CHildren's teddy bear clinics

Underwood-Memorial Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine offers a popular and informative community program called “The Teddy Bear Clinic.” It encourages role-play with young children at local schools, churches, libraries and community day events.  The children can bring their teddy bears that have “encountered” an injury or illness.  Staffed by members of the hospital’s emergency department, the “Clinic” helps demonstrate Teddy’s emergency visit to the hospital thus allowing children to better understand the process and reduce anxiety or fear during a visit to the hospital during an emergency.  At the conclusion of Teddy’s treatment visit, a photograph is taken of the child and bear after the child has made the bear “feel better.” This community event also incorporates teaching safety at all levels of childhood development utilizing pamphlets, coloring books, and educational information for parents. 

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