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Spotlight on Child Life
Spotlight on Child Life
Below is a list of articles and features about child life and child life specialists. Some have links to the actual stories, others can be accessed by visiting the publication Web sites and searching the archives. Please contact communications@childlife.org if you would like to submit other articles for inclusion here.
2009
- My Child is Having Surgery: These tips will help you (and your child) be your best on the big day, momlogic.com, Dr. Nina Shapiro, November 25, 2009
According to pediatrician Dr. Nina Shapiro, "Nobody wants surgery, especially for their child. But if it has to be done, a little prep goes a long way." She offers tips for parents on how to care for themselves in order better support their children on the day of the surgery, suggesting they talk about the upcoming experience, both with family and friends, as well with the medical team, asking plenty of questions to ensure a full understanding of the treatment plan. In order to prepare children, Dr. Shapiro strongly advises that parents be honest about what is to come, using age-appropriate explanations to discuss specific types of surgeries or procedures, and enlisting the aid of children's books, toy medical equipment and dolls. She cites child life specialists as a helpful resource for setting up tours and orientations, as well as offering opportunities for play during their child's stay at the hospital. Read Full Article
- Children's stories shine through at festival, KCCI News Des Moines, November 25, 2009
In a local newscast, the child life program at Blank Children's Hospital is highlighted as the primary beneficiary of funds raised during the annual Festival of Trees and Lights in Des Moines. The feature focuses on the experiences of 12-year-old Tyler Cross, who lives with a genetic skin disease that requires frequent visits to the hospital and long and painful dressing changes. Tyler is one of the many children who appreciate the support of child life specialists. "They're like my friends, [they] help me, other people," says Tyler. Watch Now
- Child's play: Learning to cope, Baylor Dental Journal, 2008-2009
Over the past few years, Certified Child Life Specialist and Registered Dental Hygienist Cinda McDonald has been a key player in two studies exploring the use of child life in dentistry. The first study, initiated by a team of professors at Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry (HSC-BCD), examined the effectiveness of child life interventions in uncooperative children ages 4 to 8. The group teamed up with McDonald to develop a series of child life tools and interventions customized to the pediatric dental setting. The preliminary data reveals positive outcomes for children receiving a child life intervention-including enhanced coping skills, decreased anxiety and improved cooperation-as well as positive feedback from parents. In the wake of this initial success, with the support of a $25,000 grant, McDonald is collaborating on a second study to evaluate the effect of child life interventions on older children. The research team hopes that their findings will pave the way for funding for a larger, long-term study.
Read Full Article (To access the article, click on the journal cover, then advance the slides to page 24)
- Costumed boy a super patient, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Helena Oliviero, October 23, 2009
Six-year-old Jonah Henneberg has taken a unique approach to coping with his recent liver transplant. Each day, on trips to the playground, the grocery store, and especially for visits to the doctor's office, he wears one of 13 superhero costumes. According to child life specialist Ginger Tuminello, CCLS, children who stay in the hospital often take comfort in items brought from home, which help to normalize the experience and can also provide a sense of escape. Dr. Rene Romero, medical director of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Liver Transplant Program, agrees. While he has seen patients in costume before, none of them have demonstrated such dedicated enthusiasm for alter egos as Jonah, who is recovering well from his transplant. Read Full Article
- Putting smiles on kids' faces with fun bandages, The St. Augustine Record, Kati Bexly, October 10, 2009
Two years ago, after losing her daughter Casey to cancer, Leslie Warner decided to take her experience and "have some good come out of it." After having seen firsthand how much the little touches meant to patients at Wolfson Children's Hospital's oncology unit, she began coordinating with the local elementary school to collect colorful decorative bandages to use in lieu of plain brown bandages. The donated bandages have patterns that range from puppies to "High School Musical" characters, appealing to a wide range of ages. Child life specialist Earlene McLendon, CCLS is appreciative of the contributions, which she says give the children something they can relate to. Read Full Article
