not include Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines), which may be given after your surgery and before your child’s discharge from the hospital.

Influenza (Flu) vaccine:

 Children and adults with some heart problems are at increased risk for severe illness with influenza, which may require hospitalization. An annual flu vaccine is recommended. Often, influenza occurs between October and April. It is best to give the shots during the months of September, October, or November.

 Children 6 months to 12 years of age need two shots, unless they have had an influenza vaccine before. In this case, only one shot may be necessary. Please discuss immunizations with your primary doctor or pediatrician.

Pneumococcal vaccines:

 Talk with your doctor or nurse about your child’s individual needs.

Locations for immunizations:

 Children and adults can get their immunizations at the doctor’s office or the public health department where the shots are often given free of charge.

Synagis ® - a medication used to protect agains t respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

 Talk with your doctor or nurse about your child’s individual needs.

More About Hearts:

Endocarditis and Antibiotic Guidelines for Children with Congenital Heart Disorders

All children should have dental cleanings every six months once their teeth come in.

What is endocarditis?

Endocarditis (also referred to as subacute bacterial endocarditis or SBE, bacterial endocarditis or infective endocarditis) is an invasive infection of the inner lining of the heart and the heart valves. It is a serious condition that can cause major damage to the heart tissue. Early diagnosis can be very helpful. Treatment requires weeks of IV antibiotics and may require a long hospital stay and sometimes even surgery.

Some routine daily activities such as chewing, brushing teeth or flossing can allow small amounts of bacteria to enter the bloodstream. For most people, this isn’t a problem. A healthy immune system prevents these bacteria from causing harm, but people with some heart conditions have a higher risk for developing endocarditis and need to take special precautions to prevent it. Having good dental hygiene is helpful in reducing the chance of getting endocarditis.

Symptoms of endocarditis can include:

 Persistent fever

 Chills

 Aching

 Night sweats

 Feeling generally unwell

Consult with your doctor if your child is having these symptoms. Ask if blood cultures or other tests should be done.

How can I prevent endocarditis?

One way to prevent endocarditis is by taking antibiotics before having certain procedures, such as dental work. These procedures may increase the likelihood that bacteria could enter the bloodstream and cause an infection. Taking antibiotics for the purpose of preventing endocarditis is called prophylaxis (or SBE prophylaxis). While endocarditis is not very common, talk with your doctor about the steps you need to take in order to reduce your child’s risk for developing endocarditis.

Who needs to take antibiotics to prevent endocarditis?

 Individuals with many forms of unrepaired congenital heart disease, especially those that result in lower than normal oxygen saturations (cyanosis).

 Individuals with artificial heart valves or shunts.

 Individuals with patches or devices in their heart for at least 6 months after the procedure. This may be longer if there is a leak close to the patch or device.

 People who develop heart valve disease after a heart transplant (valvulopathy).

 Any person with a history of endocarditis, even if they do not have any other heart diseases or conditions.

More About Hearts: Endocarditis and Antibiotic Guidelines for Children with Congenital Heart Disorders (continued)

If my child has been advised to have endocarditis prophy laxis, when is it recommended?

Any person in the list above for who needs prophylaxis will need to take antibiotics before any of the following procedures:

 Dental procedures around the gum area, or procedures that may cause bleeding such as tooth extractions, cleaning and drilling.

 Any surgical procedures that involve the mucus lining of the respiratory organs in the nose, neck and lungs. These include tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, bronchoscopy with biopsy and more. It is not necessary for endotracheal intubation or myringotomy with tube insertion.

 Incision and drainage of infected tissue.

To learn more about recommendations on infective endocarditis prophylaxis and infective endocarditis, visit the American Heart Association’s page on infective endocarditis at www.heart.org/endocarditis.

Take the next step:

Talk with your U-M pediatric cardiologist about your child’s risk of endocarditis and whether endocarditis prophylaxis may be recommended. To contact your doctor, call the Congenital Heart Center at (734)764-5176.

Travel: Can my child travel?

There are no reasons not to travel if your child has a congenital heart defect.

 Children should always be in an age-appropriate safety seat while traveling. Do not add extra padding across the chest area. Restraining straps need to be tight enough to restrain the child.

 Knowing where the closest major children’s hospital is located may be helpful.

 Make sure that you travel with important phone numbers, including your Pediatric Cardiologist.

 Pack enough medication for a couple extra doses in case travel plans change at the last minute. If your child has a cyanotic (blue) heart defect, oxygen must always be used on airplane flights while in the air.

 For those with cyanotic heart disease, please contact your cardiologist before traveling to seek guidance about high altitudes.

 Children with cyanotic heart defects should never fly in a non-pressurized plane.

 Take a recent letter from your cardiologist in case of an emergency.

 See the next page for travel data form.

More About Hearts:

Travel: Emergency Treatment Information for Outside Institution Health Care Providers

PARENTS: This form should be taken on all travel, vacations and trips to Emergency Departments

This patient, _______ _________ has a complex congenital heart defect and is under care at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Michigan Medicine.

They have _______________________________________________________________________,

and most recently had surgery on ____/____/____. Date of discharge from hospital ___/____/____.

