Thoughtfully designed with friendly murals, colorful icons and playful themes, each Dayton Children’s building creates a welcoming, less intimidating environment for kids and families. Stepping into their newest outpatient care center in Centerville, opened on June 2 on Far Hills Avenue, you will see these elements on full display.
“We’re not Disneyland, but everything has just a little whimsy to it,” says Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Dayton Children’s, Cindy Burger. The new facility is over 26,000 square feet and offers expanded access to pediatric services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, lab services, EKG and digital imaging. In the fall it will house Pediatric Associates of Dayton on the second level.
Recognizing the need for these services in Centerville, Dayton Children’s made the move to be closer to where their patients live. With digital imaging now available at the new location, kids can come directly from the pediatrician’s office or Kids Express and be seen right away for an X-ray or EKG. “We want it to be convenient and close to home,” Cindy explains. “If you have to take your children somewhere, you want it to be five to 10 minutes away because it just makes things so much easier, and that’s what families want.”
Kids and families are always the priority at Dayton Children’s, and it is woven into everything that they do. The new Sensory Integration Room, named for its use by kids with sensory processing issues or autism, is designed specifically for children. Offering many unique features such as a climbing wall, sensory swing, fiber optic waterfall, play loft with slide and a projector for visual stimulation and calming, this room is perfect for patients seeking movement therapy.
There is also a deluxe steamroller ramp which creates body awareness, provides deep pressure stimulation and calms and organizes the central nervous system. “This is the difference when you go somewhere designed specifically for kids,” explains Director of Rehab Services, Terry Wiegel. “This is a tremendous room, and it will be a huge asset for our patients.”
Speech and language pathology services are also provided at the Centerville outpatient care center, serving a variety of conditions, including articulation/phonological and language deficits, as well as working with children who use augmentative communication devices. “The therapists were really in heaven when they moved in because there are so many new toys and tools for play therapy,” Terry adds. “It’s a great way to engage the kids through play while working toward their therapeutic goals.”
The Physical Therapy gym is also fully equipped to serve children of all ages who have gross motor developmental delays or are recovering from injuries. The gym offers two private spaces to treat children who would benefit from a quieter, less distracting environment. One of the features of the Physical Therapy gym is a treadmill complete with LiteGait, which supports standing for patients when they are walking on the treadmill. “Our PT gym is one of the nicest gyms in all of our locations,” Terry notes. “We are ecstatic, and just so excited to be here in this space.”
Not only will Pediatric Associates of Dayton have a brand new space with 16 rooms on the second level this fall, but they’ve also been serving the Centerville community for over 40 years. The same trusted pediatricians and nurse practitioners will continue providing care, now with the added benefit of being closely affiliated with Dayton Children’s. By sharing medical records and systems, the two teams can improve continuity and integration of care. “Referrals to see a specialist are even easier,” Cindy points out. “If your pediatrician says you need to see a neurologist, you want to see a neurologist now, not wait for six weeks.”
Whether a child comes in for therapy, testing or a routine visit with their pediatrician, when they arrive at the new Dayton Children’s outpatient care center in Centerville, they’re walking into a place that feels safe, cheerful and built just for them.
“In our patient tower, every floor has a color and an icon. The NICU on the fifth floor has the hummingbird, inspired by nature’s tiniest aviator, and the PICU has the eagle in green,” Cindy explains. “The owl is ophthalmology, of course.” All of the icons highlighted together in the new Centerville outpatient care center mural are a gentle reminder that no matter where you are in the Dayton Children’s system, kids and families are always guided with care, creativity and intention. ChildrensDayton.org
“This is the difference when you go somewhere designed specifically for kids.” -Director of Rehab Services, Terry Wiegel