What is Hospital Pals?
 Hospital
Pals is an intervention for healthcare professionals that
utilize the well-known children's character, Barney, to provide
companionship and a sense of support for pre-school aged children
undergoing radiation therapy to treat their cancer.
Although radiation therapy is not painful, children
often experience significant fear and anxiety as they undergo
treatment.
For radiation to be effectively administered,
a child must be alone in the treatment room and remain perfectly
still for long periods of time. In many cases, anesthesia
is necessary in order for a child to remain still. Although
the use of anesthesia is safe, receiving anesthesia on a daily
basis is not healthy.
What Does Hospital Pals Do?
Through education, communication and distraction,
the program is designed to:
- Help educate children and their parents about radiation
therapy procedures
- Lessen children's fear and anxiety before and during radiation
therapy
- Provide companionship and support to children during treatment
- Decrease the need for anesthesia for children undergoing
radiation therapy
- Lessen the stress for family members and the medical team
by providing comfort to the child
How Does Hospital Pals Work?
- Prior to treatment, children sit with an animated Barney
doll and watch a video that helps them understand what to
expect during radiation therapy.
- Barney (with the use of ActiMates technology) interacts
in real time with the child and video and reinforces important
topics.
- During treatment, Barney tells stories to the child and
offers words of encouragement to help them remain still
and calm throughout the procedure.
Hospital Pals is offered free of charge to radiation
therapy programs that provide services for children. For more
information please call 1-800-880-1004 x 225 or contact us
via e-mail
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