Problem Description:

Problem Description:

There’s a need for developing child-life services in pediatric setting. Hospitalization of a child is subject to a lot of emotional and mental torture to the child, family, and friends. Such periods are characterized by confusion, stress, and fear of everyone related to the patient (Maier, 2017). I have witnessed a lack of psychological-appropriate interventions in various pediatric units to alleviate stress among children and their families. Given the fact that most hospitals either under-value or are entirely ignorant of the importance of a child-life specialist, it is of considerable significance that therapeutic counseling is incorporated to improve the well-being of children.

In the bid to ensure a multi-disciplinary, value-based, and integrated health care delivery, there is a need to incorporate child life specialists in our health system. According to Maier (2017), human service has a role to play in society by availing a certified child-life specialist to work with pediatric patients having chronic or acute medical conditions. Child life professionals offer a calming presence by helping children and families cope with their bewildering events. The procedures these children living with life-threatening diseases are gruesomely traumatic, and it’s only upon age-appropriate interventions, that positive outcomes can be achieved (Tyson and Blickman, 2017). The work of child-life professionals is of great importance in this era as they offer counseling and support to families and children undergoing invasive and rough modern medical procedures.

In conclusion, the health care system has been failing pediatric patients and their families by not offering therapeutic counseling to the clients. Even though pediatric nurses are sensitive, their expertise lies in a child’s medical experience. This gap in our healthcare system, therefore, needs to be addressed and filled by human service organizations. Child life services have been overlooked for a long time on the ground that they care for patients’ emotions only. It is, however, sure that child recovery without psychological support would be difficult. Child-specialists are the ones well equipped for emotional development and well-being.

References

Maier, K. (2017). Certified child life specialists: Adding major value to the healthcare delivery team. We must remember the important role of an integrated, multidisciplinary, healthcare delivery team as we continue the transition toward value-based care and reform of our care delivery system. Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/certified-child-life-specialists-adding-major-value-to-the-healthcare-delivery-team.html

Tyson, M., & Blickman, J. (2017). Defining the Value of Child Life Specialists in Paediatric Healthcare Settings. Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://healthmanagement.org/c/healthmanagement/issuearticle/defining-the-value-of-child-life-specialists-in-paediatric-healthcare-settings