Child psychiatry patients at Stony Brook University Medical Center’s Child Psychiatry Unit are now able to utilize a new state-of-the-art playground that provides child patients with a safe and healthy area to release extra energy, according to a press release issued by the hospital. The playground is located just outside of the Health Science Center.
The idea to provide a play place for the young patients was recognized by Stony Brook Medical Center chief operation officer Bruce Solomon. The cost of the $70,000 project was paid for by hospital capital money, according to Solomon.
The decision to build a playground was determined by “how much capital the organization requires for growth, new programs and infrastructure improvements,” Solomon said. “We took it from our fiscal year ’07/’08 capital allocation and I looked at it as a new program that improves the quality of care we provide this group of patients.”
The patients, ranging in ages from five to 12, enjoy the new playground and have “responded very well to the new equipment,” according to Evelyn A. Petralia, the nurse manager for the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program and Child Psychiatry. The previous playground was removed when modernization took place, Petralia said.
The new facility includes two slides, a climbing wall, and an over-sized tick-tack-toe board, according to the release.
The children, Petralia added, attend school and also take part in a behavior management program which highlights and emphasizes positive behavior in return for rewards and more fun activities.
According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s current research, patients participating in recreational activities show an improvement in overall physical, psychosocial and cognitive health.
“Our patients average 35 days on the unit and when they’re not at school, they really have no chance for physical activity,” Petralia said. “Not only does the playground give the children a physical outlet, but as they play together it improves their social and emotional skills.”
Direct feedback from the patients themselves or their families couldn’t be obtained and identified “due to confidentiality of the patients.”
