Preparing for Your Child's Procedure

The Procedural or Surgical Clinic Appointment

During a clinic appointment, your child’s provider will tell you about the procedure and give you important information about what to expect while your child is being cared for at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. The provider may order tests or lab work to be done before the procedure or surgery. You will also get instructions about:

  1. Registration
  2. Pediatric Anesthesia Resource Center (PARC)
  3. Your child’s comfort plan

This clinic appointment is a great chance to ask any questions you may have about the procedure or the care your child will receive afterwards to recover.

Learn more or print our helpful guidelines for your next procedure or surgery.

Registration for Procedure or Surgery

Before a procedure or surgery, you will need to register your child with our hospital. You will get instructions about registration when you schedule your child’s procedure or surgery.

To save time on the day of surgery, many parents prefer to pre-register. To pre-register by phone, call (650) 497-8229. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will need to have your child’s insurance information available.

The Pre-Operative Anesthesia Phone Appointment

A short time before your child’s procedure or surgery, you will likely have a phone appointment with the Pediatric Anesthesia Resource Center (PARC). PARC is the pre-operative anesthesia clinic. Anesthesia is the medicine used to drift your child to sleep during a procedure or surgery. The surgical clinic scheduler or PARC medical assistant will help you schedule your PARC phone appointment. The scheduler or PARC medical assistant will let you know if your child’s medical history requires an in person appointment with PARC.

PARC appointments usually last about 30-45 minutes. This phone call or clinic appointment is a critical safety step before your child’s procedure or surgery.

PARC will review with you:

  • Your child’s medical history and current medical care
  • Your child’s past medical experiences
  • Your child’s developmental history and any special considerations
  • Care instructions you must follow before the procedure or surgery
  • When and where to bring your child for the procedure or surgery
  • The preliminary comfort plan. If your child has a particular toy, blanket, or other object that helps him/her feel better in uncomfortable situations, let us know.

PARC will give you information about:

  • Anesthesia (medicine to drift your child to sleep during the procedure or surgery)
  • Pain management (ways we can help your child be comfortable after the procedure or surgery)
  • What to do if you have questions or problems before, during or after the procedure or surgery

Please contact the Pediatric Anesthesia Resource Center (PARC) at (650) 736-7359 with any questions you have.

Ford Family Surgery Center

Most procedures or surgeries are done in the Ford Family Surgery Center on the ground floor of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. The Ford Family Surgery Center at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford is a state-of-the-art surgical facility designed specifically for children.