Medications: ____________________________________________________

Baseline hemodynamic ranges are below: HR ______________ RR ______________ BP __________/_________

O2 sat _________________% on Room Air

Please call 734-936-6267 and ask to speak with the Pediatric Cardiology Fellow-On-Call as soon as the child arrives at your facility.

It may be critical to transport this child to Mott Children’s Hospital immediately.

Chest compressions and defibrillation may be done in the usual manner.

Care at Home:

What Do I Need to Know Before I Go Home After Hospitalization?

In order to be prepared for discharge you will need to learn about your child’s needs. Learning this care takes time and patience and we want to make sure you are comfortable before going home. We are here to help you!

To help you feel confident in providing care we encourage you to spend as much time as possible in the hospital with your child.

When you are in the hospital you will see a “Discharge Readiness Checklist” in your room that will help you keep track of your progress.

“I am a big hands-on learner. Having staff actually show us how to do everything was a big help.”

-Parent of a heart patient

Discharge Readiness Checklist:

Watch Videos found on Get Well Network:

 Congestive Heart Failure

 Your Child’s Recovery from Heart Surgery

 Nasogastric Tube Feedings

 Developmental Milestones for Little Heart Victors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp 4SSrOTxw

Review Handouts:

 Nutrition

 Medication Info Sheets

 Medication Card: Dose/Times

 RSV

 Home Care After Heart Surgery

 Congestive Heart Failure

 How to Place a Feeding Tube

Demonstrate:

Infant Care:

 Diapering

 Bathing

 Comfort

 Safe sleep

 Umbilical cord

 Care of circumcision (if applicable)

Nutrition:

 Volume and Schedule

 Bottle and/or breast feeding

 Mixing increased calorie formula

*Checklist is continued on next page.

Care at Home:

Goals and Education Checklists for Hospital Discharge

Goals and education checklists for discharge will be provided by your care team to meet the unique needs of your child. Please ask your care team questions as you go through this process. Writing down your questions as you think of them may be helpful when there are many education topics to prepare for discharge.

Nasogastric Feeds (two ca regivers should learn):

 Tube set up

 Administration

 Tube placement

Medications:

 How to draw up and administer

 What the medication is for

 How much to give and when to give it

Incision:

 Wound care

 Suture removal

Attend:

 Emergency Procedure Class

Complete:

 Buckle Up

 Hearing Screen

 Newborn Screen

 Synagis

 Flu Vaccination

Identify Resources:

 Home Care Supplies

 Visiting Nurse

 Early On

 Support Groups

Identify Providers:

 Pediatrician / Primary Doctor

 Cardiologist

 Occupational / Physical Therapy

 Pharmacy

 Neurodevelopmental Clinic

“The first time we were discharged, my son was on a feeding tube, so it was a little scary. But the training we got from the nurses (making us do it a few times while they coached), and the moral support made things much easier.”

-Parent of a heart patient

Care at Home: Home Care After Surgery

How do I care for the incision?

 Do not cover the incisions, leave them open to air. If there is no drainage, no Band-Aids® or dressings are needed.

 Do not apply any lotion or ointment unless directed.

 There may be a small amount of clear yellow or dark bloody drainage from any of the incisions, this is normal. A Band-Aid® or light dressing may be used for this. Please remove dressing as soon as there is no more drainage.

 Until the stitches are removed, wash the incision daily with soap and water and gently pat dry. Your child can take tub baths after the stitches are out and a shower when all tubes and IV's are removed.

 Steri-strips or special tapes placed over the incision should be left alone until they fall off or are removed at the follow-up appointment.

 If a chest tube stitch is still in place, it should be removed by your local doctor or home care nurse 5 days after the tube(s) are taken out.

Are there any physical restrictions for children?

Allow your child to play at their own pace. Children are good at limiting their own activity. Children can lay on their stomach or have “tummy time”.

 Follow these restrictions for 1 week after surgery:

o Do not soak incision in a bath tub.

 In 1 week, your child may take a tub bath if all stitches have been removed. If stiches are removed any time after the first week they can bathe 2 days following stitch removal.

 Follow these restrictions for 2 weeks after discharge:

o Keep your child home from school, day care and crowded areas like stores and church.

o If patient is of driving age they should not drive.

o No swimming. After 2 weeks, they may swim in chlorinated water.

Care at Home: Home Care After Surgery

 Follow these restrictions for 6 weeks after discharge:

o No physical activity such as gym, contact sports, sledding, roller blading, skiing, bike riding, or using trampolines.

o No lifting over 5 pounds.

o Swim in chlorinated water only. After 6 weeks, they may swim in unchlorinated water (ocean, lake, pond).

 Restrictions can vary for each patient. Talk with your doctor or nurse about your child’s individual needs.

How will surgery affect my child’s behavior?

