Teddy bears can make health care warm and fuzzy
for learning purpose
Kavin Desai, MD, monitors the heart of a teddy bear “patient” at the Oakland event.
Building trust in the community
At the clinic, children move from table to table with their toys. Each “patient” goes through a different part of a checkup, just like a real doctor’s visit.
At one station, a toy might have its heartbeat listened to. At another, it might get a pretend shot or a bandage. Some toys even need “surgery,” where volunteers stitch up small tears.
Instead of using complicated medical terms, the clinic uses simple, fun language to help kids understand what is happening. Children can “treat” their toys while learning simple health habits, such as drinking water, staying active, and eating healthy foods.
“It was all designed at the level that kids could understand,” said Dr. Moore.
Kaiser Permanente teams in Oakland were inspired by the Hayward Teddy Bear Clinic. The Oakland clinic will be part of the “Bless the Block” community event, which brings health screenings, school supplies, and other free resources and services to hundreds of families.
Nailah Thompson, DO, an internal medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente Oakland, who is helping lead the upcoming event, said she’s glad to see the return of these clinics.
“It’s powerful to see physicians out in the community, always committed to the whole community,” Dr. Thompson said.
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