Healthcare Hero: Melissa Taormina
Melissa Taormina, Child Life Specialist/Mental Health Patients
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
A child life specialist is a very unique role that ensures young patients receive the emotional and psychosocial support they need.
Melissa, a child life specialist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, goes above and beyond to ensure her patients are supported and taken care of, and her primary focus is to support children who come to her hospital with mental health needs.
Melissa has been nominated as a healthcare hero by Camilla Sutter, the Child Life Coordinator at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
Melissa used to be the “float” child life specialist at her hospital, but now most of her time consists of working with patients with mental health needs.
She is able to spend more quality time with each of them, and coordinates and engages them in therapeutic interventions and activities like fresh air breaks that help them cope.
In doing so, she works to ensure that every patient and family feels like they are getting the high-quality care they need and provides them with a more positive experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in the volume of pediatric mental health patients. Melissa has stepped up to the plate, showing up for each and every one of her patients to make sure they continue to feel valued and heard during what is a scary and unpredictable time.
Melissa shared some of the challenges of trying to keep the hospital a positive and calming environment for all her patients, especially the teenage population.
They are one of the most overlooked age groups and can often feel anxious and scared as they wait to be treated. Melissa shares, “It is important to try to keep the energy positive, while being respectful and meeting them where they are during this crisis.”
She takes care of the needs that others may not, such as asking the patients if they have a toothbrush, making sure everyone gets a shower if they have been there for more than 24 hours, and confirming the patients understand what is happening in their medical journey. Melissa makes it her mission to be there for her patients and to be someone they can rely on.
She shares “I do those little things, that really aren’t little things, they are things that make a person feel like a person.”
As we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare workers, including Melissa, worry about the long-lasting effects on young people’s mental health.
We see how valuable it is to have a dedicated staff member, like Melissa, to work with patients with mental health needs. enCourage Kids looks forward to working with such a compassionate child life specialist, like Melissa, and we are thrilled to feature her as our next Healthcare Hero.