CORNELIUS, N.C. - Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation has been awarded a $15,000, two-year grant from The Peninsula Community Foundation. The award will be used to partially fund a child life specialist at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center’s soon-to-be built pediatric-friendly emergency department.
According to Mark Stevens, a member of The Peninsula Community Foundation board of directors, funding a child life specialist fits perfectly within the foundation’s mission to help its neighbors. “We try to help address the unmet needs of young people in our community,” said Stevens. “The children’s emergency department definitely fills a void. The child life specialist will positively impact the experiences of all the children and parents who come to Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center for care.”
Child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging medical crises. By focusing on the young patient’s emotional needs, the child life specialist supports emergency medical team members so they can direct their energy to treating the patient.
“Adding a child life specialist to the treatment team at Huntersville Medical Center will enhance the care that we are able to provide,” says Mike Riley, president of Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center.
Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center’s new child life specialist, Alexandra Parkey, graduated from the University of North Texas and completed her child life practicum at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. She previously interned at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital and pediatric emergency department in Charlotte.
“I am excited to continue to grow in my practice in the new child life position at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center,” said Parkey. “As a child, I was very ill and my family and I experienced firsthand how impactful a child life program truly is at normalizing the hospital environment and minimizing traumatic medical procedures.”
For more information about Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, visit novanthealth.org/huntersvillemedicalcenter.
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