Child Life Services in an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Healthcare Administration
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) provide critical care for patients with epilepsy.
• The impact of specialized support services on patient and staff experiences in EMUs is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the value of a certified child life specialist (CCLS) in enhancing patient and staff experiences within an EMU setting.
• To assess the effect of integrating CCLS services for both pediatric and adult patients with intellectual disabilities in an EMU.

Main Methods:

• A CCLS was integrated into the EMU for all pediatric and adult patients with intellectual disabilities.
• Patient families were surveyed to gauge the impact of child life services on their hospital stay.
• EMU staff completed questionnaires to assess the perceived impact of the CCLS on their job performance.

Main Results:

• All surveyed families reported that the presence of the CCLS positively improved their hospital experience.
• EMU staff indicated that the CCLS enhanced their daily work by enabling greater focus on assigned medical duties.
• The integration of a CCLS demonstrated a significant positive effect on both patient and staff experiences.

Conclusions:

• Certified child life specialists can substantially improve patient and staff experiences in epilepsy monitoring units.
• This preliminary study highlights the beneficial role of CCLS in specialized neurological care settings.
• Further research is warranted to explore the broader implications of CCLS integration in EMUs.