Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital is unlike any other hospital in the region. “You won’t find an emergency room, operating suites or I.C.U. spaces,” notes Dr. Nick Holekamp, Chief Health Transformation Officer. “Children who spend long periods of time in the hospital miss out on so many things. Ranken Jordan’s goal is to enrich and engage them through activity, socialization and play. We give them back some of their childhood.” The hospital refers to its treatment model as “Care Beyond the Bedside.” It allows for experiences that more closely mirror school, daycare or home by getting patients out of their rooms and into play spaces, activity areas, therapy rooms and the hospital grounds.
Ranken Jordan is dedicated to helping children with the most complex medical conditions make the transition from hospital care to home. An integral part of the hospital’s approach is play. “Play is a central therapeutic element for a full robust recovery,” Holekamp says. “In most hospital settings, everything is very sterile and isolated. Kids often are stuck in a bed in a room by themselves. Our campus was designed to facilitate growth and exploration—it’s an adaptive playground inside and out.” The hospital’s campus includes a six-hole putting green, playgrounds, a rock climbing wall and more to encourage patients to spend as much time outside of their rooms as possible.
Ranken Jordan is continually evolving its services to better meet the needs of its patients. It has introduced the Optimization Zone (OZ), a play-based learning program designed for patients under the age of 5. This in-house preschool aims to reduce the adverse developmental impacts that accompany long-term hospitalization. The hospital also has developed a position called Patient Play Associate. These members of staff are dedicated to ensuring kids play and have fun. “We think holistically about the services and support these children need,” Holekamp says. “We’re currently doing research on the benefits of the Care Beyond the Bedside model, and it’s showing promising results for the forward progress kids can make.”
The success of Ranken Jordan’s model is most evident in its patients. One example is J.T. An accomplished athlete, his life was changed in an instant during a football game when an accident took him from star player to paralyzed below the neck. “J.T.’s situation came with more than just complex physical and medical needs,” Holekamp explains. “His biggest challenge was overcoming the grief of losing his previous life. Working with our art teacher, he was able to rediscover his preinjury interest in art and began painting by mouth. He now considers himself an artist and is ready to begin the next chapter of his life.”
J.T. will share his story at Ranken Jordan’s annual Beyond Gala. This year’s event will be held Sept. 26 at The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza. Guests can look forward to an evening of cocktails, dinner, live and silent auctions, and a celebration of the children the hospital has served.“The gala is our biggest event of the year,” Holekamp says. “It’s always an inspiring and uplifting event. The evening is our chance to celebrate with our patients, their families and the community about the tenacity and courage these kids demonstrate when it comes to overcoming medical adversity.”
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital provides care between traditional hospital treatment and home for children from birth to age 21. Its Beyond Gala is Sept. 26 at The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza. Pictured on the cover: Beyond Gala chairs Mike Hart and Lesley Shekelton with Ranken Jordan patient Sutton H. For more information, call 314.872.6400 or visit rankenjordan.org.
Cover design by Julie Streiler | Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
Pictured at the top: Beyond Gala chairs Mike Hart and Lesley Shekelton with Ranken Jordan patient Sutton H.
Photo courtesy of Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
