Healthcare Hero: Jamie Scholl
Jamie Scholl, Certified Child Life Specialist
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Chicago
Jamie takes her job as a child life specialist and turns it into a passion and a way of living that is truly inspiring.
She has been nominated as one of our healthcare heroes by her colleague, Darlene, at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago.
As a child life specialist, Jamie’s work takes her all over the hospital including the pre-op and surgery area, inpatient and intensive care units, and outpatient clinics.
Her roles include preparing kids for their procedures, educating them on what is going to happen, and providing opportunities for distraction and play.
She enjoys creating a fun environment for her patients, helping distract them from their hospital stay and the fear that may accompany that.
Jamie says, “The biggest thing is allowing kids to be a kid in a stressful place; letting them have control of the hospital.” She strives to make them feel comfortable, while helping them understand what is going on around them during their time there, no matter how short or long their stay is.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamie made it her mission to help children face the challenges of such an uncertain and scary time, not just for her patients but their families as well. With COVID limiting the number of people who could visit and enter the hospital, she made sure her patients always felt safe and cared for, and that parents knew their child was in good hands, while answering any of their questions or concerns along the way.
Jamie got creative, altering activities to make sure they fit within any COVID guidelines set by the hospital and CDC. Using virtual tools and one-on-one activities, she did everything she could so the pandemic did not affect their hospital experience.
When we asked why Darlene had nominated Jamie, her answer was centered around complete gratitude for how Jamie does her job so well. Not only for the children, but others too. She and her colleague, Mary, shared their tremendous appreciation of Jamie’s hard work and dedication and how passionately she pursues her role as a child life specialist.
When speaking about Jamie’s dedication, Darlene shared an example of how attentive Jamie is and how she really stepped up, especially with COVID visitation restrictions which only allowed one parent to stay 24/7 with their child. It is often the small gestures nurses or child life specialists make that create a lasting impact. Jamie realized a mom was at the hospital by herself and offered to spend time with her child so she could go and take a shower. Mary says, “That’s just above and beyond the day to day that would be expected.”
When Jamie was asked about her experience with enCourage Kids Foundation, she told us our support has allowed her to do her job even better.
“enCourage Kids has been awesome and so supportive.”
They shared that the paint by number kits really allow their kid to be a kid, and they use them often. “These are things we use constantly with the kids and they love it so much. The kids love it, the parents love it, and the nurses love it.”
One image from the paint by numbers kit
enCourage Kids Foundation is honored to support Shriners Hospital for Children and partner with such incredible child life specialists like Jamie.
Her enthusiasm and commitment to her job is so beneficial to the patients she sees. The programs we provide, plus her endless dedication to her patients, is what helps us continue to make hospitals a better place to get better.