Medical Center teams' focus: Staying connected while apart

Published on Monday, April 27, 2020

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

A heartfelt craft project, a link to a video of children’s stories being read aloud and tips on what to do when you miss someone.

Those are being tucked into envelopes for patients at the state’s only children’s hospital by Children’s of Mississippi child life team members as well as for children of COVID-19 patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

It’s just one of the ways UMMC is working to keep connections strong between patients and their family members during a time when visitation has had to be limited to prevent the novel coronavirus’ spread. Children’s of Mississippi patients can have one visitor, who must be a parent or guardian, and most adult hospital patients cannot have visitors.

“Everyone has been so gracious about these limitations, and they have been thankful that we are doing this to keep them and their loved ones safe,” said Skye Stoker, director of UMMC’s Office of Patient Experience. “They understand that we would not be doing this unless it was 100 percent necessary during this pandemic.”

UMMC patient experience care team members have been comforting patients and their families in a number of ways, including chaplain calls via phone to patients on isolation and supplying patients with books, puzzles and magazines.

“We have devices that were donated to the Medical Center for use to facilitate video conversations with family,” said volunteer coordinator Julie Pickett.

At each hospital entrance, there is a team of up to 10 members of the UMMC Reserves working to screen entrants and to relay items such as clothing, snacks and gifts from family to patients, said Hilary Basden, manager of patient experience programs. The UMMC Reserves are Medical Center employees who have been reassigned in response to the pandemic.

For children who are away from loved ones because they are hospital patients or because their family members are, the resources available include a link to video of child life specialists Madeline Wilson and Tiffany Key reading the books “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst and “Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You” by Nancy Tillman.

“These books both deal with the subject of being away from those you love,” Key said. “While all of us have to be physically distant from those we love to stop the spread of COVID-19, we can remember the love we have for them.”

The resources also include a craft project in which children can decorate hearts with the names of those they miss along with coping tips.

"We hope that these resources help children feel connected to their loved ones even when they may not be physically present,” Wilson said. “With the feeling of love, we are always connected."

During a time of crisis, it is natural to want to be with loved ones, McComb said. “That the families of our patients have been so gracious and supportive of the Medical Center’s mission at this time is meaningful and powerful. We are so grateful to them for their understanding and kindness.”