Community donations create new mobile, medical app for youth by Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Simply Sayin’ Mobile App Example

Valley Leadership and former patients of Phoenix Children’s Hospital — the Patient and family Alumni Leadership group (“PALs”) — launched “Simply Sayin’,“ a new mobile application that empowers hospital staff, child life specialists and families to explain medical terms in kid-friendly, age-appropriate language.

 The free app for Apple iOS offers a medical glossary of more than 250 terms commonly used in healthcare settings with a simple definition which children can understand. Interactive images and illustrations allow children to see where incisions might be drawn on their bodies or hear the sounds of an MRI machine before undergoing a procedure. A teach-back feature helps parents or clinicians ensure that children understand what they’ve heard. The app is available in both Spanish and English.

 “The purpose of ‘Simply Sayin’ ’ is to help medical professionals use words that are clear and easy to understand,” says Betsy Rosebrugh, manager of the Child Life Program. “One of the best ways to support a child and family when in the hospital is to communicate using developmentally appropriate language.”

 Staff members from the hospital’s Child Life Program lacked funding to create “Simply Sayin’,” but were aided by former patient Brian Bogert, who rallied his Valley Leadership class to fundraise for and manage the project. Bogert also is a founder of PALs, the hospital foundation’s patient advocacy group.

 “As a former Phoenix Children’s patient, I can say without a doubt that Phoenix Children’s Child Life Program helped not only me, but my entire family through what was a very stressful time for all of us,” says Bogert, whose severed arm was re-attached at Phoenix Children’s Hospital after a childhood accident. “The Simply Sayin app is a powerful tool that will not only give hospital staff vital information at their fingertips, but it will help families cope and understand their medical care as well.”

 More than $12,000 was raised to fund the app and leave the Child Life Team with revenue to support future expansions. Fundraising was led by Southwest Spine & Sports, The Haven Charitable Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and individual donors from across the Valley. 

 Phoenix Children’s Hospital pioneered the Child Life Program in 1983. Research proved that children exposed to the Child Life Program performed significantly better on measures of emotional distress and coping effectiveness during procedures; overall coping and adjustment during the hospital stay; understanding of hospitalization and procedures; and post-hospital adjustment and physical recovery.

About Valley Leadership

Valley Leadership is a nonprofit, leadership development organization with the mission to enhance the abilities of individuals to serve and strengthen our communities. Established in 1978, Valley Leadership has been cultivating passionate and engaged leaders in our community for 30 years. Valley Leadership: Connecting…Learning…Leading.

 About PALs

The Patient and family Alumni Leadership (PALs) group is philanthropic team of former patients (or family members of former patients) who give back to the Hospital, with the goal of enriching the environment and experience for patients and families.

 About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country with 465 licensed beds, Phoenix Children’s provides care across more than 65 pediatric specialties. The hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the hospital, visit www.phoenixchildrens.com.