Journey to Transplant: Preparing for Heart Transplant

This webinar explores the critical role of Child Life Specialists as an integral part of the pediatric heart transplant evaluation process. Participants will learn how Child Life Specialists collaborate closely with the medical team, patients, and caregivers to support coping, communication, and engagement throughout evaluation and hospitalization.

The session will highlight how Child Life Specialists partner with families to develop individualized coping and comfort plans tailored to each patient’s needs, including procedural support, sensory preferences, and emotional regulation strategies. Attendees will also gain insight into how Child Life Specialists introduce hospital services and resources—such as play spaces, family areas, support groups, and volunteer programs—and empower patients and caregivers to actively participate in their care through daily rounds, question-asking, and self-advocacy.

Additionally, the webinar will review the use of child-friendly educational tools, including medical play, medical dolls, and preparation materials that promote understanding and mastery of the healthcare environment. Child Life Specialists’ assessment of caregiver comfort, prior medical trauma, developmental considerations, language barriers, and other factors that may impact coping will be discussed, along with how this information informs individualized support.

Finally, participants will learn how Child Life Specialists document their assessments through detailed coping and comfort plans and narrative notes within the medical record, ensuring consistent, trauma-informed, and family-centered care across the interdisciplinary team.

Speakers

Anna Batz, CCLS Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Suggested Domain: Intervention
Credits: 1.0 PDU

Please note: All webinar content and its certificate will expire on 7/20/2029, regardless of when it is purchased, accessed, or completed. At that point, contents will no longer be available in any form, including as an archive or as a PDU certificate. It is the responsibility of the learner to complete the contents and download and save the certificate for their records prior to 7/20/2029