April 17, 2025
Episode 04
If you’re a parent, caregiver, or healthcare professional who’s ever navigated the hospital system with a child, you know how overwhelming it can feel. In this episode of the Prescription for Admission podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Alisa Khan, a pediatric hospitalist at Boston Children’s Hospital, about one of the most powerful forces in pediatric care: parental advocacy.
We dive deep into what it means to be a partner in your child’s hospital experience—especially when it feels like you’re not being heard. From addressing bias in healthcare to improving healthcare communication, Dr. Khan brings her perspective as both a physician and a parent to help you understand how to navigate complex hospital systems with confidence and clarity.
Whether you’re a new parent, a seasoned caregiver, or a provider who wants to understand family-centered care on a deeper level, this conversation is for you.
Episode Notes
In this heartfelt and enlightening episode, I talk with Dr. Alisa Khan about:
-
What it means to be a pediatric hospitalist and how their work shapes the inpatient experience for children
-
The emotional toll of hospitalizations on both children and their families
-
The power and importance of caregiver advocacy—and how parents are experts in their child’s health
-
How implicit and systemic bias can influence patient care, and why acknowledging them is the first step toward change
-
The importance of families in healthcare safety reporting and how their feedback can drive real improvement
-
The role of grace and empathy in high-pressure medical environments—for both providers and families
Dr. Khan also reflects on how media influences perceptions of hospital medicine and why real-life stories from caregivers are essential to improving the system.
Key Takeaways
As a parent, your voice matters—sometimes more than you realize. Here are some key messages from this episode:
- Pediatric hospitalists are specialists who manage care for hospitalized children and work closely with families.
- Your instincts as a caregiver are valid. If something feels off with your child’s care, speak up—until someone listens.
- Biases—implicit, explicit, and systemic—exist in healthcare and can create additional burdens for marginalized families.
- Effective communication and shared understanding between families and providers improve both the hospital experience and patient outcomes.
- Feedback from families is essential—it helps identify patterns, prevent errors, and push the system to improve.
- Advocacy isn’t just about your child—it paves the way for better care for every child who comes after.
Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube—and don’t forget to share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Let’s keep the conversation going about patient advocacy, healthcare equity, and compassionate pediatric care.