Was your OOS college student ever hospitalized?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I have 3 in college. They have had varying issues which needed medical attention. Most of the time you don't have to drop anything to get there immediately. You have time to assess (though we haven't had mental health issues).

Stomach pump from drinking? No need to go
Stitches from tripping up stairs? No need to go
Think they are dying- ear infection + step? They will feel better after 24 hrs on meds

We have found that the student health centers are great and get this population. I have only had to go twice and really o LT once for an emergency. The rest were they caught something and were sick and wanted me to come. That said even when dealing with massive Covid vaccine heart reaction or a good old stomach pump I have had no problems with the doctors talking to me. I can't see online records but I can see their online bills!

Stomach pump from drinking: time for them to come home. Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I have 3 in college. They have had varying issues which needed medical attention. Most of the time you don't have to drop anything to get there immediately. You have time to assess (though we haven't had mental health issues).

Stomach pump from drinking? No need to go
Stitches from tripping up stairs? No need to go
Think they are dying- ear infection + step? They will feel better after 24 hrs on meds

We have found that the student health centers are great and get this population. I have only had to go twice and really o LT once for an emergency. The rest were they caught something and were sick and wanted me to come. That said even when dealing with massive Covid vaccine heart reaction or a good old stomach pump I have had no problems with the doctors talking to me. I can't see online records but I can see their online bills!

Stomach pump from drinking: time for them to come home. Lol

Wow, there is a checked out parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, are you concerned about your own kid going off to college next year and what might happen in the event your kid was hospitalized? Or does your kid have any specific condition that could land them in the hospital so you're worried? If you have specific questions around that, let us know and I'm sure you'll get some good input here.

I was wondering how frequently it happens...

My situation is that it is extremely, extremely difficult for me to leave home overnight and would be even harder for me to leave for more than one day. So if my child goes away to school (or anywhere for that matter) and is hospitalized, it would be very difficult for me to just drop everything and fly there.

I am contemplating buying membership in something like MedJet to fly them home in such an emergency, therefore.

The alternative is to work your network to find local friends of friends-of-friends that could step in. I have been this contact for two kids at AU, neither needed me in the hospital, but I did have grab room stuff for one upon Covid rapid move out. My kid is now in Champaign, IL and a fried hooked me up with a college friend of hers that lives there locally. Probably won’t need her, but I met her at move-in weekend for coffee and I would call her if needed.

DS goes to Illinois. He has a seizure disorder. He had a seizure as a freshman and face planted into a door. He needed to go to the ER for the seizure by ambulance and needed stitches. Carle Hospital ER was very patient and very understanding with me on the phone as we navigated that situation. I wasn't particularly impressed with the neurologist who did the follow up appointment, but the Carle ER near campus was really great.

Gah, how times have changed. We called McKinley “McKillMe” and Carle “Gnarle” because they were so incompetent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first week of sophomore year my daughter went with a boy she had just met to the hospital. She had only known him for 30 min when the issue started. One of his buddies offered to drive snd no one else was offering to go so she hopped in the car and made him give her is phone password. He was losing the ability to talk quickly. She took him into the ER and even though it was covid times the hospital let her stay so she could answer questions. She got ahold of his parents, filled out all the forms and stayed 20 hours until his parents got there.

A year later our dd was the one in the ER 2 states away with a massive concussion. 3 of her team mates (club sport, no coach) stayed with her at the hospital and called us with updates. Both my dh and I drove to her that night. She got released form the ER while we were driving and her teammates drove her the 2 hours back to school and we met them there.

When I was in college I was sick and confined to my dorm room for 3 weeks. I was not contagious it was a bleeding disorder. My boyfriend, now husband, took care of me between classes. He brought meals from the dining hall and taught me my missed school work. We were the same major and had many classes together. He also took me to lots of dr. Appointments. My parents never flew out. They were 3000 miles away and I told them not to come. I was sick but not dying and there wasn't much they could have done to help.

Your daughter sounds very poised and cool, whoa! That boy’s family must have been so grateful

[Anonymous]

I was an RAin college & one of our responsibilities was to accompany any of our residents to the hospital if they had to go. The graduate assistant on call would also come. It only happened to me once (for a relatively minor issue) but both the GA and I were there and would have stayed until a parent arrived (and if not, would rotate with other resident life staff).

Maybe it’s something to ask the college about? 8
I am sure they have some sort of protocol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, are you concerned about your own kid going off to college next year and what might happen in the event your kid was hospitalized? Or does your kid have any specific condition that could land them in the hospital so you're worried? If you have specific questions around that, let us know and I'm sure you'll get some good input here.

I was wondering how frequently it happens...

