GHS Children’s Hospital unveils new therapeutic music entertainment network at patient appreciation event, Sept. 20
September 16, 2015
Annual Sun Fun Carnival is an opportunity for kids to be kids, not patients. Hugworks Children’s Network will enhance pediatric patient care, expand reach and impact of Child Life and Music Therapy.
GREENVILLE, SC – On Sunday, September 20, Greenville Health System Children’s Hospital will introduce to its littlest patients a new therapeutic music entertainment network that was created to ease fears and help with healing during a hospital visit. Hugworks Children’s Network (HCN), a website with the express purpose of providing healing experiences for the special needs of kids through music and media, will now be available free-of-charge to patients and their families across the entire Greenville Health System.
“We are excited to introduce HCN to our young patients and incorporate it along with the therapies we currently employ to improve a child’s hospital stay and healing time,” said Emily Durham, supervisor of Child Life Services for GHS Children’s Hospital. “Music, whether used as a therapy or for entertainment purposes, can have a significant and positive impact on a patient. We expect HCN will quickly become not only a tool for our specialists and therapists, but also a virtual support system for our patient families – providing hope and positivity whenever they need it.”
Numerous studies have shown that music can help to relieve pain and reduce stress for the patient. This improved physiological condition can reduce the need for patient sedation, reduce nausea for patients receiving chemotherapy, and lower anxiety levels throughout a hospital stay or procedure.* Music Therapy interventions have also been proven to aid in the development of cognitive, behavioral, physical, emotional and social skills of children. According to the American Music Therapy Association, Music therapy services are very effective in improving communication and interpersonal skills for young children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
At HCN, kids can enjoy positive original music, animated and sing-along videos on any web-enabled device. All of the music promotes messages of self-worth, inclusion, happiness and hope; and all content is reviewed and approved by Early Childhood Specialists prior to going live.
In the near future HCN will also become a valuable resource for parents, caregivers, educators and therapists. The site will serve as a “gathering place” for adults to share experiences, ask questions and learn how to incorporate the proven healing power of music into a home, classroom or clinical environment.
“Our hope is that the entire family will come to think of HCN as a kind of digital clubhouse,” said Diana Crawford, chief executive officer of KidLinks, HCN’s nonprofit parent organization. “We want kids to think of HCN as a safe, fun place they can escape to when they’re not feeling so great. Plans are underway to provide adults a place within HCN. It is here that they will find ideas and resources, as well as make connections with other parents and caregivers that understand exactly what they’re going through. One of the primary goals of HCN is to make sure that no one – child or adult – feels like they’re alone.”
While the messages and music found on HCN can benefit any child, the September 20th launch will focus on introducing children in the hospital environment to the therapeutic benefits of music – easing fears prior to admission, providing comfort while hospitalized and inspiring long after discharge.
When children and their families arrive at any GHS Children’s Hospital facility, they will receive a card that describes HCN and its benefits, and an access code. With this code, every member of the family can access Hugworks Children’s Network anytime, anywhere and on any electronic device that connects to the internet. Access to HCN never expires and the streaming of HCN resources will always be free-of-charge for anyone that logs on.
The home page that South Carolinians see upon login has been customized to reflect the uniqueness of GHS Children’s Hospital and will be updated with hospital-specific content as needed (new programs, services, events). As HCN is launched at other hospital networks across the country, they, too, will have customized access codes and landing pages.
HCN is funded and managed by Dallas-Fort Worth based KidLinks. For decades, KidLinks’ mission has been to link kids to health and healing through music and media. The organization has introduced Therapeutic Music Entertainment to hundreds of hospitals and special care centers and has funded university-level Music Therapy training and treatment programs for children in need.
Kids will get their first chance to explore the site at Hospital’s Sun Fun Carnival, an annual event for current and former patients and their families. The entire hospital staff joins in the day’s festivities by hosting carnival-style game stations with prizes, crafts and entertainment. Because HCN is making its official debut at the Carnival, music will be a big part of the event. Several musical acts will be performing on the Sun Fun Main Stage, including KidLinks’ own Jim Newton and Paul G. Hill – the award-winning duo behind the music and messages on HCN.
For more information about HCN and KidLinks, please visit thekidlinks.org.
About KidLinks
KidLinks is a 501© (3) nonprofit organization with a mission of linking kids to health and healing through music and media. For decades, KidLinks has provided healing experiences for the special needs of children through performing arts and media; as well as funding for therapeutic music initiatives and university-level Music Therapy training and treatment programs for children in need. Today a primary focus for KidLinks is the development and expansion of Hugworks Children’s Network (HCN) – an interactive and secure website that gives kids and their families’ access to the healing power of music anytime, anywhere. For more information visit thekidlinks.org.
About Greenville Health System
Greenville Health System (GHS) — an academic health system that is the largest not-for-profit healthcare delivery system in South Carolina — is committed to medical excellence through research, patient care and education. GHS offers patients an innovative network of clinical integration, expertise and technologies through its eight medical campuses, tertiary medical center, research and education facilities, community hospitals, physician practices and numerous specialty services throughout the Upstate. The 1,358-bed system is home to 15 medical residency and fellowship programs. GHS is also home to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville, a joint effort of USC and GHS. Visit ghs.org for more information.
*Harper, E.I. (2001). Reducing Treatment-Related Anxiety in Cancer Patients: Comparison of Psychological Interventions. Dissertation: Southern Methodist University, USA. Sabo, C.E. & Michael, S.R. (1996). The influence of personal message with music on anxiety and side effects associated with chemotherapy. Cancer Nursing, 19(4), 283-289.
*DeLoach, Walworth d. (2005). Procedural-support music therapy in the healthcare setting: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Journal of Pediatric Nursing