- Preparing for boy's surgery a family affair: Medical play helps children manage and express their fears in run-up to surgery, theStar.com, Diane Flacks, October 3, 2009
After making the "massive error" of Googling her youngest son's upcoming major surgery, Toronto columnist Diane Flacks was anxious to learn more about the procedure, and to help prepare her children for what was to come. Flacks describes her personal experience in dealing with the "prologue" to her family's hospital story, pointing to wisdom gleaned from the staff at The Hospital for Sick Children. CLC member Laura McGrath, CCLS provides insights throughout the narrative, explaining the ways that medical play can be helpful. Through play, children become familiar with the medical equipment they will be encountering, which fosters confidence and trust, and gives them a sense of empowerment. When it comes to talking with children about the pain they will experience, McGrath advises parents not to downplay it, but to remind them that there will be things to help ease the pain, such as medication, hugs and toys. Read Full Article
- Meet Kristjana - A Child Life Specialist At St. Jude, WBKO News Bowling Green (ABC/FOX), Chris Allen (Reporter) and Jon Doss (Videographer), September 24, 2009
WBKO News introduces viewers to the work of CLC member Kristjana Smith, CCLS and the rest of the child life team at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Watch Now
- Littlest patients find distraction, comfort in live feeds from zoos, USA Today, Jeff Martin, September 7, 2009
Since the Sanford Health System launched its ZooTV program in partnership with the Great Plains Zoo in South Dakota in March, young patients have enjoyed getting an up-close, real-time view of a variety of zoo animals right from their beds. According to child life manager Carrie Kindopp, CCLS the project is intended to be a comfort and distraction for children, providing them with a sense of normalcy. Read Full Article
- New 'Music Therapy on Wheels' delivers healing tunes to pediatric patients, UCLA Newsroom, Amy Albin, August 31, 2009
Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA recently unveiled a new addition to its musical therapy program -- an interactive musical studio on wheels called Music Rx. A flagship program of the Children's Cancer Association (CCA), Music Rx is designed to bring music therapy to pediatric patients both in group settings and one-on-one at bedside. The high-tech carts include a variety of instruments, music recording software, iPods to loan to patients, and a LCD screen that plays music videos. The Music Rx program at UCLA will also incorporate a live performance element, with community musicians playing soothing music in the hallways. According to a 2008 CCA study, "Music Rx has a positive effect on a child's mood, family bonding and pain scores, compared with those who did not receive the music therapy." UCLA was one of the first hospitals outside of Oregon to receive a cart as part of CCA's nationwide expansion of the program. Read Full Article
- 7 un-fun health milestones and how to get through them, CNNHealth.com / Parenting.com, Meryl Davids Landau, August 28, 2009
Parenting.com gives parents an overview of health milestones that their children are likely to encounter at some point in their young lives, offering tips on how to help them navigate the experience. Rites of passage covered include broken bones, blood draws, having a hospital procedure, getting stitches, swallowing pills, getting braces, and having a cavity filled. Child life specialists Betsy Cetnarowski, CCLS of Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio, and Lori Gottwein, CCLS of the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, offer several tips on using age-appropriate explanations, offering choices, and distraction. Read Full Article
- Children's hospital patients attend one-of-a-kind birthday party, UCSF Today, Robin Hindery, August 24, 2009
On August 19, Hasbro celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Candy Land by creating a live version of the popular board game on San Francisco's famously winding road, Lombard Street. A 575-foot stretch of colored blocks was assembled for the pathway, and costumed characters including King Kandy, Princess Frostine and Lolly were all in attendance. Four teams of children ages 5-10 competed in the game, with one participating team assembled by the Child Life Department at UCSF Children's Hospital, and another organized by UCSF-affiliated Family House. In the end, the Children's Hospital team won the title. After their victory, team member Gillian Buckman offered this piece of wisdom: "Even if you're last for a while, you might still win the game. But it's all just for fun." Read Full Article
