REVIEW: Blank Children's Hospital ER

Submitted by West Des Moines Mom

We just got home the Blank Children's Hospital Emergency Room in Des Moines, Iowa. Wow, what a pleasant experience they create during a painful, difficult and emotional time.

My son tripped over the dishwasher and fell on a fork. When you hear a thud and then no "I'm OK, Mom," or crying for about 5 seconds, then screaming, you know its bad.

I jumped up and ran into the kitchen, and he was still on the floor. I saw a tear in his shirt, so I rolled up his sleeve and was careful not to say OH MY GOD out loud. Then we drove down to Blank Children's Hospital Emergency room.

There was only one family ahead of us, so we got in right away. Everyone was very nice and very patient. The two people who left the biggest positive impression on me were the resident and the Child Life helper. The Child Life helper took a dinosaur and told my son to draw an "owie" on the dinosaur. Then they "fixed" the owie, and she explained everything and exactly what was going to happen to my son when he got his stitches.

Another thing that impressed both my son and I was the TV in the ceiling. He got to watch a movie (about 50 to choose from) while they were stitching him up. Note to self: Ask daddy to put a TV above our bed! If you have an emergency, and I hope you don't, go to Blank Children's Hospital.