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ELEVATE YOUR
THEPeMdalEto TAL
Pediatric transport cars allow children IN AUGUST 2018, Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent
to “drive” to their procedures at Beverly Health unveiled its newest means of transporting children to the
various diagnostics and procedures they require—a kid-size, remote-
Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, controlled Jeep.
Navicent Health.
“The Jeep, the first in a fleet of cars, is decked out with all the bells and
whistles, so the child can steer, shift gears, control the radio and turn on
the lights,” says Heather Trescott, child life specialist at Navicent Health.
“It is also equipped with a special feature that enables staff members to
control the direction and speed of the car through a handheld remote as
the child drives, ensuring that patients who are not quite ready for their
driver’s licenses make it safely to their procedure or surgery.”
The cars, which were introduced to the children’s hospital by Navicent
Health’s Digital Innovation Group, operate on 12-volt batteries and can
accommodate up to 100 pounds. They provide a fun distraction for children
at a time that can often be stressful.
“Take, for instance, a trip from preop to the operating room,” says
Heather Walker, Director of IT Transformation and Enterprise Information
Management at Navicent Health. “Historically, a patient would be
transported on a stretcher or, more recently, pulled in a wagon. Now they
are able to be involved in their own transport by selecting the car of their
choice and having a little more control of their destination. They go into the
operating room smiling and much more relaxed versus going in with fear.”
A NEW FLEET ON THE HORIZON
Due to the success of the Jeep and with the help of a generous, anonymous
donor, Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health recently
purchased a fleet of seven new pediatric transport cars, including a Toyota
Tundra, a Hummer and many others for use in the new children’s hospital.
“Everything we do here is about our patients, and this program
in particular has really helped children feel less anxious and made
their experience here at Navicent Health fun,” Walker says. “Plus,
any time we make a patient happier, our staff is happier. It has a big
impact on morale.”
Trescott agrees.
“Staff members love it as much as the patients,” Trescott says. “You often
will hear nurses say that seeing a child upset is one of the hardest parts of
their job. We all went into pediatrics because we love children, so whenever
there are things we can do to keep the patients smiling and happy, it is a
win-win all around.”
VISIT WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG/DONATE-TO-CHILDREN
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO BEVERLY KNIGHT OLSON
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, NAVICENT HEALTH AND SUPPORT OUR
MISSION OF PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS CARE TO CHILDREN.
6 navicenthealth.org | SPRING 2019
