An Oklahoma City hospital is trying to bridge the gap as health experts I am a rise in children’s mental health crises is creating a shortage of outpatient care. Oklahoma Children’s Hospital now has three newly created emergency rooms designed to de-escalate and calm children experiencing a behavioral health crisis.”Emergency rooms are hectic and loud and not relaxing,” said Robyn Cowperthwaite, division chief of child and adolescent psychiatry with OU Health. “So, this system allows us to control that environment, allows kids to control the environment.”Soothing music, cheerful projections and an interactive touch screen are all part of the latest effort to create a healing space for children experiencing psychiatric crises.”Many times, we bring kids into the hospital and we take everything away. This is meant to be interactive and engaged in their care,” said Karen Webb, director of clinical operations for behavioral health with OU Health. They’re called ambient experience behavioral health rooms, and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital is only the second in the country to do it.”We have had growing numbers of children in the state of Oklahoma that are really in mental health crisis,” Cowperthwaite said. “So many people are seeking care. That outpatient care is just very hard to fight right now. And when people don’t get timely outpatient care, they’re often here in our emergency room in crisis.”Erin Walker, assistant vice president of operations at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, said children are typically there for a long time.”They can be here for hours or as long as a week waiting on a bed,” Walker said. “Being able to provide a safe space is incredibly important.”The rooms are designed to create a safe, calm environment for both the child and staff.”Because the equipment can be concealed behind this wall,” Walker said. “As well as the anti-ligature, things can’t be tampered with. It’s a lot harder to create harm.”OU Health officials said the giant touch screen allows children to control their own environment at a time when they feel out of control . They can safely draw, listen to music, watch TV and let off some steam by playing games.”Sometimes, we have little kids with a lot of energy or agitation, and they might be hitting the wall. So, we have ‘What A Mole.’ This is absolutely a safe screen, proven not to break after many tests,” Webb said.Health officials said the goal is to start a child’s healing journey early while they wait for outpatient care.”We’re hopeful that this will ease some of that burden and help with the relaxation,” Cowperthwaite said.
An Oklahoma City hospital is trying to bridge the gap as health experts I say a rise in children’s mental health crises is creating a shortage of outpatient care.
Oklahoma Children’s Hospital now has three newly created emergency rooms designed to de-escalate and calm children experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
“Emergency rooms are hectic and loud and not relaxing,” said Robyn Cowperthwaite, division chief of child and adolescent psychiatry with OU Health. “So, this system allows us to control that environment, allows kids to control the environment.”
Soothing music, cheerful projections and an interactive touch screen are all part of the latest effort to create a healing space for children experiencing psychiatric crises.
“Many times, we bring kids into the hospital and we take everything away. This is meant to be interactive and engaged in their care,” said Karen Webb, director of clinical operations for behavioral health with OU Health.
They’re called ambient experience behavioral health rooms, and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital is only the second in the country to do it.
“We have had growing numbers of children in the state of Oklahoma that are really in a mental health crisis,” Cowperthwaite said. “So many people are seeking care. That outpatient care is just very hard to fight right now. And when people don’t get timely outpatient care, they’re often here in our emergency room in crisis.”
Erin Walker, assistant vice president of operations at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, said children are typically there for a long time.
“They can be here for hours or as long as a week waiting on a bed,” Walker said. “Being able to provide a safe space is incredibly important.”
The rooms are designed to create a safe, calm environment for both the child and staff.
“Because the equipment can be hidden behind this wall,” Walker said. “As well as the anti-ligature, things can’t be tampered with. It’s a lot harder to create harm.”
OU Health officials said the giant touch screen allows children to control their own environment at a time when they feel out of control. They can safely draw, listen to music, watch TV and let off some steam by playing games.
“Sometimes, we have little kids with a lot of energy or agitation, and they might be hitting the wall. So, we have ‘What A Mole.’ This is absolutely a safe screen, proven not to break after many tests,” Webb said.
Health officials said the goal is to start a child’s healing journey early while they wait for outpatient care.
“We’re hopeful that this will ease some of that burden and help with the relaxation,” Cowperthwaite said.