A child’s surgery is a difficult experience for everyone in the family, and your child may have trouble adjusting once they are home. Your child may temporarily behave differently from normal, with such problems as:

 Sleep pattern changes

 Clingy behavior

 Eating changes

 Hyperactivity

 New fears, such as note wanting to sleep along or needing a night light

 Acting younger, such as bed-wetting or thumb sucking

This behavior is temporary and normal. Here’s how you can help:

 Reassure your child that they are safe and well

 Read books about hospitals and doctors

 Play hospital

 Distract your child with games, toys and music

For tips on travel, see page 35

Care at Home: Home Care After Surgery

When should I call my doctor? - In Case of Emergency: Call 911

 Temperature over 101.5˚ (F)

 Increased tiredness

 New onset of dry cough

 Change in appearance of incision

 Cloudy yellow drainage

 Increased redness or swelling

 Separation of incision edges

 Increased pain

 Vomiting, diarrhea or feeding intolerance

 Signs of Congestive Heart Failure

When should I schedule a follow-up appointment?

Pediatrician/Family Doctor:

 Newborns: within 2-3 days after discharge. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.

 All other children and adults: as needed or suggested.

If being followed by a cardiologist at Michigan Congenital Heart Center:

 Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Clinic:

o 2 weeks after discharge with the Nurse Practitioner. Appointment will be scheduled for you before discharge. This appointment may be done virtually.

o If scheduled for an in person visit, please arrive 30 minutes early for a chest x-ray.

 Pediatric Cardiology Clinic:

o 4-6 weeks after discharge with Cardiologist. Appointment will be scheduled for you before discharge.

If being followed by a referr ing or outside cardiologist (non-U of M cardiologist)

 Please call to schedule a follow-up appointment with your referring cardiologist to be seen 1-2 weeks after discharge. We are able to assist with this if needed.

Care at Home:

Diet & Nutrition - Breast Milk Guidelines

Breast Milk Storage Guidelines at Home:

These guidelines are provided to help our moms and babies get the most benefit from breastfeeding once they go home. They will differ slightly from the guidelines used during the hospital stay. Please let our staff know if you have any other concerns or questions.

LOCATION DURATION

Countertop, table 6-8 hours

COMMENTS

Containers should be covered and kept as cool as possible; covering the container with a cool towel may keep milk cooler.

Insulated Cooler bag 24 hours Keep ic e packs in contact with milk containers at all times, limit opening cooler bag

Refrigerator 2-5 daysStore the milk in the back of the main body of the refrigerator.

Freezer compartment of a refrigerator

Freezer compartment of a refrigerator with separate doors

Chest or upright deep freezer

2 weeks

3-6 months

Store milk toward the back of the freezer, where the temperature is most constant. Milk stored for longer durations in the ranges listed is safe, but some of the lipids in the milk undergo degradation resulting in lower quality.

6-12 months

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (http://www.aap.org)

Use breast milk in the follo wing preferential order:

1) Colostrum

2) Fresh milk

3) Thawed milk (good for 24 hours after being thawed)

4) Frozen milk (use the oldest milk first)

A day or two before your child is scheduled to be discharged your nurse will alert the Milk Room to prepare for packing breast milk for transport home. If you have to fly or travel longer than 18 hours, let your nurse know so they can make special packing arrangements.

Care at Home:

Diet and Nutrition

During your hospital stay, you or your child may have spoken with a registered dietitian. Prior to going home, you and your child’s dietitian will be working together to create a plan based on your child’s specific dietary needs. This education may include receiving breast milk and formula recipes, a home regimen schedule for tube feedings, or education on heart healthy eating habits.

After your discharge from the hospital, you can contact us if you have questions about:



Diet



Growth



Nutrition plan after hospitalization

Emergency Procedure Class for Parents and Caregivers of children under 1-year old

 The classroom is located in the Mott Respiratory Care Classroom. Your nursing staff can provide you with directions.

 Class size is limited to 6 participants.

 To register, contact your nurse or unit clerk. Please check with your nurse or clerk for the day and time that the class is offered.

 Class is intended to give basic knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), it is not intended to certify parents.

 We encourage all families to attend this class before discharge.

Care at Home:

Medication

Most children with heart disease will need to be treated with medications after surgery and when discharged home. Medications are available in many different forms including capsules, tablets, and liquids. Most capsules and tablets are available at your local pharmacy. This is not always the case for liquid medications. Many liquid medications must be specially made using a recipe. It is important to check ahead of time with your local pharmacy about how to get all medications so there are not delays.

It is important to understand the following information for each medication:

 Name of the medicine

o Medications can have two names: a generic name and a brand name

 Concentration of the medicine if it is a liquid

 Dose of medicine

 How often should the medication be taken

 Reason for giving the medicine

Medication Lists:

1. Name of medication: Furosemide

2. Concentration: 10 mg/mL

3. Dose: 10 mg

4. Volume to draw up in an oral syringe and give: 1 mL

5. How often the medicine should be taken: Two times a day

Care at Home: Medication

Keep a current list of medications. The medication list should include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, herbal medicines, and supplements. Medicines are changed or adjusted frequently, so it is important to update your list (especially when changes are made between clinic visits).

Missed Doses of Medication:

 If you miss a dose of medicine, check the medication sheet or call your doctor.

Storing Medications:

 Keep the medicines tightly capped.

 Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

 Do not store in an area that has too much moisture such as the bathroom.

 Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

 Do not let the liquid medicines freeze if they require refrigeration.

 Do not store the medicine in the refrigerator unless instructed by the pharmacist.

 Do not crush or cut the tablet, capsules or caplets unless instructed to do so.

Medication Tips:

 When giving liquid medication, be sure to measure using a syringe or medicine cup.

 Be sure to give your pharmacy at least a one week notice when filling specially made liquid medications.

 Do not use any medicine after the expiration date on the bottle or package.

 If too much medicine is taken by accident call poison control or the doctor.

Care at Home: Medication

Medication Refills Made Easy:

 Medication refills can be requested via the myuofmhealth.org portal or by calling 734-764-5176

 The call center fills medication requ ests. Please plan ahead - allow at least 3 days for a refill request.

 Waiting until the last minute to order medications or right before a holiday or vacation can be problematic. Pharmacies may have to reorder medications specially for your child if they do not have a large need for that specific medication. That takes time.

Prior Authorizations

 Some medications require a prior authorization in order to be paid for by the insurance planThe prior authorization can take 3-7 days or longer to obtain. In order to NOT pay out-of-pocket for your child’s medication, you’ll want to give staff sufficient time to send in and obtain prior authorization requests.

 Prior authorizations are generally required for compound suspensions that are not commercially made and are used by infants or children who take food and medications through an enteral tube. Examples include Omeprazole, Sildenafil, Enalapril, Aldactone, Nadolol, Propranolol and Flecainide.

 If your child’s compounded medication is made here at Michigan Medicine, our pharmacy requires the Attending Physician’s signature only. Be aware that if you call in your compounded medication refill request, and your physician is out of town or not available, the prescription will not be filled until a signature is obtained. Please plan ahead.

Organizing and Tracking Medications

 Depending on how many medicines you will be giving, you can organize them on a chart so that you can easily remember what the medication is, how much you need to give and when you need to give it.

 You will receive a medication schedule to take with you at discharge with your current medications.

 Many different ideas for medicine organization can be found online.

 The After Visit Summary (AVS) will also lis t your medications including the last time it was given prior to discharge and the next time it is due.

Care at Home:

Tips and Advice from other parents

Medication Organization and Storage:

 A tackle box or clear plastic organization container works well to transport medicines safely.

 Some families fill medication syringes a week at a time and put them in zip lock bags or a wide mouth bottle with the day and time. This also works well for refrigerated medication. Just be sure they are stored and transported safely so they don’t get knocked around and accidentally lose medicine.

 If you leave the house you can grab the medication for the amount of time you will be gone.

 Please keep medications away from children and out of reach.

Medication Schedule:

 Families find it helpful to make a check list on excel with all of the medication and feeding times. We have a 24-hr medication / feed chart available for printing.

 Put the excel sheet on the counter or hang in on the refrigerator.

 After the medication or feeding is done, check it off so all caregivers know what has been done.

 Some families also find it helpful to set an alarm on their cell phone for medication and feeds.

Medisafe:

 A phone app with a virtual pill box that tells you what medications have been taken and what is coming up. Medisafe has a digital reminder for medication and will alert you if you miss a dose.

Follow Up Care:

 Families find that a dietitian is helpful with getting enough calories and choosing the right foods.

 Families also think a speech pathologist is helpful with feeding.

 Resources for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

o State of Michigan: Early On; www.1800earlyon.org; 1-800-327-5966 (1-800-Early On)

o State of Ohio: Help Me Grow; www.helpmegrow.org; 1-800-755-4769 (GROW)

Support:

 Support comes in many ways for patients and families, both formally through our center and elsewhere! Please refer to the support section for programs and sites. Sometimes the most helpful thing is to ask family to bring meals, do laundry, and grocery shop.

 No question is silly! Never be afraid to ask!

Notes and Questions:

A who’s who guide to your child’s care team and what each member does for you

Heart Education + Care at Home

Heart Education : Definitions, diagnosis specific diagrams and details about your heart illness

More About Hearts: Education about congestive heart failure, endocarditis, immunizati ons and travel guidance

Care at Home: Education and planning for life at home heart care after surgery; medication management, guidelines and tips

Patient and Family Support + Special Programs

Support : Emotional, social and pr actical support resources for patients and families, both inside and outside the hospital

Special Programs: Research, Longitudinal Follow Up program, and other special programs that may be specific to your child’s diagnosis

Patient & Family Support

“Strength comes from struggle. When you learn to see your struggles as opportunities to become stronger, better, wiser, then your thinking shifts from I can’t do this to I must do this.”

This section of the guidebook is designed to honestly acknowledge and address the emotional challenges which sometimes come up during a family’s heart journey. Recognizing these emotional challenges is an important step in coping. The following pages contain information on many resources to help support, inform, engage, and empower your family.

“You have the permission to be overwhelmed. . . When it gets overwhelming, take it one hour or one moment at a time.”

Patient & Family Support General Information

A Parent’s Guide to Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease:

Learning that your child has congenital or acquired heart disease) can be shocking and overwhelming. This reference was designed by parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD), in collaboration with mental health and healthcare professionals, to provide information and resources that may be helpful for your family as you prepare for your child’s heart journey.

