GRAVETTE -- Ozarks Community Hospital hosted 156 first graders from Glenn Duffy Elementary School at its third annual teddy bear clinic Wednesday, May 2. Teddy bear clinics are educational events for children ages 4 through 8, to promote wellness by exposing young children to healthy behaviors and give them a fun opportunity to learn about their health.
The clinics also help eliminate children's fears of healthcare professionals and ease anxiety about hospital and medical clinic visits. Amanda Gittlein, marketing and communications manager, explained this is one of the reasons she created the teddy bear clinic three years ago.
"The goal of OCH's Teddy Bear Clinic program is to remove the stigma of medical care and help children learn the importance of annual checkups or to alleviate their fears if they have to make a trip to the ER," Gittlein explained. "The children use stuffed animals as a vehicle to teach healthy behaviors through hands-on demonstrations. We have found that it works well for first graders."
Gittlein pointed out that several research studies offer evidence to support the effectiveness of teddy bear clinics, proving the benefits of teaching children about healthy behaviors and decreasing pediatric anxiety surrounding medical care.
Students are hosted onsite at the hospital facility where they participate at multiple stations, learning about handwashing and infection control, wound care, basic first aid, nutrition and fitness. They tour the lab, radiology and emergency departments.
Teddy bears are used to demonstrate basic medical procedures. Students are either provided a stuffed animal or encouraged to bring their own stuffed animal or doll to participate with hospital instructors.
Gittlein said this year's teddy bear clinic "went super smooth" and she hopes to keep the event as an annual field trip. She would also like to expand the program, she says, and invite Decatur and Gentry first graders as well.
Community on 05/23/2018