Child Life Services of the Hospital and Clinic
Heidi Giese has been Manager of Child Life Services for 17 years. Beginning with a staff of one, the program now has 3 full-time child life specialists in the inpatient Children’s Hospital, two full-time in the Clinic, three part-time therapists, and thirty volunteers. Child Life Services seeks to minimize the stress of being in the hospital, both for patients and their families. The program strives to promote optimum development of children & families, help maintain normal living patterns, and minimize psychological trauma. It is an important part of the health care team. A Child Life Specialist provides children opportunities for play, learning, and preparation & support for medical procedures. The specialists work not only with the child patient but with their siblings. The play provides opportunities for children to express their feelings, and through that the staff can work to allay their fears or explain things they might not understand. A specialist may use a picture book (or an iPad now) to explain procedures. They might also use coloring books, DVDs, anatomically correct dolls and other means with the children to reduce a child’s anxiety. The Specialist involves children in “medical play,” pretending to take a doll’s blood pressure, for example, so they understand & master the experience and do not fear what will happen to them. The specialists also work with the whole family, involving them all in the process.
Child Life Specialists work in traditional hospital settings including inpatient, outpatient, day treatment programs, urgent care and emergency rooms. Their services also are used in non-traditional settings such as child advocacy centers, hospice programs, early intervention programs, court rooms, dental practices, and support and bereavement groups. Child Life Services are necessary because children in the healthcare setting may experience: an interruption of their normal life experiences which can jeopardize growth and development; physical limitations of illness which have the potential to foster dependency and damage self-esteem; and anxiety and stress related to illness, separation, hospitalization and medical encounters. The essential goals of Child Life Services are assessing coping responses & needs of children & families; minimizing stress and anxiety for the child; preparing children & families through pre-admission tours; providing essential life experiences through group activities; creating opportunities which strengthen self-esteem and independence. The program also helps with end of life situations including coordination with Make a Wish. Child Life Services is supported by Children’s Miracle Network and the donations of individuals, businesses, and organizations. Heidi gave us a moving & powerful presentation.
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Patti is originally from New Jersey. Dr. Milbauer indirectly brought her family here in 1976. Patti attended Loyal H.S. and UW-Mfld/Wood County before earning a B.S. at UW-Stevens Point. Patti began working as a Volunteen at St. Joseph’s Hospital, then was hired to work at the Information Desk and recently celebrated 30 years at the hospital. She is now Director of Development for Children’s Services, but most people know her as the Children’s Miracle Network person. A retired firefighter for the Town of McMillan, Patti has two children. The oldest has been in the Army for 11 years and has done one tour of duty in S. Korea and two tours in Iraq. Patti also has two grandchildren with a third on the way.
