Smilezones installed within Dauphin Regional Health Centre
Patients, families, visitors and staff at Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC) have reason to smile. In fact, there are four reasons, following the grand opening June 14 of new Smilezones within the second-largest hospital in Prairie Mountain Health region.
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH), in collaboration with Smilezone Foundation and sponsor Dauphin Tim Hortons, officially opened four new Smilezones within the hospital’s lab and imaging waiting area, Emergency Department (two decorated rooms) and the Palliative Care family room. The bright, calming and inspiring Smilezones include murals, child-friendly sensory development materials, and new media entertainment systems meant to enhance the facility’s person-and family-centred care.
Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate says this friendly hospital facelift can help ease stressful experiences for children, parents, and families and also boost morale for staff.
“Smiling is contagious and can act as free therapy simultaneously! We are very pleased that hospital patients, visitors, and our staff are now greeted with beautiful nature-themed murals and child-friendly options in easily identifiable areas of the facility. We are exceptionally grateful to the donor families from Tim Hortons and the Smilezone Foundation who approached us with the idea and coordinated work that allowed this extra-special project to come to fruition,” Slate stated.
“Smilezone Foundation is thrilled to be a part of this renovation at Dauphin Regional Health Centre, marking our second project in Manitoba,” said Scott Bachly, Smilezone Foundation Co-Founder. “These enhancements bring joy to children and families during their hospital visits, and seeing their smiles is the greatest reward for our efforts. We thank Dauphin Tim Hortons and the Crisanti and Pardy Families for their generous support and dedication to our mission of making tough days a little brighter for kids receiving treatment.”
“The Crisanti and Pardy families are honoured and sincerely grateful to have the opportunity to work with the amazing team at Smilezone and staff at Prairie Mountain Health and we are delighted that the Smilezones have garnered many positive and uplifting comments already,” said Greg Crisanti. Along with the many local sponsors, community supporters and area residents that contributed to the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign earlier this spring, we could not be more thrilled with how everything turned out!”