Feelings

When you learn of your child’s diagnosis you may have many feelings. You are not alone. Parents of children with CHD have shared many of the same feelings. Some of these might include:

 Anger  Helplessness

 Sadness  Nothing will be ok

 Fear  Everything is out of control

Stress

It is normal to be stressed along your child’s heart journey. Many families say the most stressful parts of finding out their child has a CHD or acquired heart illness were:

 Seeing their child sick and worrying what was going to happen.

 How their child looked after the operation or procedure—the incision, the medications and tubes are frightening.

 Not being able to feed, hold, or take care of their child.

 Worrying that their child would not know them.

 Being away from other family members and children.

This guide has been adapted from material provided by:

Patient & Family Support Tips

Coping

Parents cope in different ways. Many parents put themselves second to their child at this time. You need to take care of yourself to be in the best shape to make decisions and to support your child. Coping strategies include:

 Eating and taking care of your own health and hygiene needs.

 Getting a good amount of rest and sleep.

 Eating meals away from the hospital and being physically active.

 Asking for help is okay—lean on friends and family members to help you.

 Talking with family, friends, ministers, people taking care of your child, or other helpful support persons.

 Asking for help with household tasks, child care, or other daily activities.

 Professional mental health care can be helpful for many. For referrals, ask your family doctor, heart center social worker, or insurance company.

Finding Answers

Many parents find that asking a lot of questions helps them learn about their child’s current condition and progress.

 Write down questions as you think of them, so you have them when care providers are available.

 Don’t be afraid to ask care providers to go over things more than once.

 Ask nurses and doctors to use different words if they don’t explain things in a way you understand.

 You know your child best. Partner with your healthcare team to understand all treatment options and participate in decision making.

 It is your right to know what is happening, and the more you know, the more you can help.

Development

You can develop a connection with your child and help to promote your child’s development while in the intensive care unit. Some things you can do might seem small but can make a big difference:

 Ask for ways to hold, touch, and take care of your child.

 Softly talk, sing, or read to your child.

 Hold their hand, or put a hand around their head or feet.

 Leave a cloth in your child’s bed that you have worn so it smells like you.

 Bring in photos for around your child’s bed.

 Provide breastmilk for your child, if you are able.

This guide has been adapted from material provided by:

Support and Education Resources

There are many supports available for patients and families coping with CHD or acquired heart diseases. Please see the following pages for hospital and out-of-hospital information.

Books/Apps

 Books for Adults: It’s My Heart, HLHS Book of Hope, Single Ventricle Q&A Book

Patient & Family Support Tips & Congenital Heart Center Resources Social Work Team

 Talking about congenital heart disease with young children can be difficult. These children’s Books might help: My Brother Needs an Operation, Hayden’s Heart, Riley’s Heart Machine, Zipline, Charlie the Courageous, Jeremiah the CHD Aware Bear.

 There are numerous mindfulness apps (via the Android or Apple app stores) that can help with stress and anxiety. Several members of our community have found the “Calm” app to be helpful (available for free).

This guide has been adapted from material provided by:

Patient & Family Support

Congenital Heart Center (CHC) Support and Resources

Social Work

The Congenital Heart Center patient care team includes social workers who are available to all patients receiving care in the Congenital Heart Center and its offsite clinics. Our social workers focus on the personal and often nonmedical questions and needs that can accompany health and illness at any time or stage of life. The social work role is varied and is dependent on the individual needs of each patient and family.

Social workers can be helpful in:

 Providing emotional support and discussing strategies for coping with stressors.

 Preparing for disruptions to the family’s routine.

 Addressing questions or concerns about the safety or well-being of the patient.

 Identifying and connecting patients to local resources to meet their specific needs.

 Helping to promote effective communication and information sharing between patients, their support persons, and their care providers.

 Assisting with coordination of travel to the area, locating lodging options during hospitalizations.

 Preparing for discharge from the hospital with our Discharge Planners to ensure a safe and smooth transition home by coordinating needed support and follow up.

Helpful Information

 Early on (home physical, occupational, & feeding therapy) – 800-327-5966

 Car seat inspections – Buckle Up! Hotline of the Pediatric Trauma Program 734-763-2251

 Deaf Access Program and Interpreter Services – 734-936-7021

 Billing and Insurance Questions: Toll-Free # 855-855-0363; Local # 734-615-0863

 Account/Hospital Registration Information – to update: Toll-Free # 866-452-9896

 Birth Certificates: 734-936-7481

 Lodging:

o Patient/visitor Hotel Accommodations: 800-544-8684

o Ronald McDonald House: 734-994-4442

o Mott House: 734-232-3500

o Guest Assistance Program: 800-888-9825

https://www.uofmhealth.org/patient-visitor-guide/guest-assistance-program

Social workers may contact you as part of the team, and you can request social work at any time.

Patient & Family Support

CHC Support and Resources

Child & Family Life

The Child and Family Life team is made up of trained professionals with expertise in helping reduce the stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization and illness. Team members work together with doctors, nurses, social workers and others throughout the hospital to meet the emotional, developmental and cultural needs of children and their families.