My situation is that it is extremely, extremely difficult for me to leave home overnight and would be even harder for me to leave for more than one day. So if my child goes away to school (or anywhere for that matter) and is hospitalized, it would be very difficult for me to just drop everything and fly there.

I am contemplating buying membership in something like MedJet to fly them home in such an emergency, therefore.

Is this Op? ^^

Why is it extremely difficult for you to leave?


99.9% of us would move mountains to get to our kid if they were hospitalized (presumably it's serious enough to be in the hospital, no?).

[Anonymous]

I was. Luckily I was a student at Johns Hopkins and ended up at Hopkins hospital, which is an excellent place to be in an emergency.

My parents lived overseas at the time but older brother stayed with me.

[Anonymous]

Freshmen year, my daughter was in the university hospital ER for constipation. I drove there right away.
My daughter just didn't eat vegies or fibers when she was free to choose her food. She learned her lesson.

[Anonymous]

My nephew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a freshman during COVID. We live in the area and got to the hospital first before his parents could fly up. Very scary and life-changing diagnosis. He needed a lot of support managing his new condition and took the next semester off to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, are you concerned about your own kid going off to college next year and what might happen in the event your kid was hospitalized? Or does your kid have any specific condition that could land them in the hospital so you're worried? If you have specific questions around that, let us know and I'm sure you'll get some good input here.

I was wondering how frequently it happens...

My situation is that it is extremely, extremely difficult for me to leave home overnight and would be even harder for me to leave for more than one day. So if my child goes away to school (or anywhere for that matter) and is hospitalized, it would be very difficult for me to just drop everything and fly there.

I am contemplating buying membership in something like MedJet to fly them home in such an emergency, therefore.

The alternative is to work your network to find local friends of friends-of-friends that could step in. I have been this contact for two kids at AU, neither needed me in the hospital, but I did have grab room stuff for one upon Covid rapid move out. My kid is now in Champaign, IL and a fried hooked me up with a college friend of hers that lives there locally. Probably won’t need her, but I met her at move-in weekend for coffee and I would call her if needed.

DS goes to Illinois. He has a seizure disorder. He had a seizure as a freshman and face planted into a door. He needed to go to the ER for the seizure by ambulance and needed stitches. Carle Hospital ER was very patient and very understanding with me on the phone as we navigated that situation. I wasn't particularly impressed with the neurologist who did the follow up appointment, but the Carle ER near campus was really great.

Gah, how times have changed. We called McKinley “McKillMe” and Carle “Gnarle” because they were so incompetent.

I'm an NP. Carle did a really thorough job for my son and sent him with the appropriate recommendations. I didn't know anything about them beforehand and was very happy with the care they gave. (Plus, they talked me through my Mom freak out over the phone.)

[Anonymous]

It's good to think about and prepare for, but statistically you will find yourself in this situation.

I wouldn't prevent a kid from attending college OOS due to the fear that I couldn't be at the hospital in case of extreme accident. That's letting a statistically low hypothetical guide a very important decision. Perhaps there are other more compelling reasons why OOS school doesn't make sense, but IMO this wouldn't be one of them. In the rare event it happens, you will be amazed how people will step up and help you, either college staff/friends/families helping your child there or by your local network stepping in to help you so you can go be with your kid. I've seen this happen within our online parent group discussion.

It's normal to think about these things as our kids launch, but wise not to let our fears control their decisions.

[Anonymous]

^^^ ...first sentence in post above should have read "statistically unlikely you will find yourself in this situation."

Ooopsie

[Anonymous]

I feel that the bigger question is what quality of healthcare is available to your student attending college away from home?
My DS was diagnosed with a chronic condition weeks after arriving on campus as a freshman. Yes, we did travel there to help coordinate care as there were many doctors' appointments, extensive testing, advanced medications, etc. But that right at his university there is excellent access to healthcare (we are talking a major, regionally known hospital system) is something I will forever be grateful for. Ready access to such was not something we considered when he was applying and selecting which college to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somewhat related: I was thinking of getting a healthcare power of attorney before my 18 year old goes OOS to college this fall. This would be in case of something really bad like a car accident and the kid isn’t able to communicate. Anyone hear or have experience that this is necessary or is it overkill since I’m the parent?

If your child is 18, they are an adult and just like any other adult family member, you need a healthcare power of attorney if you are going to make appointments or request records or talk with the doctor about treatment decisions or make medical decisions for them. It's not overkill.

Not overkill at all. DH is an estate planning attorney and our children have all signed health care power of attorney documents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone I know who had a child hospitalized at school at least one parent flew to be with them.

This—however, join your college parent FB group and you will likely also have 10+ moms/dads willing to step in until you are able to get to your kid.

I’ve seen it with both of my kids universities.