The Department of Recreational Therapy and Child Life
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UNC Hospitals has been a pioneer in
providing recreational therapy programs, initiated in 1956 by the
Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry. In 1974, the Department
of Recreational Therapy and Child Life was established to extend
the service to serve other patients within the institution.
Recreational therapy services are initiated by a physician order
for assessment and treatment. A recreational therapist conducts an
individualized assessment of the patient's physical, mental,
emotional and social functioning to determine needs, interests and
abilities. An individualized treatment plan is developed and
implemented to reach planned treatment outcomes. The primary focus
of recreational therapy is to restore or improve the patient's
physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning through the
use of interventions structured to reach treatment goals.
Recreational Therapy staff also assist other members of the health care
team to create a positive and therapeutic environment by helping
patients to relieve anxieties and stress associated with
hospitalization. |
