Arkansas Children's Hospital announced a partnership Wednesday that will allow its patients to learn more about animal species through a TV network visible throughout the hospital.
San Diego Zoo Kids, a closed-circuit TV channel available in each patient room and waiting area, is provided through a gift by philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, as well as a collaboration with San Diego Zoo Global, Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas and the Little Rock Zoo.
Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock will also have access to the TV channel, which is set to feature Little Rock Zoo animals in addition to San Diego Zoo encounters.
Children's Hospital Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Berry said: "The San Diego Zoo Kids TV channel is an outstanding example of friends joining together and with us in our mission to help make children better today and healthier tomorrow."
He said San Diego Zoo Kids allows the patients to "remember what it's like to be a kid."
"It really only takes one encounter with one of our pet-therapy animals to believe and understand and see for yourself the incredible impact that animals have on patients and their experience here at Arkansas Children's Hospital," Berry said. "It's very powerful medicine."
San Diego Zoo Kids host Lauren Ayres said her background as someone helping to share the story of animal species has a personal touch.
"About five years ago, my younger sister, who was 10 years old at the time, was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and went into a children's hospital," she said, adding that she told animal stories to her sister, who is now "healthy and happy," before the channel was created.
Patients gathered in the Lobby Train Room on Wednesday during the announcement, catching a glimpse of what is to come on the TV network while also getting up close with some local zoo animals.
San Diego Zoo Kids debuted in 2013 at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. It has since been implemented at 13 other children's hospitals and Ronald McDonald House facilities in the U.S.
The TV channel features up-close encounters with animals such as pandas, penguins, cheetahs, frogs and turtles during shows on the 24-hour network hosted by San Diego Zoo staff.
Metro on 08/20/2015