St. Louis Children’s Hospital is the pediatric teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine. Your child’s care team includes many people who work together to provide world-class patient care. Please ask if you are unsure of who is helping take care of your child. The care team members include (A-Z):
An Advance Practice Nurse (APN), or nurse practitioner (NP), has specialized training and knowledge and works closely with doctors.
Art Therapists bring art making to the bedside in order to enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of patients.
A Care Coordinator helps your family in planning for discharge and stays in contact with your insurance company.
Chaplains are available to support your personal belief system. An interfaith chaplain is available 24-hours a day.
The Charge Nurse (RN) is the shift leader for nursing staff and manages admissions, discharges, room assignments, and patient flow. The Charge Nurse can help answer any questions about the unit.
Child Life Specialists are trained to use developmentally appropriate activities to help patients and families cope with illness and a hospital stay.
The Dietitian (RD) works with the care team to manage your child’s nutrition needs.
Facilities Technicians manage building and equipment operations, maintenance and repairs.
A Fellow (MD) is a doctor who has completed medical school and pediatric residency, and is training to practice in a specialized area of medicine.
Housekeeping performs daily housekeeping services and cleaning activities in all patient, public and common areas.
The Language Service Manager helps make sure services are available to meet the language needs of patients and families whose primary language is not English.
A Medical Student is studying to become a doctor and works with the team to care for your child. Medical students work under the direction of Senior Residents (MD) and Attending Physicians (MD).
Music Therapists bring music to the bedside in order to help patients improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being.
A Nurse (RN) will care for your child at the bedside and help manage the daily care plan during your child’s hospital stay.
A Nurse Clinician (RN) is a nurse with advanced training. Nurse Clinicians work with the care team to coordinate care and provide education about specific medical conditions.
The Nurse Manager (RN) and Assistant Nurse Manager (RN) oversee daily management of the nursing staff and inpatient unit.
Occupational Therapists (OT) work with patients to help make the best use of their skills and abilities.
The Patient Care Technician (PCT) performs patient care tasks at the direction of a registered nurse.
The Pharmacist (PharmD) works with the care team to make sure your child receives safe and effective medicine.
A Phlebotomist collects and processes blood and blood products.
Physical Therapists (PT) work with patients to develop, maintain and restore movement and functional ability.
A Physician (MD), also sometimes called an Attending Physician, is a doctor who has completed all medical training and oversees all of the patient’s care. Your attending physician may focus on a specific condition (for example cardiology, neurology) or may be a general medicine physician (Hospitalist). You may also see a Consulting Physician (MD), a specialist who is asked to give an opinion on your child’s condition.
A Physician Assistant (PA) is licensed to practice medicine under the direction of a doctor. A PA can perform physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive healthcare, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.
A Resident (MD) is a doctor who has completed medical school and is receiving further training. Residents work under the direction of Attending Physicians (MD). A first-year Resident is also called an Intern (MD). A resident beyond their first year of training is called a Senior Resident (MD).
Respiratory Therapists (RRT) provide treatment and management of patients with breathing conditions.
A Social Worker (LCSW) helps the family better cope with illness and hospitalization. They can make community referrals for financial resources and support services whether your child is in the hospital or at home.
Speech Language Pathologists help patients with a variety of speech, voice and language disorders. They also help patients who have difficulty swallowing food, liquids and/or medicines.
A Student Nurse is studying to become a nurse and performs tasks similar to a nurse, but under the direction of a registered nurse (RN).
Volunteers can be identified by their blue volunteer t-shirts and are found throughout the hospital and help improve the overall hospital experience. You may see volunteers: greeting visitors, bringing comfort items to patients and families, delivering mail to patients, and visiting patients.
