Our Blog
News and insight from Franciscan about our philosophy of hope through healthcare and recent issues affecting children’s wellness.
Ways to Give: 2014 Heart in Hand Holiday Campaign
Curious how to give back to Franciscan Hospital for Children this holiday season? There are plenty of ways to give!
Kids Plugged In: What’s Too Loud?
About 90% of 12-19 year olds use personal music players with earbuds, often with a high volume output that can negatively affect hearing. So… what’s too loud and how can parents control the volume?
Halloween: Creating a Safe Stop for Trick-or-Treaters
It’s no secret that Halloween is one of our favorite holidays! Check out these tips for making your home a safe stop for trick-or-treaters.
Physical Therapy: Indoor Exercise Ideas
With shorter days and colder weather fast approaching, our Physical Therapy team celebrates National Physical Therapy Month with their indoor exercise tips to keep kids moving!
Franciscan Hospital for Children is Among Top 75 Most Social Media Friendly Children’s Hospitals
Franciscan Hospital for Children is named among the Top 75 Most Social Media Friendly Children’s Hospitals in the country.
Ebola in the U.S.: Precautions and Safety
While we don’t want to unnecessarily concern the public, we recognize that adequate preparation and education are key to preventing the further spread of the disease. Preventive and protective measures to respond to a potential Ebola outbreak are underway at Franciscan Hospital for Children.
Back-to-School Transition with Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology
Kennedy Day School staff identify areas in which augmentative communication and assistive technology can be used to ease the challenges of a new school year for many students who use them as an aid to learning.
Enterovirus D68: What is it and how can I help?
Susan Prosansky, RN, Infection Control Nurse for Franciscan Hospital for Children, discusses the recent spread of Enterovirus D68, what it is and how to help.
Backpacks & Back Pain: There’s a Strap for That!
Heather LaCroix, MOTR/L, an Occupational Therapist at Franciscan Hospital for Children, reviews simple backpack changes and accommodations that can be made to to help ensure your student a healthy start, and finish, to the school year!
Home Health Care: Learning to Love Holland
Our Director of Home Health Care offers a poem her team uses to help illustrate the experience of caring for and raising a child with a disability, and shares some thoughts from her team on why they love what they do.
Valet Parking Comes to FHC
Beginning on Tuesday, September 2nd guests may notice some new welcoming faces as they enter Parking Lot A. We are piloting a complimentary valet parking service for guests in order to improve our patients and families’ experience as they arrive and depart Franciscan Hospital for Children.
The Future of Kennedy Hope Academy
Information regarding a recent important decision affecting the future of the Kennedy Hope Academy (KHA) residential program at Franciscan Hospital for Children.
Kennedy Day School Lemonade Stand: Pour the Lemonade!
With Lemonade Stand construction and official taste-testing complete, it was time to move on to the final phase of our project – an official unveiling of the new stand and pouring of our first glasses of lemonade!
Please… Take a Bite! Making Mealtime Fun
Heather LaCroix, MOTR/L, Occupational Therapist at FHC, talks physical and sensory challenges in feeding disorders and tips for how to make mealtime fun!
Is it Sensory or Behavior? OT Detectives to the Rescue!
Do you find yourself asking, why does my child do that? Why does my child not take a bath? Why won’t they eat a banana? How can I stop them from doing that behavior? You’re not alone, and many parents have turned to Occupational Therapy as a way to help answer these seemingly never-ending questions.
Dining Services: Exciting News for Healthy Appetites
Beginning on June 15th, 2014 changes will be made to our dietary and dining services experience at FHC. Explore these FAQs to help you navigate our new and improved offerings.
Kennedy Day School Lemonade Stand: Taste Testing
The Lemonade Stand construction was complete and with summer just around the corner, we knew it was time to make the lemonade! With so many brands on the market, we decided to put it to a vote and let our customers decide with an official taste test.
Identify the Signs: Communication Disorders
Ruth Crowley, M.S., CCC-SLP, the Director of the Speech-Language-Hearing Department at FHC shares information and resources on identifying the signs of communication disorders.
Bike Helmet Safety
Carrie Barlow, PT PCS, Director of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy programs at FHC, talks bike helmet safety and tips for happy riding!
Kennedy Day School Lemonade Stand: The Building Process
One thing our Kennedy Day School staff can be proud of is our creativity and inventive style! When it comes to making and adapting things for our students, we are quite resourceful. We use what we have on hand to design and construct our projects, and so with some PVC piping, colorful tape, and some fun – our lemonade stand is close to being ready to open for business!