- Child life specialists fill crucial role: Pros put hospitalized kids at ease, Arizona Daily Star, Stephanie Innes, August 9, 2009
This article highlights child life programs and Certified Child Life Specialists in Tucson's two largest hospitals: Tucson Medical Center (TMC) and University Medical Center (UMC). CLC member Allison Woods, a Certified Child Life Specialist from UMC, is followed through several encounters with different patients in the hospital. The number of child life specialists in Tucson has more than doubled in the last decade and several hospitals indicate that they plan to add more in the near future. "When I first came here 14 years ago, there was only one certified child life specialist," says Linda Throne, director of nursing for women's and children's services at UMC. The hospital has since learned the value of having trained and nationally certified child life specialists on staff. Read Full Article
- A serious illness can isolate a family: gestures of support help greatly, The Washington Post, Louise Bonnett-Rampersaud, August 4, 2009
Children's author Louise Bonnett-Rampersaud, whose family has spent the last four years coping with her husband's life-threatening disease, offers readers her insights on how best to support a family dealing with a similar situation. Louise cites advice from child life specialist Jeanne Higgins Bergin, who recommends making sure that these families know they are not alone by acknowledging the situation, listening and being empathetic, and offering concrete ways to help. "Don't just ask what you can do," says Bergin. "Come up with a plan and do it. That way, you're not adding pressure for the family to come up with ideas and get back to you." In addition to helping with chores and running errands, many of Louise's friends and relatives have lightened the burden by making sure to include her children in their activities. "By far, the greatest comfort to us...has been knowing that our children are happy," she says. Read Full Article
- Camp puts focus on healthy siblings, CBS 4 Denver, Jim Benemann, July 24, 2009
CBS 4 News in Denver spent a day with 15 members of Sibling Camp, a community-funded program run by the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's Hospital (Denver). The campers had the opportunity to visit the hospital's lab, where they looked at blood cells and tumors under microscopes. "When they understand a little more of what's happening to their sibling they're either not scared by it, it's familiar, they feel involved, and they feel like they're part of their sibling's treatment team," says child life specialist Allison Donohue, a CLC member. In addition to hospital field trips, the children do art therapy, and play games designed to get them talking about their feelings. Read Full Article
- Preparing kids—and yourself—for their hospital visit: 11 tips, U.S News & World Report, Sarah Baldauf, July 22, 2009
U.S. News & World Report recently consulted with child life specialists Jodi Bauers of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and Gail Klayman of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for an article with tips on how parents can make a visit to the hospital as painless as possible for their children. Read Full Article
- They care enough to clown around, Cape Cod Times, Cynthia McCormick, July 16, 2009
Jay Stewart (a.k.a. Doctor Mhrahfhauer) is a clown who volunteers at Children's Hospital Boston through the Big Apple Circus hospital outreach program. As a member of a team of eight specially trained clowns, Stewart visits the hospital twice a week, entertaining young patients with songs, juggling and magic tricks. He also tells jokes (mixed with a healthy dose of physical comedy) and pokes fun at doctors and other authority figures in the hospital. According to CLC member Lakeisha Ruley, while the clowns are great for the kids, they can also really help to lighten the mood for adult caregivers. The Big Apple Circus has clown teams working in 18 hospitals nationwide. Each hospital clown is trained both to maintain proper hygiene and to be sensitive to children's emotional and physical needs while in the hospital. Read Full Article
- Music therapist comforts hospital patients, StarNews Online, Vicky Eckenrode, July 10, 2009
EXCERPT: "On a typical work day, Michele Erich wanders New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s halls, a guitar or pinwheel as her medicine bag. Erich, the hospital’s music therapist and child life specialist, splits her days between the cancer center, the ICU and the pediatric floors." Read Full Article
- Local News Feature on Child Life Specialist Amy Scott at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, CBS-13 WOWK News, July 9, 2009
"St. Jude Employee Got her Start in Morgantown " - Watch the news story that features CLC member Amy Scott, CCLS, and her work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Watch Now
