I’ve never been to a hospital before, so I was a little curious (and maybe even a little nervous) to attend the Teddy Bear Clinic held at Inova’s L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in Falls Church last Sunday. As it turns out, I needn’t have been nervous, but my curiosity certainly paid off when I met several wonderful healthcare specialists who helped make my visit painless and informative.

The hospital is part of the larger Inova Fairfax Medical Campus located at 3300 Gallows Road. The Teddy Bear Clinic has been held at Inova’s nearby children’s hospital in Loudoun for several years and this is the second time it’s been held in the Falls Church location. 

Even before I arrived, I had some idea what to expect with my check-up, thanks to the advice of Susan Jarosz, a Pediatric Critical Care Transport Nurse at the hospital. According to Susan, the event would be “staffed with Inova Team Members across multiple campuses that have graciously volunteered their time.” The volunteers included nurses, child life specialists, respiratory therapists, physicians, radiology technicians, physical therapists, paramedics, and more.

That seemed like a highly qualified crew to perform my check-up, so I was pretty impressed!

My human guardian accompanied me and we were met in the lobby of the hospital by Jamie Gentille, System Director of Child Life Services and Community Engagement. Because I was a member of the press, Jamie graciously offered to spend some time with me before the event. She said she expected around 500 visitors to the clinic that day, and I counted more than 50 volunteers in pink or green T-shirts.

Next, I was taken to the Vital Signs & Assessment table where I was introduced to Gaby Shutler, a Pediatric ICU Nurse who would perform my examination. Gaby took my blood pressure by carefully wrapping a white Velcro cuff around my right arm. It squeezed a little but didn’t hurt. My overly inquisitive guardian asked Gaby what the cuff felt like and Gaby said reassuringly, “It gave his arm a big hug.” (I can verify!)

Then Gaby used a metal stethoscope to listen to my heart and lungs. As she performed the exam, she told me in a soothing voice, “Take a deep breath, relax.” My exam was quick and painless and Gaby told me that everything sounded healthy.

The event began at 10 a.m. at the hospital’s Playground Entrance. Visitors first stopped at a registration table where they could pick up a pamphlet that listed all of the check-up stations. Stuffed animals were also available for adoption here. 

Visitors were then routed into the lobby of the hospital where the check-up stations were arranged on long tables side-by-side. The following stations were available: Vital Signs & Assessment, IV Placement, Vaccination, Imaging, Splint, Respiratory, Surgery & Anesthesia, and Sutures & Staples.

I was amazed by all of the equipment at the event. The Imaging station had an impressive portable X-ray machine. Patients were placed on a flat mat on the table and the machine had a long arm with a box that hovered over the patient and took a picture. This station also had an MRI bed that was small enough for a teddy bear like me! The Surgery & Anesthesia station had a variety of oxygen masks in different sizes so that each patient could find one with a comfortable fit.

There were lots of children and accompanying adults and a wide range of stuffed companions being examined, including pandas, dogs, cats, tigers, and penguins. I even saw a shark! There were a lot of exams taking place around me though I was careful not to eavesdrop. People and stuffed animals like to have privacy when they are meeting with their doctors. I can say, however, that everyone seemed very happy to be there and all of the stuffed animals seemed to be very comfortable during their exams. I think that says a lot about the quality of the people who work at the hospital. They know how to put their patients at ease, whether that patient is a child, or a teddy bear, or a shark. Each one of us is unique. And it’s nice to be treated that way by our doctors.

The event also featured an Inova Children’s Critical Care Ambulance and two medic units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. They were parked in front of the hospital so that people and stuffed animals could climb in and look around.

I asked Jamie for some advice for new patients like me, as well as human patients, who need to go to the hospital. She said, “Ask questions. There are a lot of helpers at the hospital here to help you feel better.” She said the Teddy Bear Clinic was a great way for children to feel more comfortable visiting a doctor themselves because they felt empowered during their own stuffed animal’s exam. I saw that firsthand, as children were allowed to choose which station to visit and which exams their stuffed animals underwent. That first visit “might be hard,” Jamie said, “but we’re all here to help.”

If you have a chance to visit one of Inova’s Teddy Bear Clinics, I highly recommend the experience for both children and their stuffed companions.  As Susan had explained to me, “The Teddy Bear Clinic gives children a chance to meet their healthcare team before they need them. By exploring medical equipment, practicing on their stuffed animal, and learning tools to ease pain and anxiety during vaccinations and procedures, children build confidence that can last longer after playtime is over.” 

Inova succeeded well in this goal. Susan herself has also seen the rewards of this clinic. She told me, “This was very evident when we had a young school-aged patient come and before we needed to do one of our procedures, the child says, I know what to do, my Teddy had to do this at the Teddy Hospital.”

Next time I have a check-up, I’ll know what to do too, thanks to the Teddy Bear Clinic.