Child life will be available to you throughout the Congenital Heart Center, including cardiology clinic, inpatient 11W and the PCTU. Some of the special services we offer include:

Procedural Support and Preparation:

What happens during a child’s time in the hospital can be new and strange. Our Child Life Specialists can help through providing both preparation and distraction for tests and procedures .

 Teach through books/pictures and medical tools, and medical play

 Tours before surgery

 Coping tips and tools

 Create and practice a coping plan with the child, family and staff

Distraction, Relaxation & Non-Pharmacological Pain Management:

 Help children find an alternate focus before, during, and after a test or procedure.

 Various non-pharmacological pain management techniques are available, including: guided imagery, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques.

For more information, visit www.mottchildren.org/childlife or ask your nurse to speak with a child life specialist at the hospital.

Patient & Family Support

CHC Support and Resources

Pediatric Psychology

Our pediatric psychologists provide therapy to children, teens and young adults in and out of the hospital setting to address a number of things, including:

 Coping with Illness

 Anxiety or Sad Mood

 Behavioral Challenges

 Adherence to Medical Treatment

 Pill Swallowing and Procedural Preparation

 Patient and Family Impact of Illness

In addition to the psychologists working in the CHC, the Division of Pediatric Psychology at Michigan Medicine offers many specialized clinics to meet the needs of patients and families. Some of these specialty clinics include focus on chronic and acute pain management, weight management, sleep, toileting, and feeding.

For more information on Pediatric Psychology services, visit: www.mottchildren.org/conditionstreatments/behavioral-health/psychology

Patient & Family Support

CHC Support and Resources

Patient and Family Centered Care

Patient & Family Centered Care (PFCC) is a model for providing care that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each family and encourages and empowers families to partner with health care providers. Family members are viewed as key members of the health care team. This partnership will provide your child with the best opportunity to heal. Patient and Family Centered Care has four Core Concepts: Dignity and Respect, Information Sharing, Collaboration and Participation.

The PFCC program is based on a realization that greater success comes from working together. By assessing patient and family needs, doctors and other care team members work together with families to improve the patient and family experience at the hospital.

There are many opportunities for volunteer involvement in PFCC as an advisor. There are councils and committees that operate throughout the CHC. Volunteers may act as e-advisors, onsite advisors, mentors, and speakers, sharing your story and experience to help us improve care for all.

More information about Patient & Family Centered Care opportunities in the Congenital Heart Center is on our website at: https://www.mottchildren.org/conditions-treatments/ped-heart/resources-congenital-heart-patients/ patient-family-advisor.

Patient Family Centered Care During HospitalizationPatient and Family Centered Rounds

What are "rounds" and what does it mean to be family centered?

 While making medical decisions can occur throughout the day, rounds are a reserved time for your

medical team to gather, discuss your child’s health, and plan for the day.

 “Family centered” means we welcome patient and family involvement in discussion and decisionmaking to the level they are comfortable, recognizing that you know your child best.

 When you share your observations and questions with the medical team you are:

o Providing important information that may affect treatment.

o Ensuring your access to information and transparency in care.

o Ensuring greater safety and reducing the possibility of error.

What do rounds look like in a teaching hospital?

 C. S. Mott is a teaching hospital, so the medical team may discuss different topics regarding general pediatric cardiology that may not be directly related to your child. These discussions are a normal part of the medical education process and do not mean that the team is unsure of how to care for your child. This is how your team shares knowledge so that we can provide the best care.

Patient & Family Support

CHC Support and Resources

Patient and Family Centered Rounds (continued)

When do rounds start, and where do they take place?

 Rounds occur in the patient’s room unless there is a need for them to take place in the hallway.

 PCTU – Rounds begin daily at 7:30 a.m.

 General Care - 11 W- Rounds occur daily for children who have recently had surgery between 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.

 It is difficult to know exactly when rounds will be for your child, as your medical team will be rounding on many patients, and each day the amount of time needed for each patient varies.

How can I participate?

Before rounds, please tell your nurse or medical team:

 If you would like to participate in rounds.

 If you are available to participate in rounds.

 If you are unable to be at rounds, ask to speak with someone from the team to update you later.

 If you would or would not like to be woken up, if you are asleep when rounds occur.

 If you prefer not to have the medical team meet at the bedside.

 If you think of important questions or concerns throughout the day, write them down in your Heart Guidebook so that you will have them ready for rounds.

During rounds:

 Carefully listen as the care team introduces themselves and discusses your child’s condition. Write down any questions or concerns you have.

 Introduce yourself and your relationship to the patient. Ask for introductions from anyone that you do not know.

 Because of time constraints, it is important to find out the realistic amount of time you can expect with your team. If you do not have enough time to go over all of your questions, you can ask to speak with someone from your child’s care team later in the day.

 Ask for clarification of medical terms with which you are unfamiliar.

 Give feedback about how the treatment plan is working.

 Provide details about your child that may be helpful for making medical decisions.

 Encourage your child (when age appropriate) to take part in rounds by asking questions, contributing to the discussion, and helping to make decisions.

