Interventional Radiology scheduling and arrival
If your physician has told you that your child needs an Interventional Radiology (IR) procedure, the information here will help ensure you and your child are prepared. Our goal is to make this experience as stress-free as possible.
Step 1 is to call the IR nurse scheduler at the number listed on this page (215-590-7000). Press #1 at the first prompt, then press #2 at the second prompt.
The nurse scheduler will ask questions about your child's medical history, including medications and whether your child has had reactions to sedation or anesthesia in the past.
Your doctor or an IR nurse will give you special instructions if needed. In most cases, your child will not be able to eat or drink before the procedure, particularly if your child will be sedated or undergo anesthesia.
About two weeks before your child's appointment, we will send you instructions about the procedure. Please keep these instructions in a safe place where you can refer to them before your appointment.
Please let the IR team know if your child has any special needs.
What do I do if I am not the child's legal guardian?
Only a child's parent or legal guardian can give permission for a procedure in Interventional Radiology. If you’re not the child’s parent, please bring a copy of the court order that states you are the child's legal guardian and can give permission for medical care. If you do not have this form we will not be able to get consent, therefore we will not be able to perform the procedure. If you are neither the parent nor the legal guardian, please let us know when you schedule the procedure so we can begin the process of obtaining consent from the appropriate person or agency.
What should we do when we arrive?
Please arrive 45 minutes before your appointment. Check in to Outpatient Registration, on the third floor of the Main Hospital in Philadelphia. It is important that you arrive on time. Otherwise, the procedure may be canceled.
Your referring physician must fax us a copy of a procedure request form stating the type and reason for the exam, or a prescription for tube changes. An interventional exam is not scheduled without this form or prescription.
We’ll also need proof of insurance and a referral if required by your insurer.
When the registration process is complete, we will notify Interventional Radiology. A technologist, nurse or core tech will come out to the central registration area and bring you and your child to a room for IV placement or other preparations.
Preparing your child
If you’d like, a Child Life Services specialist will help you prepare your child and support them during the procedure. We can also arrange to have a specialist at your child's appointment to explain the procedure in developmentally appropriate ways and to help your child better cope with the stress of the hospital experience.