Madeleine Lai

Improving hospital experiences in the pediatric population

Started June 4, 2026

Abstract or project description

Children who are hospitalized contend with pain, fear, anxiety, and sometimes later report trauma associated with hospitalization. Children's hospitals and child life specialists work diligently to decrease these negative outcomes and experiences. Hospitals may use the built environment, including wall color, interactive displays, availability of windows and natural lighting, to improve patient experience. Child life specialists may provide play therapy, developmentally appropriate information to help children understand their procedures, and even parental or sibling training to aid everyone in coping with the stress of a hospitalized child. These interventions are evidence based and important to providing quality care to the pediatric population.