Unit 4. Children's Hospital

Nowadays a hospital is a medical institution that provides medical care, diagnosis, specialized treatment and accommodation of the patients. Some hospitals specialize in a particular condition (e.g., Oncology or Tuberculosis dispensary) or in a type of patients (children, war veterans, etc).

Children's Hospital offers a complete range of health care services for children from birth through 18 years of age. Together with different medical specialists doctors and nurses make up the team. Any child can get medical treatment in Surgery, Therapy, Cardiology units as well as Intensive Care unit (ICU), Accident and Emergency (A&E), Infectious diseases units.

When a child arrives to the hospital, a hospital receptionist will assist him. She’ll fill in patient’s card: child’s name, address, date of birth (DOB), reasons for admission, family and medical history. Then the patient will be sent to the unit and ward.

In the hospital the working day starts early. Every morning at about 9 o’clock the doctors make attending rounds. Every doctor is going to ask children about their complaints and examine them. To determine a disease every doctor must know the symptoms and the pathogenesis of disease. Patients may present different symptoms such as headache, fever, rash, bleeding, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and weight, increased heartbeat rate, etc.

To make the correct diagnosis the doctor will check some readings: temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate. In addition he will ask to send blood and urine to the laboratory for tests. Some instrumental studies will help him make the diagnosis too. The most common studies are x-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI scans and endoscopy.

After the doctor makes the diagnosis, he will administer treatment. He’ll prescribe the patient different drugs, administer physiotherapy. He may insist on a strict bed regimen or a light diet. After that the doctor will document all procedures, test results, changes in child’s condition and administrations.

All children must receive an adequate treatment and care. The nurses will carry out doctor’s administrations. They give tablets, intravenous (IV) and intramuscular injections, take temperature and measure blood pressure.

All medical staff treats children with great attention and care.

New vocabulary:

1. to provide medical care, treatment and accommodation – предоставить медицинский уход, лечение и пребывание

2. to make up the team – составлять команду

3. as well as – также как

4. Intensive Care unit (ICU) – отделение интенсивной терапии

5. Accident and Emergency (A&E) – отделение экстренной медицинской помощи

6. to arrive to the hospital – прибыть в больницу

7. to fill in a patients’ cards – заполнить карту больного

8. to make attending rounds – делать обход палат

9. to determine a disease – определить болезнь

10. to make the correct diagnosis – поставить правильный диагноз

11. the most common studies – самые распространенные исследования

12. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – магнитно-резонансная томография (МРТ)

13. to administer treatment – назначить лечение

14. to prescribe drugs – прописать лекарства

15. to insist on a strict bed regimen – настаивать на строгом постельном режиме

16. to receive an adequate care – получить соответствующий уход

17. to take temperature – измерить температуру

18. to measure blood pressure – измерить кровяное давление

Answer the questions:

1. What medical services does a children’s hospital provide?

2. Where can a child get treatment?

3. Who makes up the team?

4. What units are there in a hospital?

5. Who will assist the children when they arrive to the hospital?

6. What information will a receptionist fill in patients’ cards?

7. What are the doctor’s duties during the ward round?

8. What symptoms can a patient have?

9. What readings will the doctor check to make a correct diagnosis?

10. What instrumental studies will help the doctor establish the diagnosis?