General Information
Your Child’s Healthcare Team
Your child may be seen by many healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, technologists, physician assistants, and others. Because West Virginia University is a teaching hospital, these staff members work together to plan your child's treatment and provide quality care.
Faculty Physicians
WVU faculty physicians are part of a network of skilled specialists. The attending physician heads a healthcare team that provides the right combination of skills, training, and experience to ensure that your child's stay will be as comfortable as possible.
Residents
Residents are fully licensed physicians who have completed four years of medical school and now are doing specialized post-graduate training under the supervision of WVU faculty.
Medical Students
Because West Virginia University Hospitals is a teaching institution, medical students, supervised by your attending physician and residents, may observe your child's progress and contribute to his or her care.
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants are specially trained and certified to provide medical services under the supervision of a physician.
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education and training.
Nurses
A registered nurse will direct and oversee your child's nursing care. Your child's nurse will provide physical care and education, evaluate your child's response to care, provide emotional support, and answer your questions.
Clinical Associates
Clinical associates make beds, give baths, and walk with patients. They also collect blood samples for tests requested by the doctor caring for your child.
Support Associates
Support associates clean your child's room and take them to and from tests.
Anesthesiologists
Anesthesiologists are physicians who administer medications during and after surgery. Nurse anesthetists are specially certified nurses who administer medications.
Technologists
Technologists are trained to use the most up-to-date equipment and methods to diagnose illness. Their equipment, including X-ray and EKG machines, is used to gather useful information that cannot be obtained any other way.
Dietitians
Dietitians assess your child's nutritional needs and design a care plan to help meet those needs. The dietitian can provide instruction about special diets. If you want to talk to a dietitian, ask your nurse to contact one.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists dispense medication prescribed by your child's physician. They are available to answer questions you may have about drug therapy. Ask your nurse if you wish to talk to a pharmacist.
Physical Therapists
Physical therapists provide exercises and other activities to help restore or improve physical functioning and prevent disability following illness, surgery, or injury.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists provide activities to help your child learn to perform activities of daily living following illness, surgery, or injury.
Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists provide treatments to preserve or improve lung function.
Speech Pathologists
Speech pathologists evaluate and treat communication and swallowing disorders.
Pain Management Specialists
Specially trained physicians and nurses are available 24 hours a day to help you and your child's doctor develop a pain management plan to use during your child's hospital stay.
Patient Advocates
If you have any problems with your child's care, want to ask a question, or need to talk with someone, you may call a patient advocate at 598-4167 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In the evenings or on weekends, ask a member of the nursing staff to page the nursing supervisor.
Chaplains
Chaplains are available to patients and families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Chaplains are trained to listen and offer support to others, whatever their faith traditions or circumstances. Chaplains can also provide communion, anointing, baptism, and other rituals. Copies of the Bible, Qur'an, and Tanakh are available on request. Call 598-4185 or ask any hospital staff person to page the chaplain for you.
Clinical Care Coordinators
Clinical care coordinators (CCCs) are nurses who help make sure your child's care is coordinated, communicate with your insurance company to obtain approval for services, and help you and your family make plan for your child's discharge.
If you do not know who your CCC is, ask your nurse to contact the Care Management Department, or call the department at 598-4183. The Department is located on Level 1 in the hospital, and is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. If you have an immediate discharge need and the department is closed, ask your nurse to call the hospital operator.
Social Workers
Social workers can help you with any personal, financial, or family problems that may arise related to your child's hospitalization. They are available for counseling and can help with understanding and obtaining community resources. A social worker is available 24 hours per day. Call the Care Management Department at 598-4183 to contact your social worker, or ask your nurse to help you contact a social worker.
Volunteers
Volunteers contribute their time and talents to our patients, their families, and visitors. Volunteers deliver patient meals, work in the Gift Shop, operate a lending library of books and magazines, and perform many other tasks. Women volunteer wear pink jackets; men wear red jackets; junior volunteers wear red and white stripes. For more information, or to ask about opportunities for working as a volunteer, call 598-4134.