The Third of 14 Exhibits in 14 Weeks
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At My Medical Center, “patients” and “medical staff” enter through the Check In area which features a desk with a keyboard and monitor and several clipboards to pass out. Patients can check in, fill out their “paperwork,” and wait to be called back to the Doctor’s Office. In the Doctor’s Office, patients can be weighed, measured, and tested with an eye chart. Visitors can be the “nurse” and wear Velcro-backed scrubs or the “doctor” and wear a white coat and stethoscope. Medical staff can measure the patient’s blood pressure, give an inoculation, draw a blood sample to test at the Lab, and apply bandages. Signs in the Doctor’s Office illustrate and describe healthy habits. “Amazing” facts about the human body are scattered throughout the exhibit.
In the Lab & X-Ray room, the “X-Ray Technician” dons a protective vest, carries the hand-held switch, and positions the patient for an X-Ray with a realistic-looking X-Ray machine. Next they can examine the many images at the X-ray viewing box. A life-size skeletal system is shown on the wall with major organs highlighted. Several of the bones are removable and backed with magnets for visitors to replace in the correct location. Signs for older children explain the basics of how an X-Ray works. On the other side of the area is the Lab where sturdy plastic microscopes, slide sets, test tubes, racks and brushes, and other lab equipment is set at a desk with stools. “Scientists” can view bacteria, cells, or viruses and conduct “experiments.”
In Surgery & Recovery, the patient wears a gown and lies down on a surgery table. The “surgeon,” wearing a Velcro-back scrub top, performs the surgery under an overhead light using the (plastic) instruments on a nearby table. A black make-up pencil is available to draw on stitches. Images on the wall show a surgeon at work and describe a few common surgeries. After surgery, the patient can hobble off on crutches or be fi tted with a (removable) cast or sling.
An outside wall of this series of rooms is lined with hospital baby beds to create the hospital nursery. Nurses and “new parents” can rock babies and bottle-feed them in a rocking chair, change diapers at the changing table, or wrap them up in a blanket to sleep.
The learning objectives, provided by Debbie Williams, Programs Coordinator for the Oklahoma WONDERtorium, include:
- Creating an environment where children are able to work through fears and concerns they may have while visiting a doctor's office or hospital,
- Informing, and inspiring, families to develop healthy lifestyles,
- Providing an environment that will stimulate children's interest and curiosity in both the medical profession and their own body,
- Broadening children's knowledge of medical equipment and vocabulary.
Stillwater Medical Center is sponsoring the $15,000 design and development of My Medical Center. The medical center administration has also supported the museum in recent years as a major sponsor of WONDER Wheel-a-Thon.
“Stillwater Medical Center is pleased to assist the WONDERtorium in providing youth the opportunity to learn more about healthcare and the health professions that are available,” said Jerry Moeller, CEO of Stillwater Medical Center. “Our hope is that ‘My Medical Center’ will spark an interest in young children to pursue healthcare careers in the future.”
…we're supporting the fourteen exhibits with expanded information that includes videos and images of similar exhibits at other children's museums. Interestingly, after hours of viewing YouTube clips and Google searches, no photos or videos were found that match our plan for My Medical Center. So, when we are open, we'll do our own video – to share with others!
Instead, we dressed this up with some extra graphics!
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