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Aurora Medical CenterNews about our emergency roomEM Systems |
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services | S.A.N.E. |
AED CPR Aurora Medical Center's emergency room now a friendlier place for kidsHartford resident Terri Mead knows exactly how parents feel when they bring their child to a hospital ER. She's been there. As a nurse. As a mom. And as a result of her own experiences from both perspectives, children who come to Aurora Medical Center for emergency care now are just a little less anxious. Terri and a co-worker, Al Davies, RN, are the creative forces behind the hospital's newly opened emergency exam room that is just for kids.
Mead and Davies served as project coordinators in the transformation of one of the hospital's ER exam rooms. The room features life-size murals of dancing giraffes, a zebra, panda bear and leopard – all a labor of love by Hartford Union High School student and artist Andrea Bills. Emergency pediatric patients also are distracted from the reality of their visit with a television, VCR and children's movies, child-size furniture and small activity toys. A large chalkboard and a video game system are on the nurses' wish list to add more options for children of all ages. Now in use for several months, the child-friendly exam room is everything Mead and Davies hoped it would be. “The difference is amazing,” says Mead. “Kids seem to relax a bit as soon as they get in the room, and when they're happier, their parents are too. That also helps us do our jobs better. It's just so much less stressful for everyone when kids aren't kicking and screaming. I know . . . I'm a mom too.” Teddy Bears softening the hurt for young patientsThe fright from a 25-year-old trauma for a little girl has turned into
something very positive for children who visit Aurora Medical Center's new
pediatric ER. Kevin Allison, that little girl's father and now the
owner of Hartford's Sentry
As an ongoing commitment to give back to the community, Allison bought hundreds of the 7-inch teddy bears and gave them to the hospital and Hartford police officers. They will keep them in their patrol cars to have on hand when they come in contact with any children who are frightened. The bears further enhance Aurora Medical Center's efforts to establish a more child-friendly environment for children in the ER.
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“When a child is hurt or sick, everyone is stressed out and scared. . . the
patient, siblings, mom and dad,” says Mead. “I know from personal experience
that when you're dealing with kids, it's not just about the medical care you're
providing. The family needs care too.” 
Store, recently donated more than 500 teddy bears to be given to any young
patient or visitor who needs something to hug while they're in the Emergency
Department.