Mural will greet and soothe pediatric patients and their families; Expanded and Enhanced Emergency Department Treated Nearly 51,000 patients in 2010

White Plains, NY (March 21, 2011) – White Plains Hospital this month celebrated the one-year anniversary of its redesigned and enhanced Emergency Department with the installation and unveiling of a series of murals in the Berk Family Pediatric Waiting Room. The murals were commissioned by the Hospital to create an inviting, relaxing, and intriguing environment for young patients and their caregivers.

Painted by Kristin Linder of khlstudio, located in Briarcliff Manor, NY, the playful scenes depicted on the mural panels provide a colorful distraction for young, sick or injured patients who are waiting to be treated in the pediatric wing of the emergency room. In addition to redirecting children’s attention, the murals provide educational opportunities for children to find hidden images, geometric shapes and various colors. A waiting family can even create its own “story” around the scenes depicted in the murals.

“There is much research about art’s effects on patients undergoing medical care,” said Linder. “The opportunity to work with White Plains Hospital on this mural that will reduce anxiety and comfort so many children has been a gift for me and my studio.”

“We thank Kristin for donating her time and talent to enhancing White Plains Hospital’s pediatric waiting room,” said Jon B. Schandler, President and CEO, White Plains Hospital. “Our young patients will surely be kept occupied by the playful scenes depicted in the murals, thereby detracting their attention from their sickness or injury.”

The Berk Waiting Room at the Kylie and Louis R. Cappelli Pediatric Emergency Center is just one part of the enhanced Emergency Department opened last year that Hospital officials dubbed, “the ER of the Future.” The 26,390 square-foot, two-level facility is double the size of the former Emergency Department and offers private patient rooms and bedside registration.

Last year, the ED saw nearly 51,000 patient visits, up from 48,000 in 2009.

In October 2010, the Hospital received recognition from the Studer Group for exceptional patient satisfaction scores. Ensuring patients’ comfort was one of the goals during the three years that went into planning and developing the Emergency Department.

Pictured, left to right:
Dr. Timothy Haydock, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine, of Katonah; Wendy Berk and Chelsea Berk of Scarsdale; muralist Kristin Linder of Briarcliff Manor; Kristen Lawton, Nurse Manager of the Emergency Department of Brewster; and Jon B. Schandler, President and CEO, of Chappaqua.

White Plains Hospital (WPH) is a 292-bed voluntary, not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of offering high quality, acute health care and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. Centers of Excellence include the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center, The William & Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center, The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center and The Westchester Orthopedic Institute. The Hospital has the busiest Emergency Department in Westchester County, seeing nearly 51,000 visits a year. White Plains Hospital is the only community hospital in Westchester County licensed to perform emergency & elective angioplasty. The Hospital is a nine-time winner of the Consumer Choice Award, an honor given to the nation’s top hospitals by the National Research Corporation. WPH is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and the Stellaris Health Network, Inc.