News/PR
New High-Tech Getaway for Pediatric Patients Opens at Bay Medical
October 31, 2008
Contact:
Christa Dean Hild
850-747-6542
Ironman Florida Donates a Lion’s Den Playroom
Panama City, FL – In celebration of the 10th Annual Ford Ironman Florida Triathlon, organizers have donated a playroom to Bay Medical to show appreciation to the local community for the continued support of the event. The colorful interactive computer and video game room called a Lion’s Den will provide a sanctuary where children can have fun while they're in the hospital. This state-of-the art play area was donated by North America Sports, the parent company of Ironman Florida, through a community fund.
“We want to acknowledge the contribution that the community and the volunteers have made to our event over the past 10 years,” said NA Sports CEO Graham Fraser. “We committed to build this room for Bay Medical during the 2007 Ironman and we’re excited to be back in Panama City this year and to see the room open and available to the children in the hospital.”
The new playroom in Bay Medical’s pediatric nursing unit provides an immersive environment to foster healing. The room resembles an igloo, with translucent screens hanging on the walls and lighting that changes colors. The main attractions are several XBox-360 video games as well as personal computers and a large monitor with video conference capability. These features will make it possible for children to communicate with friends, family, schoolmates and sometimes even celebrities.
The Companions in Courage Foundation, formed by National Hockey League Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, developed the Lion’s Den room in an effort to help sick children through their hospital stay. "I was looking for a way to help children feel more comfortable during a very difficult time of their lives,” says LaFontaine. “To see these kids, who carry a heavy load sometimes, forget for a moment about their illness is true magic.” With NA Sports’ recent donation to benefit Bay Medical, these unique playrooms are now in seven hospitals around the country. The technology will allow children in these hospitals to communicate with each other in the Lion’s Den and share their experiences.
Bay Medical is a 413-bed, not-for-profit hospital that provided more than $30 million in charity and other uncompensated care to the community in 2007. “The staff here at Bay Medical has enjoyed working with the Ironman each year,” says Bay Medical CEO Steve Johnson. “We are honored and very grateful for this generous gift. This will help bring some comfort and joy into the lives of our pediatric patients, some of whom are facing very serious and frightening illnesses.”
For more information please go to www.ironmanflorida.com, www.baymedical.org or www.CiC16.org.