- Child life specialist helps prepare kids for medical procedures, ParentCentral.ca, Amy Fuller, June 18, 2009
EXCERPT: "From a child’s eye view, a hospital is a blur of white coats, strange voices and sharp needles. And when your medical vocabulary is limited to 'boo-boo' and 'ouchie,' it’s hard to figure out what’s going on or why it hurts. If you’re lucky, though, someone like Christine Shadd will use toys to explain. She might even let you blow bubbles in the operating room. Shadd is a child life specialist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, where she helps children and their families prepare for medical procedures and cope with the interruption to familiar routines." Read Full Article
- Helping kids cope: secrets to child-friendly imaging, RT Image, Janine Anthes, June 15, 2009
EXCERPT: "DJ is a teaching puppet that Catherine Leopard, CCLS, uses to reduce the anxiety and fears of children who are waiting to undergo an imaging procedure. Leopard is a member of the staff of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center involved in Child Life...The use of DJ and similar dolls with mock scanners is one of many methods child life specialists use to tackle the challenges that come along with imaging the pediatric population." Read Full Article
- A child life specialist helps young patients feel more relaxed and in control, Healthy Living (a publication of Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare), Spring 2009, Page 13
EXCERPT: "When children are in a hospital for the first time, they often think syringes are scary and intimidating. Michelle Jackson, Child Life Specialist at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, uses the instrument as a tool to conquer fear. Michelle sometimes fills syringes with water and lets her patients squirt them at cardboard targets labeled with words that make them unhappy or afraid. It’s therapeutic target practice." Read Full Article
- Cincinnati Child Life Leader Receives Child Life Council’s Highest Honor, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Community Press, Danielle Lewis, April 20, 2009
EXCERPT: "The Child Life Council, the leading nonprofit professional association serving child life specialists, announced today the selection of Sharon McLeod, Senior Clinical Director of the Child Life Division of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, as the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Service Award." Read Full Article
- Local News Feature on Child Life at the Greenville Hospital System Children's Hospital, NBC-7 WSPA News, April 16, 2009
"Child Life Helps Distract Children In Tough Situations" - Watch the news story that features Emily Kear, a CLC member working at Greenville Hospital System Children's Hospital in South Carolina, as she helps 11-year-old Erika Gilbert to successfully cope with her hospital experience. Watch Now
- Local Iowa City News Feature on Child Life at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, ABC- 9 KCCG News KCRG.com, April 9, 2009
"Fighting Cancer By Just Being a Child" - Watch the news story that features Emily Mozena, a CLC member working at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, as she helps four-year-old Sophie Lowe to cope with her cancer diagnosis and treatment. Watch Now
- A doll named Max has made all the difference..., Montreal Gazette, Susan Schwartz, March 23, 2009
EXCERPT: "After her leukemia was diagnosed when she was 4, lots of people poked and prodded her, explained her mother, Natalie Hared, and Kylie didn't like it one bit. But with the help of child life specialists at the Montreal Children's Hospital, where she is being treated, the girl was able to find a way of coping with the illness and the procedures. Their work, as part of the pediatric health care team, is to provide tools for coping, for education and for emotional support." Read Full Article (third entry on page)
- Mother explains how to help needy, The Billings Gazette, Linda Halstead-Acharya, March 19, 2009
EXCERPT: "Inspired by her experience, Rao helped launch Priyanka Child Life Services program at the Manipal Hospital in Bangalore, India. Child Life Services, which provides fun activities and services for children entering the hospital or undergoing treatment, was such a source of joy and comfort for Priyanka and her family at the Children's Hospital in Minneapolis that Rao was determined to "go global" with the service." Read Full Article - Specialists help little patients cope with fears, The Des Moines Register, Estela Villanueva-Whitman, March 18, 2009
