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Development Office
Pain Free Pediatrics
Contrary to many preconceptions, infants and children can feel pain during certain medical procedures. Furthermore,
children often remember a painful experience at a hospital or doctor’s office – memories which can create a life long
fear of doctors and negatively impact their inclination to seek health care when it is needed in adulthood. Pain management,
therefore, is a fundamental component of pediatric care at Boston Medical Center. Through the PainFree Pediatrics program,
BMC health care providers use age appropriate techniques, both non-pharmacological and pharmacological, to reduce pain
and stress for infants and children needing a potentially painful medical procedure such as a blood draw, an intravenous
insertion, or immunization. The non-pharmacological approaches include mentally preparing a child for each step of the
procedure, the use of distraction toys (pacifier, bubbles, pictures books), behavioral/relaxation interventions (story
sharing and focused imagery) and post-procedure comforting (praise and reward gifts). Often the anxiety a child feels
before a medical procedure is the worst part of the process. Pharmacological techniques include the use of a variety of
topical anesthetics and anxiolytic therapy. Topical anesthetics such as EMLA Cream or Numby Stuff provide local anesthetic
through the skin. Anxiolytics such as Midazolam reduce the stress and anxiety associated with painful procedures without
respiratory depression.
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