The pediatric hospital is building permanent classrooms for its innovative OZ program, as well as more open play space, to optimize neurodevelopmental progress for its youngest patients
Maryland Heights, Mo. (April 9, 2024) - Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital has announced plans for a $1.4 million renovation to create more space for play. Ranken Jordan follows a unique care model, Care Beyond the Bedside, which focuses on getting children out of their hospital beds and uses play for healing.
At the heart of the renovation is a permanent space for the Optimization Zone (OZ), Ranken Jordan’s innovative in-hospital program, similar to a preschool, for children aged 5 and younger with complex medical conditions.
The program is currently run in a temporary area, so the new space will feature two classrooms where children can enjoy structured social play to help with their neurodevelopment.
OZ was inspired by Ranken Jordan’s own research, published in 2023 in the peer-reviewed journal Child: Care, Health & Development, that tracked the whereabouts and activities of their patients. The first study of its kind, its purpose was to learn more about why a long hospital stay can put a child more at risk for developmental delay.
As part of the findings, the research team identified different ways to enhance young patients’ neurodevelopmental opportunities, such as face-to-face interactions, time out of the hospital room, and environmental variety of toys, books, music, and positive touch.
Nick Holekamp, MD, Ranken Jordan’s Chief Medical Officer, led the research team and is now leading renovation efforts.
“The purpose of OZ is to provide structured play for young children to help reduce the adverse developmental impacts that often accompany long-term hospitalization,” Dr. Holekamp said. “Since opening OZ in 2022, we’ve already seen positive results in our patients, so this renovation project is a testament to our commitment to OZ and our wider Care Beyond the Bedside model. Kids need play to get better so we want to give them as many opportunities as we can to allow that.”
Dr. Holekamp and his team worked with architect Steve Hunsicker of 527 Architects to convert a gym space into new OZ classrooms, as well as to build permanent spaces called corrals, similar to playpens, for children under 5. The corrals will be located near nursing stations throughout the hospital’s West Unit, where Ranken Jordan’s youngest patients stay to allow play. In addition to OZ and the new play areas, the project also includes enhancements to Ranken Jordan’s art room to improve therapeutic art capabilities.
Set to be complete by fall 2024, the entire project was funded by donations, including support from an ongoing funding drive to raise $2 million for OZ.
Ranken Jordan CEO Shawn Dryden said generous support from more than 400 donors was instrumental in enabling the renovations.
“We at Ranken Jordan strongly believe that giving children more opportunities to play, both freely and in structured settings, leads to better health outcomes,” Dryden said. “It is incredibly powerful when our community believes in the life-changing care that occurs at Ranken Jordan. Their support is helping us create a world where every child with complex medical needs lives their best life.”
To learn more about the renovations for OZ and more, read Dr. Holekamp’s latest post on the Beyond the Bedside Blog. For more information about Ranken Jordan, visit rankenjordan.org.
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Media Contact:
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Ranken Jordan
Ranken Jordan is a pediatric bridge hospital that cares for kids from birth to 21 who are well enough to leave a traditional hospital but need help before they go home. The only hospital of its kind in Missouri and one of only a select few in the country, Ranken Jordan specializes in caring for children and their families with the most complex conditions, illnesses and injuries, bridging the gap between hospital and home. The 60-bed hospital uses an innovative care model, Care Beyond the Bedside, which gets children out of their hospital rooms, activating the healing power of play. Located in the heart of the Midwest, Ranken Jordan serves patients from across the region at its state-of-the-art facility.
