Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has much to celebrate as the Child Life program reaches its one-year anniversary coupled with the September opening of Lancaster General Hospital’s Seraph-McSparren Pediatric Inpatient Center.
“It is in our center that children and families begin to heal and cope with greater ease because their worries have been replaced by understanding and empowerment through the Child Life program,” said Michelle Arnts, Child Life specialist. To commemorate both milestones, LGH hosted a time capsule ceremony in October. Staff, leaders and pediatric patients contributed artwork, letters to future patients and special items to the time capsule that will be opened in 2034.
Child Life specialists help prepare children of all ages for medical tests and other procedures through therapeutic play and conversations using language they understand. Specialists answer questions and teach coping techniques that children can use to stay calm throughout their hospital stay.
Child Life is one of many programs of the new 20,000-square-foot Seraph-McSparren Pediatric Inpatient Center, with nearly 21,000 pediatric visits to the LGH Emergency Department and pediatric unit each year. The program is available through support from LGH and the local community. Although not a billable medical service, Child Life adds “an immeasurable benefit to lowering anxiety and improving healing,” Arnts said.
“We are grateful for our Child Life advocates, Hank Spire and Clark McSparren, who were chairs of the two-year Capital campaign. With the help of these heroes, our generous community and our team, we are able to better serve the families in our community,” she continued.
“I have had the privilege of not only helping children, but also watching health care transform throughout my practice,” said McSparren, of the School Based Health Clinic and retired pediatrician. “I hope that today’s patients will be able to look back 15 years from now and reflect on the achievements made by the medical community, and appreciate the fantastic care they received while at Lancaster General Hospital.”