Patient & Family Support

CHC Support and Resources

Caregiver and Patient Mentors

Our parent / caregiver and patient mentors have lived with congenital heart disease and heart illness. They understand the emotional challenges and the toll it can take on the patient and family. All mentors are volunteers at Michigan Medicine who have received training on being a mentor.

Our Heart Mentors:

 Provide a listening ear and emotional support to parents and patients in the CHC.

 Provide helpful information, guidance, and care management strategies.

 Offer a network of peers to help those experiencing a health issue to not feel alone.

 Host virtual opportunities for connection.

You can connect with a mentor in person or by phone, have a single conversation or more – whatever you find most helpful!

If you would like to connect with a mentor, tell the nurse or social worker you would like to visit with a heart mentor.

Spiritual Care

Chaplains are clinically trained clergy/religious leaders who specialize in offering spiritual and emotional care and support to patients and their families. Chaplains listen to what is important to each person and remain sensitive to differences in culture, religion and lifestyles. Mott chapla ins represent a variety of religions and faith traditions. They have a list of local congregations and can arrange a visit from a religious leader of your choosing. You can request a visit from spiritual care from your nurse.

For more information, call the Spiritual Care Department at 734-936-4041, or visit: https://www.uofmhealth.org/ patient-visitor-guide/counseling-spiritual-services

Patient & Family Support

CHC Support and Resources

Stepping Stones Program - Palliative Care

When a child is seriously ill, each person in the family is affected differently. That is why it is important that you, your loved one, and your family get the support and care you need during this difficult time. A special type of care called palliative care can help.

What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?

The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for an individual who is at any stage in a serious illness, whether the disease is curable, chronic, or lifelimiting. This care also helps support the patient and family communication with the care team. Palliative care can be provided at the same time as providing curative and life-prolonging treatment.

How Can Palliative Care Help Me?

Hospice care focuses on providing physical, emotional, and spiritual comfort at the end stages of life. Hospice care provides no curative treatment and may not be provided at the same time as curative or life-prolonging treatments.

Our Stepping Stones team provides an additional layer of support to improve the well-being of the entire family. Some of the ways we can help:

 Management of uncomfortable symptoms such as pain, nausea and constipation.

 Guidance with difficult treatment choices.

 Communication between your child, family and care teams.

 Emotional, social and spiritual support.

“The first time my doctor mentioned palliative care to me, I thought they wanted to give up hope on my child. I was so upset that I didn’t consider meeting the team for several more months. Looki ng back on it now, I wish I had met with them right off the bat. They gave all of us so much support, help, AND hope that really made our lives better. They really understood exactly what we needed. And they did it while the doctors continued to heal my child so that eventually we could all go home.” - Heart Parent

If you feel that your child, your family, or you could benefit from palliative care, please ask your child’s health care providers about getting a referral for palliative care services.

You can also find more information at: www.mottchildren.org/palliative-care

Patient & Family Support Sites and Resources

Education, Support, and Advocacy Websites

The following resources provide additional information. Our center’s web site is also a source of information on these topics www.mottchildrens.org/congenital.

CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND GENERAL INFORMATION

American Heart Association

https://www.heart.org/en/search#q=congenital&sort =relevancy

https://www.heart.org/en/search#q=pediatric&first= 10&sort=relevancy

Cardiac Networks United - an integrated pediatric and congenital cardiovascular research and improvement network

www.cardiacnetworksunited.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/

Congenital Heart Disease, Cove Point Foundation

http://www.pted.org/

Congenital Heart Public Health Consortiumformed by collaboration of American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control, and other organizations.

https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-andpolicy/aap-healthinitiatives/chphc/Pages/default.aspx

Conquering CHD

(Formerly: Pediatric Congenital Heart Association)check for state and Facebook pages www.conqueringchd.org

Heart Safe Schools – Project ADAM

www.mottchildren.org/projectadam www.projectadam.com

National Institutes of Health , National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

https://search.nih.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%9 3&affiliate=nih&query=congenital+heart+diseas e&commit=Search

National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative - QI for single ventricle patients www.npcqic.org

Mended Little Hearts www.mendedhearts.org

North Star Reach Camp www.northstarreach.org

Sisters by Heart - parents of children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. This site includes regional information for the USA, Brothers by Heart, and Hope After Loss www.sistersbyheart.org

The Children’s Heart Foundation check for state chapters and Facebook pages www.childrensheartfoundation.org

ADULT CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND TRANSITION

Adult Congenital Heart Association www.achaheart.org

I Heart Change - designed for young people with CHD transitioning fr om pediatric to adult heart care

www.IHeartChange.org

Patient & Family Support

Sites and Resources

CARDIOMYOPATHY, ADVANCED HEART DISEASE, VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES, AND TRANSPLANT

Children’s Organ Transplant Associationproviding fundraising assistance for transplant families

https://cota.org/

ACTION Learning Network, quality improvement for heart failure and ventricular assist device patients

www.actionlearningnetwork.org

Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation

https://www.childrenscardiomyopathy.org

Enduring Hearts - research on pediatric heart transplant

https://enduringhearts.org/eh/

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Support www.4hcm.org

Pediatric Heart Transplant Society

www.uab.edu/medicine/phts

Transplant Families - a site managed by families www.transplantfamilies.org

SOCIAL MEDIA

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital –

 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Mott Blog

 Gwen Fosse RN - Facebook

Sites of national organizations which also include state chapters:

