- April 28, 2024
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Savannah Umpenhour, an upcoming sophomore at Flagler Palm Coast High School, remembers coming to the emergency department at Florida Hospital Flagler when she was a child for her grandfather’s care.
“I was about 7 years old when I came here with my family,” Umpenhour said. “I remember being really scared, and it was difficult to relax.”
With this experience in mind, Umpenhour decided to develop a plan to make the hospital’s ER lobby more child-friendly as part of her Community Problem Solving program as a ninth-grader at FPC. She contacted Jodi Lodolce, Florida Hospital Flagler emergency services director, with her ideas and presented her plans to the hospital’s board of executives.
On July 10, Umpenhour and other community members began painting an ocean-themed mural inside the Palm Coast hospital’s ER waiting area. A week later, the project was complete.
The project was a true community effort, as Umpenhour enlisted help from other students and local artist Stewart Maxcy. Maxcy drew the marine-life sketch that served as a template for the teens; his image was projected, sketched and painted on the walls.
“There has been so much community support behind this project to enhance the experience at our local hospital,” Umpenhour said. “I am so excited; I have been thinking about this and planning for about a year now.”
“Savannah’s ER painting project fits perfectly with Florida Hospital Flagler’s mission in providing the highest quality care and a healing experience,” Lodolce said. “There’s a huge need in this community to provide high-quality care to kids. On average, we treat about 600 children per month in our emergency room. The staff at the hospital is so excited to see this extra benefit for our littlest patients.”
Lodolce went on to say she was impressed with Umpenhour’s work and passion for the project, as well as her attention to detail. Umpenhour researched the psychology of colors and the roles they play in creating a soothing environment in health care when developing her plans for the mural.
“I wanted to complete a project that would provide a more comfortable and warm environment, especially for kids,” Umpenhour said.
BOX: THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT
A new pediatric app is now available at https://www.floridahospitalkids.com/. This free app gives parents instant access to advice for kids of any age – from potty training, to handling toddlers who bite, to what to do when your teenager won’t listen. Additionally, this app also features a symptom checker to help parents figure out what to do when their children aren’t feeling well.
