This year, more than 800 kindergartners from every elementary school in Mercer County, as well as students from Versailles Elementary School in Darke County and several homeschoolers in the area, participated in Mercer Health's play hospital.
For nearly 30 years, Mercer Health has invited local kindergarten students to our play hospital. The Play Hospital is an interactive program where young students learn about health care and tour hospitals in fun stops to learn about hand washing, healthy choices, surgeries, and more. This year, some students had the opportunity to meet Lipsi, a therapy dog who works with Mercer Health's Medical Group's Mental Wellness patients.
“We were so excited to have local students come with us,” said Mindy Kremer, vice president of development, marketing and communications. “Our goal is to make hospitals seem like less scary places if you have to visit them, and to help kids have fun while learning something new about the medical field.”
Earlier this spring, Mercer Health also hosted a Medical Explorers program. In this program, first-graders and second-graders from area schools will have the opportunity to visit Mercer Health and consider volunteer positions and future career paths, as well as gain exposure to the local health system and its community. Learn more about the impact.
