Fairytale Physical Therapy

A hospital is a stressful place for children and their caregivers. Adding to the emotional stress are all of the anxiety producing factors of the hospital such as the rushing around of physicians and nurses, harsh lighting, mechanical noise and the overall alien feel of the environment. As health care providers, we know that when in the hospital, it is important to try to maintain quality of life in order to prevent depression, anxiety and other disorders that will negatively impact care (Drahota et al, 2012). Research has shown that patients will either become compliant or resistant to the hospital atmosphere, with both types being a state of depression, anxiety and anger (Devlin et al, 2003).

Jenna Kantor and Katie Schmitt, 3rd year students at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in the Department of Physical Therapy, have found a way to bring a fun, emotional escape for children in hospitals by co-founding Fairytale Physical Therapy (FTPT) during the our first semester in our first year of school.