Patient Care Tools

Health Care Providers:
You Can Help Parents Help Their Children Recover From Injury

Download Patient Care Tools below

Every year millions of children in the US are injured. Most do well. But for some children and their parents, an accident or injury can cause overwhelming feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror. This can lead to more than just normal reactions to stress— traumatic stress can get in the way of recovery.

WHO CAN HELP: Emergency, medical, and rehabilitation personnel; teachers and other community members; friends and family

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

  • Be informed about traumatic stress reactions: what symptoms to look for and how to respond.
  • Let families know about the resources on AfterTheInjury.org.

AfterTheInjury.org is a valuable resource for parents of your injured children. It combines practical guidance and tools with up-to- date information to help parents care for their children.The website was created by an interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners that includes pediatricians, psychologists, trauma surgeons, and trauma nurses.

Website development was made possible in part by funding from the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Download these patient care tools:

For more information and training tools for pediatric health care providers:

Health Care Toolbox: Your Guide to Helping Children Cope with Illness and Injury

Information prescription and email reminder to parents

An information prescription from a trusted health care provider can guide parents to reliable and evidence-based health information on the web to help in their child’s care.

(ready to print on standard template - Avery 5315)

Reminder cards for Parents

Handy wallet-size cards help parents remember this useful resource when they need it.

(ready to print on standard business card templates - Avery 5371, 8371, or 8871)

Patient handouts

Handouts provide basic information and quick tips for parents and children about emotional recovery after an injury.

Download pdf’s here:

Follow-up and monitoring of patient needs after hospital discharge

Some Trauma and Orthopedics services have found it useful to add a brief statement to the discharge letter that is routinely sent to the patient’s primary care provider (PCP), encouraging follow-up about psychosocial recovery at the patient’s next visit. Sample text can be adapted for use with your hospital’s discharge letter.

Materials that may be included with the discharge letter:

Flyer / Poster for waiting room

Post this flyer in your waiting room, or give to parents who want additional information about the After The Injury website.