elaine clark 0, ASN, RN, CWS

Elaine has enhanced the medical care experience for the pediatric patients in the PICU and Pediatric Emergency Department. She spearheaded the gift of coping by enlisting the help of a community group to make medical play patient dolls. With over seventy donated and used, Elaine came through with three new dolls in a pinch. As a patient decorates the doll they can express their worries and concerns. Children learn to cope and adapt as they use the dolls as proxy patients. The benefits of this activity include giving children a sense of control (which is hard to come by in the medical care environment) and increased cooperation with medical treatments.