— TAMPA, Fla. (Tuesday, December 24, 2024) -- This holiday season, AdventHealth Tampa is celebrating the meaningful impact of The Toy Foundation Children’s Hospital Play Grants Program, which has helped create more personalized care for pediatric patients through its S.T.A.R. Program.
Over the past year, the $8,000 grant from The Toy Foundation has funded innovative play and distraction tools, fostering a calming and engaging environment for children during their hospital stay.
The S.T.A.R. Program (Sensory, Auditory, Tactile, Rockstars) enables hospital staff to create individualized care plans for pediatric patients with special needs, using play resources to assist with emotional regulation, coping and communication. The program has been instrumental in reducing anxiety, preventing sensory escalation, and ensuring a positive hospital experience for patients and families alike.
“Play is such an important part of the healing process for children,” said Sandra Burnetter, director of Pediatric Services at AdventHealth Tampa. “It allows us to connect with our patients in meaningful ways, giving them a sense of control and comfort. The tools we’ve added, thanks to The Toy Foundation, have truly transformed the care we’re able to provide.”
Among the resources funded by the grant are iPads, weighted mats and sensory-friendly items like projectors and chewy tubes. These tools have been invaluable for creating a sense of safety and engagement, especially during procedures.
Siobhan Murphy, child life specialist at AdventHealth Tampa, said the grant program has made the stay better for some of the hospital's youngest patients.
“We’ve seen children who were once anxious and overwhelmed become calm and cooperative," Murphy said. "Recently, an iPad provided just the right distraction for a young patient during an EEG test, eliminating the need for sedation. Moments like these are so meaningful—they show how play can make a real difference in their care and comfort.”
The program has also resonated with parents, who have shared deep gratitude for the individualized attention and care
“He felt loved, attended to, and at the end, didn’t want to leave," one parent shared with Burnetter and Murphy.
AdventHealth Tampa plans to continue and expand the S.T.A.R. Program, including educating team members on the importance of play and increasing access to sensory-friendly resources across the hospital. The hospital also hopes to develop a campus-wide initiative to benefit all patients with special needs, not just those in pediatrics.
As the year comes to a close and the hospital reflects on the program’s success, AdventHealth Tampa is grateful to The Toy Foundation for their support.
“This partnership has been a gift not only to our patients but to our entire team,” Burnetter said.
The Toy Foundation’s mission to improve pediatric care through play aligns closely with AdventHealth Tampa’s commitment to whole-person care—body, mind, and spirit.