Teddy Bear Hospital: 100 stuffed animals successfully treated!
Taking the Fear Out of Doctor Visits and Hospitals for Children—Through Play
This is exactly what the Teddy Bear Hospital and Teddy Bear Pharmacy at the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU) achieve. At the beginning of October, around 100 children accepted the invitation: nearly 50 from the Freiraum Maxglan and Leopoldskron kindergartens, and another 50 from Morzg Primary School, spent an exciting morning at the PMU campus on Strubergasse on October 2 and 3. The Teddy Bear Hospital, organized by the AMSA (Austrian Medical Students’ Association) and the AFÖP (Academic Association of Austrian Pharmacists), was staffed and supervised by a total of 59 students of human medicine and pharmacy.
How It Works: In small groups of two to three, children accompanied by a “Teddy Doc”—a medical student—and their “injured” or “sick” stuffed animal visited various stations. These included a general examination with listening and reflex tests, ultrasound, X-ray, CT/MRI, a visit to the operating room, and the application of bandages. Afterwards, the children received a “prescription” for their stuffed animal, which they could redeem at the Teddy Bear Pharmacy.
Additional Highlights: The event also featured a first aid station, a movement course, and an ambulance staffed by the PMU’s Premedics team, which the children were able to explore up close. At every station, children could actively participate, try out equipment, and ask questions—playfully reducing fears and uncertainties. The students also benefited from the direct interaction with the children.
Dream Job? Doctor! “My goal was to give children an insight into everyday hospital life and to alleviate any fears they might have,” explains Isabel Steinlechner, head and organizer of the Teddy Bear Hospital. “Not only did the children have a great time treating their stuffed animals’ ‘aches and pains’—the educators were also enthusiastic about the format.” Co-organizer Anja Schiferer adds: “The biggest motivation for me was when a young girl expressed her wish to become a doctor after she had treated her stuffed rabbit’s cold with homemade medicine from tea leaves.”
A Special Feature This Year: A new “Infusion” station was introduced, personally accompanied by PMU Rector Sperl, who explained the process to the children in an engaging way. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the participating students and to the main organizers, Isabel Steinlechner and Anja Schiferer, for their smooth coordination, without which the Teddy Bear Hospital would not have been possible.
*The “Premedics” initiative offers PMU students the opportunity to learn practical patient care in emergency situations, to further their education in emergency medicine, and to volunteer. As “Premedics,” a pool of over 100 human medicine and pharmacy students operate an Austrian Red Cross ambulance stationed at the PMU daily between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM, serving as “First Responders” and playing an essential role in the city of Salzburg’s emergency care.
Photos available for download at: flickr.com/photos/paracelsusuniversitaet/albums/72177720329393620/
From the media: Link to the article by ORF Salzburg: https://salzburg.orf.at/stories/3324716/
