Shriners Hospital in Springfield, MA has just installed a BEAM Virtual Playground in its outpatient waiting area.
The “interactive floor projector” provides both amusement and therapeutic physical engagement for children. Hospital clinicians have found the system to be an innovative approach to therapy and play.
Shriners Hospital is a speciality hospital delivering world-class orthopaedic, rheumatology, cleft lip and palate treatment to children. Patients travel from all over New England and Upstate New York for this expert pediatric care.
Child Life Supervisor Jessica E. Hagerman, B.S., CCLS commented on the benefits of the BEAM system:
“We strive to provide our patients and families with an exceptional customer experience when they come to the hospital. BEAM has been helpful in creating a child-friendly environment and in motivating kids to move despite any limitations they may face. It also provides an opportunity for patients to engage with other children and families to relax and socialize with one another.”
She expanded on this, adding: “Not only is this a positive activity socially and developmentally, it has actually encouraged some children to move while testing out a brace or new prosthetic limb.”
More than 14, 000 outpatient visits are conducted at the Shriners Hospital annually, and the BEAM, strategically located in the outpatient waiting area, gets a lot of use as children pass it on the way to and from the examination rooms.
