Child Life Specialist Explains Their Important Role In A Hospital

CHARLOTTE, NC — March is Child Life Specialist Month, but not many people know the important role a CLS plays in a hospital setting. A CLS is someone who often acts as a conduit between parents or doctors and children who are hospitalized, and they use various techniques to help children cope.

In fact, CLS Evi Fulton works at Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital and says that's the easiest translation for her title: coping specialist.

"We wear so many hats," explained Fulton. "And we are a relatively new field."

The best way to foster communication with children comes easy to them, and that's through play. "Play is the foundation for absolutely everything we do," said Fulton. That includes teaching, preparation and coping skills that hope both children and their families.

Some experiences that typically yield a CLS include a trip to the emergency room, supporting them through an IV, or coming up with a coping plan with parents for a long-term care issue. They can also help children deal with their parent having a sudden stroke, or another medical ailment that can be hard to comprehend at a young age.

"Hospitals and doctors' offices can be intimidating places, and we try to make those places less intimidating," she said.

It can also help parents understand what is happening to their child and how to effectively communicate.

Fulton gave an example of a child getting stitches, or receiving an IV. A parent may tell their child it won't hurt, but that's not true, and the child will feel distrust toward the parent for not being honest about the ensuing pain. A CLS can help explain to a parent that honesty will help ensure a better medical experience.

She says there are also specialists places in neonatal intensive care units in some cases who may help the siblings of an infant cope with what's going on, and often times the uncertainty of the future.

It's simply not all about playing on an iPad or breaking out a board game. "I'm not the play lady, or the iPad lady," explained Fulton.

"There is a method to our madness," Fulton laughed. A CLS goes through extensive training and certification to learn how to deal specifically with children. For instance, if a two-year-old is getting an IV, the CLS can determine what kind of coping resource can help the child get through it with the least amount of trauma possible. That could end up being playing a game on an iPad, but it can also be another number of techniques to comfort the child.

A CLS is not available at every hospital, although some larger hospitals like Novant Health Hembry Children's Hospital have several. They aren't billable positions, meaning they won't show up as an additional charge on an ER statement or hospital stay itemized list. Their salary comes from the hospital budget, meaning hospitals have to choose to invest in a CLS for their young patients.

"They value our services," said Fulton. Sometimes, the position can be funded through a grant that might expire, or if a hospital can fund it they may take over paying for the position. That's one reason Child Life Specialist Month serves as a beacon to spread awareness of the profession and showcase their unique skills to help more children in hospital settings.

"It's our opportunity to spread the word about our services," she explained. "We're there for the support of the child."