A Guns N’ Roses refrain rocks the halls of Ranken Jordan, where several kids gather to watch a friend play Guitar Hero. The scene would be unusual at a typical medical center, but Ranken Jordan is anything but typical. Since its founding in 1941, the pediatric bridge hospital has helped children transition from acute care in the hospital to home care in an environment that allows them to grow while they heal. “Bridge is a verb, not a noun. It’s all about getting from one side to the other,” says Laureen K. Tanner, president and CEO. “We give you the support you need to cross.”
Children up to age 21 with varied medical needs fill the 34 beds at Ranken Jordan. Patients include days-old babies on ventilators, children with cerebral palsy recovering from surgery, and teens with brain injuries or gunshot wounds. Most come from the Midwest, and all have endured difficult circumstances. But staff members and volunteers work hard to create a warm atmosphere that fosters joy and encourages children to play and learn. “We get them back to being kids again,” Tanner says. “We’re about integration, not isolation.”
Sterile is not a word that applies to this facility. Colorful common rooms have funky furniture and art, and the yard features a sprawling playground. “We have a one-of-a-kind facility in the whole country,” Tanner says. Ranken Jordan has the area’s only aqua-therapy program specially designed for children. “We do physical therapy by land and by sea,” Tanner says. “We can get kids in the pool before they can stand up and be weight-bearing. By the time they can bear weight, it’s not as painful because they’ve built their muscles.”
Every patient has a customized schedule. Between meals, there are therapy and tutoring sessions to help kids meet their development milestones, whether that means drawing straight lines or solving trigonometry problems. Older kids enjoy movies, video games, dance lessons and cooking classes, activities that boost their confidence. And the hospital even has field trips: to hockey games, the mall, Grant’s Farm and fishing ponds. “We get kids back out in the community,” Tanner says. “It’s important especially for children who were normally developing before something bad happened.” The entire family benefits from seeing their recovering loved one out having fun. “It really empowers the parents; it shows them what they can do,” Tanner explains. “It takes a little more effort to pack up a child with a ventilator and take them to the zoo, but here they get to practice living.”
Affordable health care has always been on Ranken Jordan’s agenda. Extended stays at traditional hospitals get expensive quickly, and Ranken Jordan prides itself on being a lower-cost alternative. “What we’re trying to accomplish through [national] health care reform, that’s what Ranken Jordan always has done,” Tanner says. Plus, patients are admitted regardless of their insurance or ability to pay. “There is life support in big hospitals, but at Ranken Jordan, you’re in living support.”
Photo by Ranken Jordan
[Ranken Jordan – Pediatric Bridge Hospital, cares for children transitioning from hospital care to home care. Pictured on the cover: Dr . Nick Holekamp, Kiland S., Lauri Tanner and Kyra s. Ranken Jordan is located at 11365 Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights.For more information, call 314.872.6400 or visit rankenjordan.org.]