EXCERPT: "Child Life specialists at Blank Children's Hospital work with children who are scheduled for surgery, suffering from chronic illness or coping with a relative's cancer treatment. Julie Pedigo oversees 14 staff members in the Child Life department, which served nearly 18,000 patients in 2008. The department is funded completely through donations, mainly from the Festival of Trees and Lights held every Thanksgiving." Read Full Article
- 9 Pediatric Emergency Essentials - You're there: what to expect Parenting, Melanie Howard, March 2009 issue
CLC spokesperson Ellen Hollon appears in the March 2009 issue of Parenting School Years magazine, offering tips for parents on going to the emergency room with their children. Ellen's suggestions are included in the last segment of the feature (p. 94). Read Article Segment
- Child life specialists help kids deal with stay at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, The Birmingham News, Anna Velasco, February 23, 2009
EXCERPT: "You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation. Plato was not imagining child life specialists when he expressed that thought. But now, more than 2,000 years later, professionals who hold the title say the Greek philosopher perfectly captured the essence of their field." Read Full Article
- City hospital helps kids tackle fears, The Windsor Star, Sonja Puzic, February 07, 2009
EXCERPT: "The pediatric ward playroom at Windsor Regional Hospital's Met campus is full of colourful distractions, from stuffed animals and crayons to books and computer games. It's a room where kids can let their imaginations take over and forget about needles and hospital beds for a while. But toys alone can't always make a child's fears go away. That's where Jennifer Burton Liang comes in -- a friendly face with a soothing voice and a knack for making kids smile." Read Full Article
- Dallas/Ft. Worth Area News Feature on Child Life in the Adult ICU, The33TV.com, February 4, 2009
"Children Traumatized by Parents' Emergency" - Watch the news story that features Ruthie Davis, a child life specialist working in the ICU at Parkland Hospital, as she helps nine-year-old Carter to cope with his father's hospitalization after a serious accident. Watch Now
- Child's play - Specialist makes hospitals less scary for youths, The Daily Advertiser, Judy Bastien, January 8, 2009
EXCERPT: "She roams the hallways of Women's and Children's Hospital, a bottle of bubbles suspended from a cord around her neck. She drops in on kids and plays board games with them or does arts and crafts with them. But that's only part of her job. 'The hospital is a very scary place for kids,' said child life specialist Janie Eldridge. 'They're afraid of the unknown. Our job is to help kids understand what's going on in an age-appropriate manner.'" Read Full Article
2008
- Jon & Kate Plus Eight - “Giving Back” episode (Originally aired on TLC December 15, 2008)
Child life services at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital were highlighted in a recent episode of the popular TLC reality show Jon & Kate Plus Eight. During the last twenty minutes of the show, child life specialist and CLC member Jennifer Smith, MS, CCLS provides viewers with an excellent overview of child life services and engages the Gosselin children in medical play. While parents Jon and Kate visit in person with the sick children and their parents, the Gosselin kids are able to watch and talk to the children via closed-circuit television.
- Child life named one of "11 Best-Kept-Secret Careers" by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report, Marty Nemko, December 11, 2008
Career Coach and Contributing Editor Marty Nemko identifies the child life profession as, “worth a look” in a competitive job environment. Read full article
- Hospital 411 Media Campaign
Child Life Council recently teamed up with Dr. William Sears and Anesiva, Inc. to create and promote the educational program, Hospital 411: Tips Every Parent Should Know. Learn more about the campaign's success
- Baltimore ABC News Affiliate Features Child Life Program at Johns Hopkins, abc2news.com, July 31, 2008
"Child Life Specialists Make Kids Feel at Home" - Watch the news story aired by a local Baltimore ABC news affiliate in conjunction with an episode of Hopkins (the summer series on ABC Thursdays). In addition to interviewing some of the doctors and nurses highlighted in the series, they included a segment on child life, which features CLC members Courtney Brennan, CCLS, Annie Woods, CCLS, and program director Patrice Brylske, MPA, CCLS. Watch Now
- Philadelphia ABC News Affiliate Features Child Life Program at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, WPVI Philadelphia Action News - ABC, Lisa Thomas Laury, July 30, 2008
"Hospital program helps kids cope" - Watch the news story that features Missey Lusk, a Certified Child Life Specialist from St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, engaged in medical play with a young CF patient. The child life program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is also mentioned.
