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The Dreef Family

Our son (2 years old) had been in the Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital for several days. The core business of this hospital (as I assessed it as a layperson) is providing good care. My (again, layperson) assessment is that this is fine. For instance, there is a lot of attention from the doctors. And there is nursing staff looking after the child.

But that LUMC strategy also includes the word 'groundbreaking'. What does that mean for our little man, as a patient in this grown-up-health-factory? After all, how does a 'company' prevent its little guy from going home not physically healthy, but mentally shattered nonetheless?

At the LUMC, in addition to the work related to 'substantive care', I have seen a number of things that mean they do just a little more, but have a massively greater impact:

  • Nursing staff who see him as a child and not as a patient;
  • A section with 2 playgrounds, remote-controlled cars (which Dad thought were particularly nice), a wagon, etc. So plenty of distraction;
  • Collaboration between different departments;
  • Employees who are professional enough and feel free to make their own choices that fall outside their primary duties.

And more, but just mentioning this as the most important.

On behalf of my little man: thanks to everyone at the LUMC who does just that little bit extra!

The Dreef Family

Because how did we manage to take that photo with the trauma helicopter on the hospital roof? After all, the moment it arrived, we (my son and I) were on the other side of the ward, far away from our own nurse in the playground. And small children on the roof, surely that’s not allowed?

So, to make this possible, a lot needs to be in order within such a large organization as the LUMC. I have no idea exactly what they had to do for that, but I'm thinking of:

  • A security guard who dares to look just a little further than his primary duty and calls the pediatric ward when the helicopter arrived;
  • Nurses who are involved with the patients and know that my little man is crazy about everything that drives and flies, and then go looking for my son to give him this opportunity;
  • Firefighters ensuring the safety of the children on the roof;
  • Employees who feel the freedom (safety) to make these choices.
  • Etc.

But what I want to say is that this organization does just a little more than simply “applying bandages.” And precisely because of that, my little man had a wonderful experience, despite a nasty one. After all, what child stands on the roof 13 stories high waving goodbye to a departing helicopter…

On behalf of my little man: thanks to everyone at the LUMC who does just that little bit extra!