Cinemavision helps kids having MRIs get lost in the plot
An MRI is noisy. It takes a long time, and being in the MRI machine makes many people feel claustrophobic. All of that can be scary for kids. That’s where Cinemavision comes in.
If your child is scheduled for an MRI at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, don’t expect his or her journey to end in the radiology department. He or she may be transported to the mythical kingdom of Arendelle, where with Anna, Kristoff and Sven, characters in the Disney movie “Frozen,” they go searching for Elsa, whose powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.
Or maybe your child will meet up with Carl Fredricksen, the retired balloon salesmen in “Up.” And before long they may be floating up, up and away — to somewhere calm and peaceful. It may sound too cool to be true. But thanks to Cinemavision, it is.
For kids and parents
Cinemavision is an innovative, attention-focusing tool that makes it easier to complete MRI exams on children. It consists of goggles and an earpiece that allows kids to view a movie while undergoing the imaging test.
An MRI is noisy. It can take 40 minutes or more to complete and requires entering a machine that makes many people feel claustrophobic. All of that can be scary for kids, explains Tryphena Farmer, a certified Child Life Specialist in the radiology department. “Cinemavision helps the child relax [and] lie still and calm,” she says. Often, that means the test can be done more quickly. And results can be obtained sooner. What’s more, kids may be able to avoid sedation, a fact that eases parents’ fears.
Making things easier
Cinemavision has been at Mary Bridge since last summer, thanks to the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation. It offers a large collection of movies for children of all ages.
The tool is one of the many ways Mary Bridge is leading the way in helping children and their families when they’re at the hospital in what are often uncertain times. “We take every step we possibly can to make the experience a positive one for them and try to take away any fear,” says Farmer. “Cinemavision is a great example of that.”
To learn more about how your gifts can make things like Cinemavision possible, visit the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation website.
What is a child life specialist?
A hospital can be scary for anyone but especially when you’re a child. That’s why MultiCare employs certified Child Life Specialists throughout Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Their job? To make visits more comfortable and less traumatic with a combination of education, distraction and play. Meet our Child Life Specialists and read more about why they do what they do.