- Playing doctor: Young patients act out medical procedures on dolls to help them come to terms with their own treatments, Philadelphia Inquirer, Don Sapatkin, July 28, 2008
EXCERPT: "She was trying to figure out how to fix his 'heart' condition. She's not sure how the doctors are going to deal with hers," said Hilary Phillips, a child life specialist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, after Alyia's half hour of 'medical play.' About 35 staffers help patients conduct such play at Children's Hospital. The program is one of more than 400 similar efforts in the United States and Canada, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Read full article
- Make it All Better: Parents and kids need comfort before a hospital stay, San Diego Union-Tribune, Diane Suchetka, July 1, 2008
EXCERPT: "...Start with a child life specialist, if your hospital has one. Most big-city hospitals do. And more and more suburban ones are becoming aware of how helpful they can be. Here's their advice on how to get your child back from the hospital with as few emotional scars as possible..." Read full article
- WRAL News Feature on Jennifer Kreimer of WakeMed Health & Hospitals, WRAL News, Originally aired May 30, 2008
"WakeMed program helps children deal with upcoming surgery" - Watch the news story that features the work of CLC member Jennifer Kreimer, MS, CCLS and the pre-surgical preparation program at WakeMed Health & Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina. Watch Now
- FOX 19 News Feature on Katrina Baliva of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
FOX19.com, Originally aired May 26, 2008
" 'Josh Cares' Helps Patients at Children's Hospital" - Watch the news story that features the work of Child Life Fellow Katrina Baliva, and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center “Josh Cares” program. Senior Clinical Director Sharon McLeod is also interviewed. Watch Now
- KSPR News Feature on Rana Post, CCLS, of CoxHealth South, KSPR-ABC News, Natalie Swallow, Originally aired April 28, 2008
"Hospitals Make Stay Easier for Kids" - Watch the news story that features the work of CLC member Rana Post, CCLS in the child life program at CoxHealth South in Springfield, Missouri. Watch Now
- Specialists ‘normalize' hospital enivornment for children
The Brownsville Herald, Melissa McEver, April 26, 2008
EXCERPT: "...The profession has become more prominent in recent years in the U.S., with more children's hospitals and outpatient clinics across the country hiring them and more universities starting degree programs. Currently, there are about 3,000 certified child-life specialists around the world, said Melissa Boyd, resource-development coordinator for the Child Life Council, which certifies these specialists..." Read full article
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NBC Nightly News Feature Story on Myra Fox of Children's Hospital Boston
NBC Nightly News, Originally aired April 9, 2008
Watch the news story that honors the life and work of CLC member Myra D. Fox, Director of Child Life Services at Children's Hospital Boston. Also, be sure to watch the longer “Web only” segment, also available through the NBC Nightly News Web site.
- Daughter’s memory drives health centers: Priyanka Foundation starts child life program in India
IndUS Business Journal, Paul Imbesi, February 15, 2008
EXCERPT: "MINNEAPOLIS – The Priyanka Foundation, which is dedicated to serving chronically ill children and their families in India’s hospitals, is opening the first-ever child life center in India this spring..." Read full article
- WGCU Radio Feature on the Child Life Program at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida
WGCU Radio, John Davis, Originally aired January 17, 2008
Listen to a radio story featuring the child life program at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida. John Davis interviews CLC members Jennifer Niell, CCLS and Kelley Cowan, CCLS. Listen Now
- One smile at a time: Mizzou doctoral student helps children cope with medical experiences
MizzouWire, Lisa Bruce, January 9, 2008
EXCERPT: "Sut means "split lip" in Vietnamese. For nine years, it's the name a young boy was known by in his village. In the span of an hour, that changed. After a short operation repairing his cleft lip, Sut's mother and his community began using his birth name, Thanh, which means 'blue sky.'
