Here’s a breakdown of teh provided text, focusing on the key information about the Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) pediatric services:

Key Developments:

Resumption of Services: interior Health announced that elective pediatric surgeries and some diagnostic procedures for children will resume at KGH. The pediatric unit will also begin admitting patients during daytime hours.
Phased Approach: Services are being phased in to ensure patient safety and sustainability for doctors.
Improved Coverage: The authority has achieved consistent daytime coverage, allowing for the service resumption. This is attributed to both community pediatricians working on locums and full-time/permanent pediatricians at KGH.
New Doctors: Four new doctors are expected to join KGH over the summer and fall, with two arriving earlier than anticipated.

Ongoing Challenges and Considerations:

Patient Transfers: Some patients will still need to be transferred to other Interior Health hospitals or to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver if medically necessary.
Past Transfers: 22 patients were transferred to other regional hospitals, and 7 to B.C. Children’s Hospital during the closure.Interior Health expects this number to decrease.
Previous Concerns: Pediatricians previously left KGH due to unmanageable caseloads, with concerns that the system did not support safe and enduring work.
Addressing Workload: Interior Health is working to “split the service” to ensure at least two pediatricians are available at the site at any given time. Associate Physicians: The authority plans to bring in associate physicians this summer, following licensing changes that allow them to practice under supervision.

Contextual Information:

CEO Resignation: The interior health CEO stepped down a few weeks after the initial closure announcement.
* Nature of Closure: During the six-week closure, critical care services (emergency department, NICU) remained open. Only general admissions were affected.

In essence, the article reports on the positive step of resuming some pediatric services at KGH after a period of closure, while also acknowledging the underlying issues of physician workload and the ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable system.

Music Therapy: A Soothing Symphony for Young Hospital Patients

Hospitalized children at Kettering General Hospital (KGH) and Northampton General Hospital (NGH) are finding solace and support in music therapy sessions. These programs, designed to soothe and engage young patients, are showing promising results in easing anxiety and promoting well-being.

How Music Therapy Helps

The music therapy program has been implemented in both the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Skylark Ward at KGH. The program is expanding to the neonatal ward at NGH, where it is helping older children. Sessions are personalized to suit the age and needs of each child.

Miranda Bray says some of the music is designed to relax patients and even mimic sounds in the womb.

Miranda Bray from the charity Thomas’s Fund leads these sessions, believing music helps infants “relax them, and get used to external stimulation.” A unique “ocean disk” instrument is utilized in the neonatal ward. This disk mimics womb sounds and syncs with a baby’s breathing, stabilizing their heart rate and breathing.

“When I had my first child during Covid, there was nothing like this to support them.”

—Georgia, Mother

The impact of music therapy is significant. According to a 2023 study, music therapy can reduce anxiety levels in pediatric patients by up to 30% (Source: Pediatric Research Journal).

Positive Feedback and Outcomes

Initially a pilot program, the neonatal music therapy program at KGH has become a permanent fixture. Jane Lafferty, matron of the neonatal unit at KGH, stated that parents have provided “great feedback.” Chinyere Ikey mentioned that music therapy “breaks up the day” and provides a welcome change for her son, Kairo.

Music therapy hits the right note with youngsters — Chinyere Ikey said music therapy “breaks up the day” for her five-year-old son Kairo.

Claire Green, the play specialist coordinator on the Skylark Ward, noted that Kairo’s confidence has “blossomed” due to the sessions, which have become “child led.” Children and young people up to age 18 can participate in the music therapy sessions at both hospitals.

With proven benefits and enthusiastic feedback, music therapy is becoming a vital element of patient care.

KGH

Kelowna Pediatric Services Resume at KGH After Doctor Shortage

Music therapy hits the right note with youngsters

Music Therapy: A Soothing Symphony for Young Hospital Patients

How Music Therapy Helps

Positive Feedback and Outcomes