The ENT specialists at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, a Campus of UH Regional Hospitals, take caring for kids to the next level

By Laura Briedis

In any given day, you may see a child dressed in a medical gown and hair net driving around the hospital hallways in an electric-powered toy Jeep truck with the University Hospitals logo emblazoned on the hood. It’s all part of the first-rate patient experience at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, a Campus of UH Regional Hospitals.

“We put our young patients who are anxious before surgery at ease by letting them drive themselves from the pre-op area to the operating room in a remote-controlled Jeep,” says Ian Funnell, MD, an otolaryngologist who provides comprehensive ear, nose and throat care for both children and adults. “If the children are too young to drive the toy vehicle themselves, a staff member uses a remote control to drive the Jeep. This is the most stressful time for our pediatric patients, as they are leaving their parents behind and going to an unfamiliar environment with bright lights, so this provides a distraction that gives them something else to think about.”

Though it just takes a minute or two to navigate a couple right turns down the hallways to the operating room, the calming effect is long-lasting.

“Oftentimes children cry and don’t want to leave their parents’ arms when it is time for surgery, but driving the Jeep helps ease the transition from the time they leave their parents and go to the operating room,” says Heather Glowacki, nurse manager for the operating room at UH Geauga Medical Center.

“The first girl who drove the Jeep was so excited that she did not even turn around to say goodbye to her parents but started driving straight to the OR and wasn’t scared at all,” says Heather, who notes the hospital ordered a Jeep for its pediatric patients last month. “It also makes parents happy to see their child is not scared.”

Taking care of patients is a team effort, from the nurses holding the child’s hands to the anesthesiologists who show cartoons on their cellphones to keep the kids comfortable throughout the entire procedure.

At UH Geauga Medical Center, ENT specialists have advanced medical equipment to diagnose and treat a full spectrum of conditions that range from tonsillectomies, sinus problems and hearing loss to complex head, neck and skull issues. But even with all of the extensive training and advanced technology physicians have, their ability to put patients at ease is just as important.

“Whether treating children or adults, we always try to be accessible to all our patients and build rapport,” says Dr. Funnell, who served in the Army for 16 years, when he received his medical training. He worked at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, Fort Benning in Georgia and Fort Carson in Colorado before joining University Hospitals in 2022. “We want to make them feel like part of the team and that we are making decisions together. We give patients different treatment pathways and help them make their own informed decisions.”

University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center is located at 13207 Ravenna Road, in Chardon. To schedule an appointment, call 216-541-1959 or visit UHHospitals.org.

When to Schedule with an ENT
A specialist in ear, nose and throat, an otolaryngologist (also called an ENT physician) treats many different medical conditions and performs surgery if needed.

You should consult with an ENT if you have any of these recurring issues to help break the cycle by properly diagnosing and treating:

• Chronic nasal congestion

• Recurring sinus infections

• Frequent nose bleeds

• Persistent sore throat

• Chronic ear infections

• Balance issues

• Hearing loss

• Excessive snoring

• Sleep apnea

• Neck masses

For an appointment with an ENT at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, call 216-541-1959.