One-year anniversary of redesigned White Plains Hospital

By Caroline Lewittes

Sections of the new mural
that graces the Berk Family
Pediatic Waiting room in
White Plains Hospital.

White Plains Hospital is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its redesigned and enhanced Emergency Department with  a  new series of murals in the Berk Family Pediatric Waiting Room. The murals were commissioned by the hospital to create an inviting, relaxing, and intriguing environment for young patients and their caregivers.

Painted by Kristin Linder of khlstudio in Briarcliff Manor,  the playful scenes depicted on the mural panels provide a colorful distraction for young, sick or injured patients who are waiting to be treated in the pediatric wing of the emergency room. In addition to redirecting children’s attention, the murals offer educational opportunities for children to find hidden images, geometric shapes and various colors. A waiting family can even create its own “story” around the mural scenes.

“There is much research about art’s effects on patients undergoing medical care,” said Linder. “The opportunity to work with White Plains Hospital on this mural that will reduce anxiety and comfort so many children has been a gift for me and my studio.”

“We thank Kristin for donating her time and talent to enhancing White Plains Hospital’s pediatric waiting room,” said Jon B. Schandler, President and CEO, White Plains Hospital. “Our young patients will surely be kept occupied by the playful scenes depicted in the murals, thereby detracting their attention from their sickness or injury.”

The Berk Waiting Room at the Kylie and Louis R. Cappelli Pediatric Emergency Center is just one part of the enhanced Emergency Department opened last year that hospital officials dubbed, “the ER of the Future.” The 26,390-square-foot, two-level facility is double the size of the former Emergency Department and offers private patient rooms and bedside registration. 

Last year, the ED saw nearly 51,000 patient visits, up from 48,000 in 2009.

In October 2010, the hospital received recognition from the Studer Group for exceptional patient satisfaction scores. Ensuring patients’ comfort was one of the goals during the three years that went into planning and developing the Emergency Department.