April 12, 2002

Kids and families will be winners when MassGeneral Hospital for Children celebrates Children and HealthCare Week, April 21 to May 3, with the theme "Olympics of Good Health: Light the Fire Within."

The entire week will be packed with interactive and educational activities for children and families.

Schedule of activities:
April 21 to May 3 — An art fair will be held throughout the week in the Main Corridor. Art created by children from across the state, focusing on the theme "Who or What Keeps You Healthy and Safe?" will be on display. Employees, patients and visitors can vote for their favorite artwork in three age categories.

April 22 — A special all-day conference entitled "A Kaleidoscope of Thought-Provoking Pediatric Dilemmas," will be held, 8 am to 4:30 pm, in the Wellman Conference Room. Cynda Rushton, RN, PhD, a nurse ethicist at Johns Hopkins University, will give the keynote address. The conference is open to the public; MGH employees attend free of charge. To register, call (617) 726-3111.

April 23 — "Send in the Clowns: Need for Humor in Medicine," a special multidisciplinary pediatric grand rounds, will be held from noon to 1 pm, Wellman Conference Room. Lunch will be served.

April 24 — Hurt Alert Day, an educational program, will be held throughout the day to offer information to employees and families about how to keep children pain-free while in and out of the hospital.

April 25 — The annual Children’s Health Fair, set to the theme "The Olympics of Good Health," will be held from 9 am to 4 pm in the Bulfinch Tent. Sponsored by the FleetBoston Financial Foundation, the fair will include more than 50 interactive booths related to children’s health and safety.

April 26 — The Family-Centered Care Awards ceremony will be held at 1:30 pm in the Ellison 18 family room. Five awards will be presented. Refreshments will be served.

Throughout the week entertainment also will be offered to pediatric inpatients at MassGeneral Hospital for Children: April 21, a portable play house; April 22, children’s theater performance; April 23, a visit from Boston Aquarium staff; April 24, an ice cream party; April 25, a musical performance from the "Baratones;" April 26, art day; and April 27, a karate group.

For more information about Children and HealthCare Week, contact Mary Lou Kelleher, RN, at (617) 724-5720.