"Children

have completely different anesthesia requirements than adults," explains

pediatric anesthesiologist Marcus Polk, M.D. "We understand those

needs so we are able to provide the most age-appropriate care, which means

maximum safety and comfort for each child."

In cases that

require regional anesthesia, Dr. Polk and associate Heide Rice, M.D.,

administer a caudal block, which is used to provide pain relief for surgical

procedures involving the groin or other lower extremities. The caudal

block is similar to an epidural, and it provides effective pain relief

while reducing the need for other types of anesthesia.

Southern Regional

also has an excellent preoperative program that gives parents and children

a complete explanation of what to expect before surgery and provides preassessment

exams away from the hospital.

Pediatric resource

nurse Libby Reeves, R.N., makes several weekly visits to participating

physicians' offices to meet with parents to explain the surgical process

and perform the preoperative assessments of the children. She also conducts

a phone contact program for the kids she is not able to visit and is usually

the nurse who prepares them for surgery when they arrive at the hospital.

"Being

familiar with the people involved and the surroundings, as well as understanding

what is going to happen during surgery, helps ease anxiety," says

Reeves.

A more extensive

orientation program is also offered on Saturdays at Southern Regional's

Ambulatory Surgery Center, where children and parents are treated to a

personal tour of the outpatient surgery center and a video that explains

what to expect before, during and after surgery.

Southern Regional

Health System provides comprehensive health resources including Southern

Regional Medical Center, a 410-bed, full-service hospital in Riverdale

featuring a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, a women's center

and one of the busiest emergency departments in the state; RiverWoods,

Southern Regional Psychiatric Center, a psychiatric facility with a complete

continuum of behavioral care services; Southern Regional Homecare, a home

health agency providing home health services and home medical equipment;

and Surgery Center at Mt. Zion, a multi-specialty surgery center in Morrow.