Orangeville, Ont. (September 5, 2023) - On Saturday, September 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Headwaters Health Care Centre is opening its doors for a very special type of clinic: teddy bears of Dufferin-Caledon can receive pretend-play treatment from real doctors and health care providers at the hospital. Visiting a hospital can be a scary experience, especially if children are not feeling well. The goal of the Teddy Bear Clinic is to help reduce children’s anxiety and fear around a hospital visit.
Located in the Ambulatory Care Wing/Area and Friendship Gardens of the Headwaters Health Care Centre, the Teddy Bear Clinic is a carnival-style event where children and their families can bring their teddy bears or stuffies to the hospital for the whole patient experience, from “teddy triage” to “teddy treatment.” After a pause during the pandemic to this beloved annual community event, expect educational and fun-filled experience of games, BBQ and story time.
Admission is free. Participation in the Teddy Bear Clinic is by donation. All funds raised through the Teddy Bear Clinic will be used to improve children’s healthcare at Headwaters Health Care.
Organizers are still looking for donations in-kind to help support the event, including decorations, refreshments, products, games, and children’s entertainment. Qualified donations may receive a charitable receipt, in partnership with the Headwaters Health Care Foundation. Please contact patientexp@headwatershealth.ca
Special thanks to community organizations who have partnered with the Teddy Bear Clinic, to date:
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Kennedy’s Flags / Kennedy House
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logoyou
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PepsiCo Canada
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Sanderson Source for Sports
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Sobeys Orangeville – Sobeys Inc.
The Teddy Bear Clinic has been a beloved annual children’s event since 1998, raising support for the hospital through the Headwaters Health Care Auxiliary and making a meaningful impact.
The 2023 Teddy Bear Clinic is proudly brought to you by Headwaters Health Care Centre Patient Experience Office, health care providers and staff with support from Headwaters Health Care Auxiliary.
Learn more online: headwatershealth.ca/teddybear
Quotations
“We are very excited to offer our community a special event that focuses on the hospital experience for one very important patient group: children. We welcome all children and families to participate in this event and hope that they will leave with comfort and understanding that Headwaters is a safe place to receive care when they need it.”
-- Kim Delahunt, CEO and President, Headwaters Health Care Centre.
“The Teddy Bear Clinic gives the community a chance to create an awesome hospital experience for children. This year we are focusing on raising support for our first Kids Kart, including age-appropriate toys, games and electronics that kids love.”
-- Juliann McArthur, Manager, Patient Experience.
“The return of the Teddy Bear Clinic in 2023 marks the event’s 25th anniversary. Since the event was started by the Headwaters Health Care Auxiliary, it was led by a dedicated team of volunteers who wanted to help children in our community feel more comfortable coming to hospital. The Auxiliary is supporting this year's event, and our team of volunteers remain dedicated to the hospital to support excellent patient experience for children, families, and all patients.”
-- Mike Carter, Auxiliary President
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About Headwaters Health Care Centre
Headwaters Health Care Centre is an innovative hospital located in Orangeville, Ont. dedicated to quality patient-centred care together with our community in Dufferin County-Caledon. In addition to providing acute and complex continuing care with a 24/7 Emergency Department, and extensive Ambulatory Care outpatient services, Headwaters is accredited with Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada, certified as a Breast Assessment Centre by the Ontario Breast Screening Program, and will be offering MRI services in the near future. Headwaters is also a proud partner in the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team. Learn more at headwatershealth.ca and support the hospital at hhccfoundation.com
Media contact
Valerie Lam-Bentley
Communications Specialist
Headwaters Health Care Centre
(519) 941-2410 ext. 2248