Children's Specialized Hospital Builds for Tomorrow

The Expansion Will Provide Services to More Children in Need

By Kim Ann Zimmermann

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THE ROLE OF CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS
Patients are often transferred to Children’s Specialized Hospital after a long stay at an acute care facility. Initially a child life specialist forms a supportive relationship with a patient in order to provide a positive trusting relationship. This helps encourage them to leave the nursing unit and explore the therapy and recreational areas in the hospital. This relationship also creates a foundation for future interactions during nursing care and other therapies. March is Child Life Month, a time to recognize the role of the certified child life specialist (CCLS) in the care of children with special needs.

“We’re here to build trusting relationships with the patients and family members and help the patient develop life-long coping skills,” says Christy Dellibovi, CCLS, a certified child life specialist at Children’s Specialized Hospital. “Our goal is to help these kids be kids as much as possible. We also work to reduce the stress of the family because if
the family is stressed, the child is stressed.”

A child life specialist’s role can include providing support by soothing and reassuring a child during activities such as tracheotomy changes, placement of positional equipment and other daily nursing routines that can cause anxiety for new patients. Movement can be a fearful prospect as they may have learned that movement can cause pain. To reduce their fear and increase pain control, a child life specialist may facilitate guided
imagery during early occupational or physical therapy sessions or provide structured pain management education as therapy progresses. With the help and individualized support of the child life specialist, the child learns how to identify coping techniques that will work well for them and that they can use with confidence.

To help siblings of children with special needs, Children’s Specialized Hospital offers Club Sib, a recreational support group. Participants of the program will get to know other kids who, like themselves, have a brother or sister with special needs. Activities range from self-expression, to pure fun and silliness, to heart-felt discussions and discovery,
all while promoting peer support. The program runs six-week sessions throughout the year.

“While family members and professionals can offer support to siblings of children with special needs, it means a lot coming from a peer who knows what they are going through,” says Dellibovi.

For a child with disabilities, community integration is something that can be very trying. A child life specialist helps children prepare for their discharge from the hospital by preparing them for and accompanying them on trips into the community. These trips
require the patient to use adaptive skills that are learned individually in each of the child’s therapies. Often before the child’s discharge, a child life specialist may accompany the child on a visit to their school, which serves multiple purposes. First, to ease their transition back to school by getting a feel for what it will be like with the safety net of a familiar therapist by their side. Secondly, it prepares their peers and
reduces the number of “first day back” questions. Lastly, to supplement the documentation school officials received regarding their specific needs.

FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION STUDY
Children’s Specialized Hospital is currently participating in a new “Functional Electrical
Stimulation” study designed specifically for children and young adults with spinal cord injuries. Dr. Frank Castello, medical director at Children’s Specialized Hospital, is heading up the study and currently evaluating children that may fit into the study’s criteria. Children 5 to 19 years old and unable to walk as a result of damage to the spinal cord will be considered for participation in the study.

“We deal with children with all types of challenges, and we feel an obligation to further research efforts to help these children,” says Dr. Castello.

Regular exercise is strongly recommended to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, children and young adults with damaged spinal cords may not be able to exercise regularly. However, there is an exercise bike specially designed for persons with damaged spinal cords that enables them to pedal by directly stimulating the muscles in their legs. “It looks like commercially available exercise equipment, but there
are electrodes that stimulate the muscles,” he says.

Children’s Specialized Hospital’s study is designed to determine the benefits of exercise for spinal cord injured patients using this bike.

Research indicates that any or all of the following may occur as a result of a regular exercise program:
•Improved cardio-respiratory health
•Increased muscle strength and fat loss, resulting in more toned, muscular legs
•Decreased risk of fractures and skin-on-bone breakdown
•Potential for regained motor function and/or sensation
•More self-confidence and energy, heightened mood, etc. (psychological benefits commonly associated with exercise)

Dr. Castello says that exercise can provide children with a psychological boost, as physical activity releases endorphins.

Interested participants will have a free examination done by one of Children’s Specialized Hospital’s pediatric physiatrists (specialists in rehabilitation) to check for bone density/health and fractures. There is no cost for the exam or use of the bike system. If eligible to continue, participants will be invited to use the exercise bikes several times per week for nine months under the supervision of an experienced
physical therapist. For more information or to register for an evaluation, contact Stefanie at 908-389-5638.

SCHERING-PLOUGH DONATES $250,0000 TO FOUNDATION
Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation announced that long-time friend and partner
Schering-Plough Corp. has pledged $250,000 toward the Foundation's ongoing capital campaign, The Building Begins with Children.

Funds will be used to support the construction of the new PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital, a state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation center in New Brunswick.

"We deeply appreciate the ongoing and generous support of Schering-Plough Corp., our longest standing corporate partner," said Philip Salerno III, president and chief development officer of Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation. "No other company has given such diverse support to the Hospital as Schering-Plough."

The company's efforts also reach beyond financial contributions. Through Schering-Plough's "Friends Forever" program, employees of the pharmaceutical company have been sharing their time and talent for years to plan events for the youngsters at
Children's Specialized. Employees recently hosted a Valentine's Day party at the hospital where patients and their families enjoyed food, games and music.

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