A San Diego children’s hospital has unveiled a novel way to transport young patients to the operating theatre – in luxury remote-control toy cars.
The collection of mini cars, unveiled yesterday at the Rady Children’s Hospital, allow young patients to ‘drive’ themselves to the operating room.
They are part of a new program designed to make children more relaxed before their procedures and are actually operated by a nurse or a doctor.
The three miniature cars are for patients aged 3 – 8 years, and the young patients can chose from three luxury models – a BMW, a Mercedes or a Lamborghini.
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Andrea Destraio, 5, slaps hands with San Diego Harbor police officer Aldo Gutierrez and other officers whose charity donated to Rady Children’s Hospital to start a program that uses remote control cars to take young patients to the operating room
Doctor Daniela Carvalho remotely controls Andrea Destraio, 5, in her Lamborghini at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego
The program allow young patients to ‘drive’ themselves to the operating room but the cars are actually operated by a nurse or a doctor, and have been introduced to make children more relaxed before their procedures
High five: Little Andrea Destraio, 5, slaps hands with medical staff and invited police officers whose charity donated to Rady Children’s Hospital to start a program that uses remote control cars to take young patients to the operating room
The cars were donated by the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Agencies through a teddy bear drive that raised money and stuffed animals for the children at the hospital, NBC Los Angeles reports.
The goal is to make the hospital experience more positive for patients.
‘It’s not just for the child to feel like this is a fun thing to do,’ said Dr. Daniela Carvalho, medical director at Rady Children’s Hospital.
‘But the stress of surgery falls on the parents too. When they see their child smiling, it makes the separation anxiety a lot easier.’
Andrea Destrajo, 5, indicated how successful the programme could be on Tuesday when she was pictured smiling broadly and having fun driving the cars at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
‘It’s a very stressful moment when kids come into the operating room for their families,’ said Dr. Carvalho told NBC Los Angeles. ‘When they see these cars they just light up. They are happy.’
Zooming to surgery: Doctor Daniela Carvalho controls Jonathan Jauregui, 7, remotely at Rady Children’s Hospital
Smiling all the way to surgery: Andrea Destraio, 5, smiles as she enjoys the ride on a black remote control car, co-piloted by Doctor Daniela Carvalho, at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego
Jonathan Jauregui, 7, leaves his room and wheelchair for an awaiting car as Rady Children’s Hospital
Doctor Daniela Carvalho controls Jonathan Jauregui,7, remotely as Rady Children’s Hospital unveil a program that uses remote control cars, donated by the local police officers charity, to take young patients to the operating room