Plan Your Visit

Going to the doctor or hospital can be a scary time for children and parents. We’re here to offer support before, during and after your child’s appointment, surgery or hospital stay. Learn about our expert team of doctors, nurses and staff who will be taking care of your child.

The following resources include information and tools to help prepare you and your child for a visit to Mary Bridge Children’s.

At Mary Bridge Children’s outpatient centers, we combine high-quality care with a child- and family-friendly atmosphere designed to make getting care more efficient, convenient and comfortable.

Whether it’s a primary care or specialist appointment, preparing your child for a visit can help ease any anxieties they may have. Below you’ll find some tips on how to help your child know what to expect during an appointment and things you can do to prepare yourself:

• Discuss the appointment with your child beforehand. Using simple words, talk to them about who they may see and what kind of exams or tests they may be given. To ensure they don’t feel rushed, be sure to allow plenty of time for them to ask questions.
• Make a list of questions you want to ask the doctor, including any health concerns about your child and any symptoms they may be having.
• If the appointment is about a known condition, you may want to prepare questions about treatment options and tests your child may need.
• Make sure to bring your insurance card, form of payment and ID. Bring a notebook if you wish to take notes.
• Bring a comfort item like a special blanket or stuffed animal, if you think that will help your child feel more comfortable.
• Consider bringing a book or tablet to occupy your child while waiting for the provider.
• If this is a first visit, and your child has not been seen at Mary Bridge Children’s or MultiCare, we may not have your child’s medical history, including vaccine information. Please bring this with you, if possible.
• Bring a list of your child’s current medications and dosages.
• If you don’t understand something the doctor has explained during the appointment, feel free to ask them to repeat what they’ve said.
• Allow extra time to park and check in for the appointment.

Medical imaging, labs and outpatient centers

Our Mary Bridge Children’s doctors, providers, nurses and other health professionals from our Tacoma campus make regular visits to our regional centers to see patients at our outpatient centers. View a list of Mary Bridge Children’s outpatient centers conveniently located throughout the region. Learn more about common medical imaging tests and procedures.

Pre-registration can help speed up the process when your child is scheduled for a procedure or surgery at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.

Pre-registration documents

You may receive pre-registration documents in the mail asking for important information we need for your child’s stay. They will include:

• Questions about your child’s health insurance
• Other billing information
• Emergency contact information

Please fill out these documents out and return them to us in the prepaid envelope within two business days.

If we do not receive the completed pre-registration packet prior to your child’s procedure, or there are remaining questions, a representative from our pre-registration department may call you. These calls are made between 7:30am and 8:30pm, Monday through Friday.

Learn more about preparing your child for surgery.

Going to the hospital can be a confusing and stressful time for children and parents. At Mary Bridge Children’s, we want to make your experience as comfortable as possible. The following resources have information to help you before, during and after your child’s stay.

Details about the hospital stay

MyChart Bedside is a feature in the MyChart app that allows you to be more involved with your care, or your family member’s care, while at the hospital.

With Bedside you can:

• View your chart: See much of the same information your doctors and nurses see, such as your diagnoses, medications, lab results and estimated discharge date.

• Plan your day: The Happening Soon timeline shows you upcoming care points such as imaging appointments, procedures and when you will take your medications.

• Get to know your care team: See the clinicians who will take care of you during your hospital stay.

• Take care of your children and other family members: As a patient proxy, you can help your loved one during their hospital stay with access to their health information, whether you’re physically in the hospital with them or on the go.

To get started, download the MyChart app and log in to your account. Once you, or your family member, is admitted to the hospital the View Hospital Stay button will be available on the MyChart homepage.

Visit the MyChart FAQ page for more information about MyChart Bedside.

To help ensure your child is comfortable throughout their stay, watch the video below to hear what members of the Mary Bridge Teen Council suggest as their top-ten things to bring from home to make your hospital stay more comfortable:

How can friends and family find out about my child’s condition?

Please direct family and friends to call 253-403-1622 to obtain updates concerning your child. A code is required for staff to release any information. If anyone calls without the code number, they will not be given any information.