Before your child's surgery, your doctor will schedule an appointment for you with the Pediatric Prepare Program (Pedi Prepare), our anesthesia and surgical evaluation program. Pedi Prepare makes sure your child is ready for surgery and provides tests and blood work. The purpose of this program is to help children understand and cope with coming to the hospital. Your appointment includes hospital registration and financial counseling.
Usually, your child's Pedi Prepare appointment will take place the week prior to admission and will last one to two hours. If you live outside the Bay Area and need hotel accommodations, please arrange for lodging for the night before surgery. Our Physician Referral Service has information about local lodging arrangements. Please call (888) 689-UCSF.
If your child is in good health or has been seen by the Pedi Prepare within the last three months with no change in medical condition, you may have a phone appointment instead. Your child's doctor will make this decision.
Your child's Pedi Prepare evaluation will include:
Pediatric Prepare Program
400 Parnassus Ave., Third Floor, Room A-334
San Francisco, CA 94143-0210
Phone: (415) 353-1150
Fax: (415) 353-8800
Hours: Monday to Friday
7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Dr. Andrew Infosino, a pediatric anesthesiologist, prepared the following questions and answers from the UCSF Department of Anesthesia.
This depends on your child's age, the surgery, and your child's underlying medical condition. Sometimes, children are allowed to drink clear liquids until two or three hours before surgery. At other times, children must refrain from liquids and solids after midnight before their surgery. This information should be discussed with you in detail during your Prepare Program visit.
You should notify your child's surgeon and the Prepare Program office at (415) 353-1099 to determine what should be done. In some instances, surgery should be delayed until the cold has resolved. At other times, it is not necessary to postpone surgery.
Under some circumstances, parents may be present while their child is falling asleep. You should discuss this with your anesthesiologist before surgery.
Your child will usually be taken to the Pediatric Recovery Room. After some types of surgery, children are taken directly to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
You may join your child in the Pediatric Recovery Room once he or she has been assessed by the Recovery Room nurse. This takes at least 10 to 15 minutes.
This depends on the type of surgery your child will have, as well as any underlying medical conditions. Pain control methods include intravenous pain medications, epidural blocks, caudal blocks, and other nerve blocks. Postoperative pain management should be discussed with your anesthesiologist before surgery to determine the most appropriate method for your child.
You may call your child's surgeon for any questions, or you may call the Prepare Program office at (415) 353-1099.
The hospital will provide pajamas. You may bring your child's own clothes, slippers and a robe. We especially recommend bringing your child's favorite toy or security object.
Yes! Brothers and sisters are encouraged to visit. However, siblings under the age of 12 must be screened by a nurse to make sure they have no contagious infections. Just ask your child's nurse to set up a visiting time.
Yes! Child Life Services offers tours of the hospital including the Children's Surgery Center and the Pediatric Unit. You may schedule your child for the pre-admission program by calling Child Life Services at (415) 353-1099.
Public parking for an hourly fee at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital is available in the seven-level Millberry Union Garage at 500 Parnassus Ave. There are two garage entrances — one on the north side of Parnassus Avenue and another on Irving Street, just east of Third Avenue.
Another garage with an hourly fee, at 350 Parnassus Ave., is open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Metered street parking is rarely available.
Patients being admitted to the hospital may be dropped off at the circular driveway leading to the main entrance at 505 Parnassus Ave. This area also may be used to pick up patients who are being discharged.
For more information about parking at Parnassus, call Campus Parking Services at 476-2566.
Valet parking service is available at the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) at 400 Parnassus Ave. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The valet service is free but patients must pay regular parking fees. For more information about the valet service, call (415) 476-6200.
A UCSF "greeter" also is available at the ACC from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist patients find their way.
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital is accessible via Muni streetcar line N-Judah*, which stops at Second Avenue and Irving Street, and the following Muni bus lines, which stop in front of the hospital:
For more information about Muni visit, www.sfmuni.com.
* Wheelchair accessible bus routes
