INTEGRIS Health Children's at Baptist Medical Center Child Life Specialists

Certified Child Life Specialists help children understand and cope with medical experiences. Our specialists are educated in the psychosocial care of children and the developmental impact of illness, injury and hospitalization.

As members of the healthcare team, certified child life specialists provide therapeutic interventions, preparation and coping skills education to children and families through personalized and tailored interactions. As a result, certified child life specialists contribute to improved healthcare experiences for the entire family.

Child Life Specialists provide support in the following ways

• Help your child cope by creating a coping plan for a test or procedure.
• Explain a diagnosis, treatment or procedure in words that your child can understand.
• Support your child before, during and after medical tests or procedures.
• Implement medical play focused on helping your child understand and process medical experiences.
• Provide therapeutic interventions to help your child express feelings related to hospitalization.
• Engage your child in age-appropriate play and other activities at bedside to normalize the hospital environment.
• Educate and support your child while visiting a family member who is in the hospital.
• Offer bereavement support to help children and families coping with death or loss.

For an upcoming procedure, pre-admission tour or pre-surgery tour, contact [email protected] at least one week prior to your scheduled procedure or surgery. Also, while in the hospital, you can request a certified child life specialist for your child by asking your nurse or doctor.