Pediatric surgeon develops free app for first-time surgery patients

28 October 2013

Newsroom

My First Surgery helps prepare children and parents for the Operating Room

MONTREAL, Oct. 25, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – You’ve just found out your six-year-old daughter needs surgery in a couple of weeks. Where do you begin? My First Surgery is now available on iTunes to help parents and patients better prepare for their first time in the operating room. Dr. Robert Baird, a practicing surgeon at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, saw a need for a communications tool that could help ease parents’ anxiety about the process. The interactive app breaks down each step by explaining what will happen before, during and after the surgery. Undergoing surgery is never easy for a child—or a parent– but this app will help make the entire process a little less scary.

Come join the creators of My First Surgery as they officially launch the app at the Montreal Children’s Hospital!

What makes My First Surgery unique?

“Child view” with five easy-to-use scenes featuring interactive characters and OR equipment
A personalized feature that lets parents embed their child’s picture within the app
“Parent view” provides tips and information every parent should know prior to the surgery
Embedded videos by a practicing pediatric surgeon provides additional information about what to expect

My First Surgery was the winner of the McGill University Centre for Biomedical Innovation mHealth App Creation Challenge. Designed locally, the app will be accessible internationally through iTunes. It is currently available in English, and the developers are seeking funding to translate the app into other languages. Check it out on iTunes!