View Video:
Story
Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) received funds at the end of 2014 from the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation (NCHCF) to support clinical care, particularly for children and families most in need. A portion of those funds was directed to purchase and install a new interactive floor mural in the Nicklaus Family Room on the sixth floor of the Hamaker Court Center. The floor mural is an innovative contribution to the healing environment provided by PSV for improved care outcomes.
All children face fears going to a doctor, especially those most vulnerable in our society for whom seeing a physician is an uncommon event. Many come with heightened anxiety after emergency room visits or hospital stays. Scenes from the sea surprise and delight both children and parents alike. The floor reacts in real time to children’s movements with ripples in the water as they walk and fish darting away. The floor mural not only helps reduce fear and anxiety but also stimulates the imagination of all children during their clinic visits.
This visually engaging and modern addition to Pediatric Specialists of Virginia’s care environment would not have been possible without the support of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Jack and Barbara Nicklaus created NCHCF in 2004 in an effort to provide families across the nation with access to world-class pediatric healthcare. Many individuals and corporations are now contributing to that shared vision for advancing the care of children. In March, 2015, Jack Nicklaus was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his golfing achievements and humanitarian work accomplished through the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation that he and his wife Barbara started. To date, NCHCF has raised over $34 million to support pediatric health services.
The NCHCF often partners with well-recognized children’s hospitals in key geographic regions. When they proposed to come to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, both Children’s National Health System and Inova were contacted for their support. This happened at the same time as Pediatric Specialists of Virginia was being created to provide high-quality pediatric specialty care with a focus on ambulatory care for the children of Virginia through clinical excellence, innovation, education, research, and family-centered care.
Therefore, PSV became the focal point for this initial grant from the Nicklaus Foundation. To learn more about the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, visit their website at www.nchcf.org. With PSV now recognized as a charitable organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status, a Philanthropy Committee has been formed to guide the use of these funds and to seek additional contributions and grants to accelerate progress into care innovation, education and research, and patient and family support.