Hospitals can sometimes be scary places of pediatric and young adult patients. To alleviate stress and make young patients more comfortable, Columbia Memorial Hospital has purchased a Fun Center Entertainment Unit produced by Nintendo for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
The Starlight Children's Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness, according to web sources.
Columbia Memorial's Fun Center features Wii (customized for hospital
use) together with a LCD flat panel television and DVD player. The Fun Center lets users control the action on the screen through the motion of the Wii remote. Even children in bed with limited motion can play with ease, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The ease with which the units can roll right up to the bedside anywhere in the hospital makes them perfect for children anticipating surgery, during long outpatient clinic treatments, waiting in the emergency room or fighting loneliness after visiting hours end.
According to the hospital, an average of six children will use the Fun Center every day. The units come with a library of 22 downloadable games and dozens of DVDs.
