Winter 2008-2009 - Mayo Clinic

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2 | Mayo Alumni Winter 2009
Child Life Child Life specialists help ensure pediatric patients’ needs are met, including playtime eds are met includi time P hilip Fischer, M.D., medical director of Mayo Eugenio Litta Children’s Hospital, says the patient care he provides is most effective when it’s part of a team. “Coordinating my care with that provided by the Child Life team makes our patient care better,” says Dr. Fischer, a professor of pediatrics in the College of Medicine. A central goal of pediatric health care is to facilitate the emotional and physical well-being of children in the hospital. Research indicates that therapeutic play is effective in reducing psychological and physiological stress for children facing medical challenges. “What looks like play to a child is actually therapy,” says Dr. Fischer. “Child Life staff combine the best of pediatric science with fun and practical face-to-face contact. They have a true understanding of child development and techniques of play.” Child Life staff augment medical care in these ways: • Ease pediatric patients’ fears • Teach and prepare children for medical and surgical procedures • Help children and families cope with the stress of being in the hospital • Advocate for family involvement in the hospital experience • Engage children and families in activities and the treatment experience • Support families during grief and bereavement • Provide information and resources For inpatients at Mayo’s children’s hospital — the Mayo Eugenio Litta Children’s Hospital located within Saint Marys Hospital, Child Life specialists work closely with physicians, nursing staff and other team members, including parents, to determine and meet patients’ needs. In the pediatric emergency room, Child Life specialists are present 10 hours a day to assist patients, nurses, physicians and other team members. “A hospital stay can be frightening and traumatic for a child who may be away from family members and other comforts of home,” says Randy McKeeman, director of Child Life Services at Mayo Clinic and a certified child life specialist. “Children in the hospital may be lonely and lack stimulation. Research in recent years shows that stress can be a major inhibitor in the ability of a patient to heal and stay “What looks like play to a child is actually therapy.” healthy. Child Life specialists help children effectively manage stress and, hopefully, heal faster. Research shows that the long-term implications of a negative medical experience can be profound — post-traumatic stress, increased fears and decreased cooperation — for pediatric patients not effectively prepared for a medical experience.” During therapeutic play, children are encouraged to ask questions and express feelings about their fears and concerns. Child Life staff can elicit valuable information while helping young patients learn what to expect from medical procedures. All in a day’s work: Dr. Philip Fischer (left), medical director of Mayo Eugenio Litta Children’s Hospital, works closely with Child Life staff, including (from left) Jane Heser, Randy McKeeman and Carli Kramer. www.mayo.edu/alumni | 3
Page 1 and 2: Winter 2009 Mayo Alumni Child Life
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Page 7 and 8: Will’s story When 6-year-old Will
Page 9 and 10: Providers’ perspective Jane Heser
Page 11 and 12: Dr. Philip Fischer and his family h
Page 13 and 14: The Tobacco-Free Living center’s
Page 15 and 16: Center for Tobacco-Free Living Rese
Page 17 and 18: Mayo Clinic Alumni Association 66th
Page 19 and 20: “Our greatest challenge in enlist
Page 21 and 22: R. Wynn Kearney, M.D.* Mankato, Min
Page 23 and 24: The parts of the whole CNP is a nat
Page 25 and 26: Peter Gloviczki received the Presid
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Winter 2008-2009 - Mayo Clinic

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