Maryland Heights, Mo. (KMOX) - Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital has new staff in place to meet a very unique need for its patients. The children's hospital has hired people to do nothing but play.
Play may be the best thing for young patients facing long-term hospitalization. "I've seen kids who come to the hospital that aren't moving around hardly at all that within just a few short weeks of this regular play and getting up out of their rooms, they're moving around, they're pulling up in their cribs or on the mats on the floor, they'll grab your arm and they want you to help them stand up and start moving," explains Ranken Jordan Chief Nursing Officer Kristin LaRose, "I see older kids start to verbalize more and be able to make sounds and noises and communicate. It's just incredible that the power that play can have on healing."
LaRose tells KMOX they weren't sure if anyone would apply when they created a job listing for a Patient Play Associate. But in less than a year, they have nearly two dozen PPA's of all ages and backgrounds on staff.
PPA Noor Ghanam sits on a floor mat, with 2-year-old Danielle nestled in her lap. Danielle has limited physical ability, but as Noor begins to sing and help the toddler play with toys, Danielle begins to kick her feet and move her arms in excitement. Danielle's mom Carole says she's seen an incredible impact on her daughter, "When Danielle gets really excited about something she will speak. And so when Noor signed and asked if she wanted more songs, Danielle said back 'more' and it just melted my heart. And then when Noor said 'bye', she said 'bye'. So she said two whole words. I mean, which is more than in her whole life. It's a huge accomplishment. I almost started crying."
The Patient Play Associates aren't involved in any medical or personal care. LaRose explains why, "Anytime a clinician comes into your space, your first thoughts are going to be, oh my goodness. Are they going to poke me or am I going to get a temperature taken? It can be a stress." And she adds, the kids have learned that the PPA's are all about play. "And what we've learned is that the kids have really connected the dots and they know that when the patient play associate comes, they light up in a different way."
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It's just incredible that the power that play can have on healing