Your appointment at CHOC’s Outpatient Evaluation Center for pre-procedure testing

This short video will describe what to expect at CHOC Children’s outpatient evaluation center.
You will be notified by phone of your appointment time in advance.
The outpatient evaluation center is an outdoor area with large tents.
Wait in your car until a CHOC employee comes to check you in. Please ensure all vehicle passengers wear a mask.
Your child should stay seated in the car and wearing a seatbelt.
A nurse or respiratory therapist will ask you a few questions and take your child’s temperature before beginning the test.
They will wear yellow or white gowns, gloves, masks and face shields.
The COVID-19 test is done using a nasal swab. This might sound scary, but if your child can relax, the test takes just 5 seconds.
There are some things you can do to make the process easier:
Bring a small comfort item for your child to hold.
You can try sitting next to your child and holding their wrists, if necessary.
Parents may sit younger children in their laps and wrap their arms around them.
The provider can also help hold your child steady, if necessary.
After counting to 5, the provider will insert the swab into the back of the child’s nose, twist it, and then pull it out.
Inserting the swab this far into the nose is necessary to ensure the provider gets a proper specimen.
The test feels funny. It may feel similar to when water gets in your nose at the pool or beach. Your child might sneeze and their eyes may water.
If the test is positive, you will receive a telephone call by the end of the day or, in some cases, early the next morning. Any scheduled procedure will be canceled.
If the test is negative, you will not be contacted and should come for the procedure as scheduled.
After the test, your son or daughter should stay at home until their procedure the next day to prevent COVID-19 exposure.
Parents will not be tested for COVID-19. Instead, they must pass a health screening at the hospital upon arrival for their child’s procedure the next day. They must also wear a mask.