Toni Crowell, a doctoral student and Blumenthal Fellow for Child Life in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, knows Thanh's story firsthand. She has been on eight missions with Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that provides surgery and care to children with cleft lips and palates..." Read full article
2007
- A little girl’s dream fulfilled: Priyanka Foundation will support terminally ill children
The Hindu, Staff Reporter, October 27, 2007
EXCERPT: "BANGALORE: It is a dream of a young daughter being fulfilled by her mother. Priyanka Child Life Services, a project in memory of Priyanka Bhakta who battled leukaemia at the Children’s Hospital and Clinics in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was inaugurated at the Manipal Hospital in the city on Thursday..." Read full article
- Hospital Specialists Help Children Cope When Siblings Are Sick
Health Behavior News Service, Joan Hennessy, October 12, 2007
EXCERPT: "In many children’s hospitals, there is someone like Jaime Bruce who can boil down complicated doctor-speak into simple words that children understand. Along with helping young patients, Bruce — a child life specialist in the pediatric critical care unit of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt — can provide information to help calm a sibling’s fears. Although few in the public are familiar with the efforts of child life specialists, a new study finds that their work is effective..." Read full article
- Child life specialists help patients cope with illness
St. Louis Business Journal, Chris Birk, June 1, 2007
EXCERPT: "A dozen years ago, facing a bone marrow transplant, a young boy and his family found resolve and relief in David Ish. As a child life specialist at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, Ish helped explain the procedure to the boy and his siblings in terms they could understand and provided a needed, playful outlet during a difficult time. He even accompanied the family on off-site trips while the child recuperated, facilitating time for recreation and family togetherness under the banner of healing..." Read full article
- Critical caring: Child Life program makes hospital visits easier for children
Columbia Missourian, Lauren Burke, February 4, 2007
EXCERPT: ...But thanks to a special program at University of Missouri Health Care’s Children’s Hospital called Child Life, his countless visits have been a lot easier than expected. "Hospitals are unfamiliar and uncomfortable for children to be in,” said Melissa Pulis, Child Life manager at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and member of the Midwest Child Life Networking Group. “Making the hospital more of a place that is welcoming, fun, enjoyable and understandable really helps children cope better with their medical treatment....” Read full article
- Patient Relations in Pediatric Radiology: Enhancing the Imaging Experience
RT Image, Jane Kollmer, January 8, 2007
EXCERPT: "...Because of the complex and delicate relationship between the pediatric patient and healthcare provider, some hospitals use a specially trained staff to serve as a liaison between the physicians and patients and their families. These professionals are called 'child life specialists,' and their job is to work with pediatric patients and their families throughout all steps of the imaging procedure..." Read full article
2006
- Toys in Hand , Staff Helps Patients Through Fear and Pain
The Washington Post, Marc Fisher, October 5, 2006
- Hailee's Story Deals With Child Death
CBS11tv.com, October 4, 2006
2005 and Earlier
- A COMFORT TO THE KIDS: Making a difference - Child-life specialists help patients learn to cope and relax in the hospital
Houston Chronicle, Mary Voung, July 5, 2005
- Health Sciences Centre Child Life Department Charts New Territory
Hospital News (Canada's Healthcare Newspaper), Tammy Melesko, January 2005
- Child-life specialists ease stress for young patients Deseret Morning News, Laura Warner, November 28, 2004
- Child specialists make hospitals less scary
MSNBC.com, July 21, 2004
- Helping Kids Cope With Pain
Associated Press, CBSNEWS.com, Holly Ramer, June 28, 2004
- Hospitals Easing Kids' Fear Factor
Associated Press, CBSNEWS.com, July 12, 2004
- Hand to Hold
Cleveland Jewish News, Margi Herwald, June 11, 2004
- Making a Child’s (Hospital) Life a Little Easier
Children’s Hospital Boston, Children’s News Online, March 16, 2004
- Success Story Kim Johnson, North Texas Hospital for Children at Medical City Dallas
The Dallas Morning News, S. Kreimer, February 15, 2004
- 'Play ladies': Just what the doctor -- and patients -- ordered Savannah Morning News, E. Rossiter, September 1, 2001
- Spinning Pinwheels Offer Stress Relief to Children
Eddie Korycka, RN, Nursing Spectrum, New York/New Jersey Edition, Masthead Date May 30, 2000
- Serious Play
S. Pasquale, Johns Hopkins Magazine, November 1999