 Action Learning Network

 Conquering CHD

 The Children’s Heart Foundation

 Mended Little Hearts

Sites established and managed by families

 Heart Families from Mott

 Heart Families of Western Michigan

 Hearts of Hope of Southeast Michigan

 Heart Families of Western Michigan

 Michigan Heart Families

There are many well-intentioned and informative Facebook pages and websites, but it is always recommended that you research any site to know who manages it and if it has a medical review board.

Always consult your own cardiologist regarding you/your child’s care.

Disclaimer: This document contains information and/or instructional materials developed by Michigan Medicine for the typical patient with your condition. It may include links to online content that was not created by Michigan Medicine and for which Michigan Medicine does not assume responsibility. It does not replace medical advice from your health care provider because your experience may differ from that of the typical patient. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about this document, your condition or your treatment plan.

Special Programs

The Congenital Heart Center has an extensive range of programs and clinics to serve patients and families with various conditions and specific needs. To learn about these go to: https://www.mottchildren.org/conditionstreatments/ped-heart/programs-and-clinics . A few examples of special programs are included here.

Research and Innovation

Being treated at a teaching hospital means that many of your child’s care providers are also leaders in clinical research. Clinical research studies have the ultimate goal of curing disease and improving quality of life. These studies allow members of your health care team to find the most effective care methods. There are hundreds of UM researchers who work hard to improve treatment, detect and prevent disease, and educate families about serious health conditions. In fact, current treatment options are often based on prior research. Medical research often helps us advance care for our patients.

It is possible that your child may be eligible to participate in a research study. Participation offers hope and a partnership with researchers to find better treatments and advance medical knowledge around the world. If someone approaches you regarding a specific study, know that participation is always optional. We encourage you to speak with your health care team about research opportunities or any concerns.

https://www.mottchildren.org/ conditions-treatments/ped-he art/research-and-innovation

Patient Reported Outcomes –Longitudinal Follow-up Program

At the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, our overall goal is to optimize treatments that will allow children with congenital heart disease to thrive and enjoy an excellent quality of life into adulthood. To accomplish this goal, we believe it is important to understand your child’s outcome over their entire lifespan, beyond just the in-hospital or immediate post-operative period.

Through our Longitudinal Follow-up Program, we have incorporated long-term assessment of outcomes into our standard clinical practice. Your care team at the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center will communicate with you and your referring doctors throughout your child’s course of treatment and subsequent follow-up in order to understand these important aspects of your child’s care and treatment over the long-term.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact:

Email: spolliey@med.umich.edu

Phone: (734) 232-7115

Special Programs

Neurodevelopmental Follow-up

Our Congenital Heart Center Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Clinic can help families to identify emerging follow-up delays. Although many children with heart disease are thriving, research shows that children who need cardiac surgery during the first year of life are at higher risk for developmental, learning and behavioral concerns later in life.

The types of challenges faced by children with heart disease may vary by age. For example, infants may be more likely to have delays in motor skills, such as head control or movement. School-age children or adolescents may have problems with school performance, particularly the self-regulation skills that enable them to plan, focus attention, remember instruction and successfully juggle multiple tasks. Even though some children may not have any obvious developmental or learning problems, they may benefit from periodic assessments at the Congenital Heart Center Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Clinic. https://www.mottchildren.org/conditions-treatments/pedheart/programs-and-clinics/neurodevelopmental-clinic

Heart-Safe Schools: Project ADAM

Our community outreach service includes helping schools to become heart safe schools through our affiliation with Project ADAM. When schools are prepared for responding to a cardiac emergency, it makes a whole community safer. https://www.mottchildren.or g/conditions-treatments/ped-heart/project-adam

Education Specialist

Our Congenital Heart Center education specialist and hospital teachers work alongside our medical teams to serve as the bridge between the medical setting and the school community. They can assist patients and families in navigating school challenges, educational services, such as IEP (Individualized Education Program) and 504 Plans, and a return to school following illness or hospitalization. To meet with our education specialist, please ask your cardiologist or social worker.

……And More

Remember to go to https://www.mottchildren.org/conditions-treatments/ped- heart/programs-and-clinics for more information about programs in the Congenital Heart Center.

Notes and Questions:

Disclaimer: This document contains information and/or instructional materials developed by Michigan Medicine for the typical patient with your condition. It may include links to online content that was not created by Michigan Medicine and for which Michigan Medicine does not assume responsibility. It does not replace medical advice from your health care provider because your experience may differ from that of the typical patient. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about this document, your condition or your treatment plan.

Author: Congenital Heart Center Guidebook Committee

Reviewers: Congenital Heart Center Patient and Family Centered Care Committee; Congenital Heart Center Heart Guidebook Committee

Patient Education by Michigan Medicine is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License . Last Revised: 02/2021