RILEY HOSPITAL
FOR CHILDREN PROVIDES INFANT MASSAGE THROUGH CHILD LIFE
Riley Hospital
for Children is Indiana's only comprehensive children's hospital,
with pediatric specialists in every field of medicine and surgery.
Riley is committed to providing the highest quality health care to
children in a compassionate, family-centered environment. Riley is a
national leader in cutting edge research and medical education,
ensuring health care excellence for children for generations to
come. Riley provides medical care to all Indiana children,
regardless of their family's ability to pay. In Child Magazines
recent survey, Riley was ranked 11th in the nation. Approximately
half of Rileys 260 beds are occupied by infants and neonates.
The Riley Massage
Therapy Program began in January 2003. The Infant Massage Program
began in May 2004 when two Child Life staff members completed the
training and certification process. Due to an increased need for
infant massage education, Linda Storm with Infant Massage USA, was
invited to Riley Hospital for Children to train additional staff.
Four members of the Child Life Team, as well as neonatal and infant
nurses, completed this certification process. Riley Hospital for
Children currently has four Certified Educators of Infant Massage on
staff as a part of the Child Life Department. Infants are referred
to this service by their physicians. Referral reasons include the
following:
- Increase parent/baby bonding and attachment
- Empower parents
to take a more active role in childs care
- Model
appropriate parenting skills
- Model methods
of multi-sensory stimulation
- Decrease touch
sensitivity
- Regulate
sleep/wake cycles
- Regulate
digestion
- Improve muscle
tone
- Increase range
of motion
- Prepare for
discharge to home environment
Riley Hospital
for Children CEIMs collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to
determine the appropriateness of infant massage referrals. Riley
Child Life CEIMs manage a centralized physician referral program and
distribute referrals for infant massage to other CEIMs within the
hospital. Physicians may refer infants without a legal guardian to
receive infant massage from the Certified Massage Therapist. Once a
legal guardian is identified, a CEIM will teach the guardian infant
massage to maintain consistency of care. An Infant Massage Patient
Education Document is included in each patients medical chart to
track infant and parent progress. A special thanks to Cheryl
Akridge, LPN, CEIM for piloting this program on the Infant Intensive
Care Unit.
Riley Child Life
CEIMs are:
- Ann Hannan, Music Therapist-Board Certified
- Kim Jones,
Certified Child Life Specialist, Nationally Certified in Therapeutic
Massage & Bodywork
- Beth King,
Certified Child Life Specialist
- Mary Stogsdill,
Certified Child Life Specialist
Information
provided from www.rileyhospital.org
