Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/696303
Everything for our children.™ 11 The Children's Hospital of San Antonio • chofsa.org Another important element of this new area of the Hospital is the teaching and healing gardens. Nearly 2.5 acres of land around the Hospital will be dedicated to providing playgrounds and gardens for the community to harvest nutritious foods (to be cooked in the Teaching Kitchen). Dedicated prayer gardens provide quiet outdoor areas for those who wish to reconnect with nature as part of their spiritual life. The teaching and healing gardens allow children to develop emotionally, spiritually, and physically. The renovations will also feature a new Café open to Associates, providers, families, and visitors to The Children's Hospital of San Antonio. The team focuses on providing healthy food options for everyone. Hand in Hand The new first-floor Child Life area of the Hospital supports one of its most vital services. Child Life specialists are trained to help children and their families navigate the stress and confusion of a severe illness or injury. Child Life explains medical procedures in ways children can understand, talks with families about their needs while in the Hospital (including where to stay and resources within the community), and plays with children to keep them stress-free during their stay. Child Life has its own dedicated space, including a playroom designed to be welcoming and fun. Stocked with things like toys and educational materials for families, the Child Life space is intended to serve as a resource for anyone who needs care. WHAT'S NEW? The 5th floor is home to the pediatric intensive care unit. The space is designed so each bed can be moved about the room as needed for optimal patient care, rather than being constrained by outlets or cords. The Hospital's second floor features new changes as well. Patients who need an operation will now stay on the second floor during their entire procedure — from the holding area, to the operating room, to recovery. This streamlined flow makes it easier on patients, families, and clinical staff. Looking further into 2016, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and labor and delivery rooms will also be renovated to provide better care for newborns and new mothers. At the end of 2016, more than 75 percent of The Children's Hospital of San Antonio's transformation will be complete. TRANSFORMATION CELEBRATION Celebrate our transformed lobby, chapel, Teaching Kitchen, and Child Life area. To learn more about the transformation, visit chofsa.org. Scan this QR code for a video of the transformation. Children Is Here