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Child Life Specialist

    Highlights

    The Child Life Specialist is responsible for supporting pediatric patients and families in the health care setting by planning, developing and providing developmentally appropriate and therapeutic interventions to optimize growth and development; reduce the pain, fear, and anxiety associated with illness/injury; and promote positive coping with the stress of hospitalization. Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

    Numbers & Facts

    LocationBethlehem, PA
    IndustryHealthcare Services
    Company Size5,000 to 9,999 employees

    Description

    St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

    The Child Life Specialist is responsible for supporting pediatric patients and families in the health care setting by planning, developing and providing developmentally appropriate and therapeutic interventions to optimize growth and development; reduce the pain, fear, and anxiety associated with illness/injury; and promote positive coping with the stress of hospitalization.

    JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Conduct developmental assessments and individualize care plans based on the patient's physical, developmental, and emotional needs

    • Participate as a clinical member of the patient care team by providing developmentally appropriate education, psychological procedural preparation, coping support, comfort management, and play opportunities to pediatric patients and families

    • Develop, implement, and evaluate effective pediatric patient and family centered health care plans, including as needed for behavioral support/modification, medication/treatment compliance, and bereavement support

    • Communicate care plans to interdisciplinary care teams and family members

    • Provide education to and serve as a resource for Network care teams on developmental care, coping mechanisms, distraction, parental engagement, therapeutic play techniques, etc. in an effort to improve the pediatric care experience

    • Assist with supervision of students and volunteers in their daily activities with patients

    • Assist with community outreach and fundraising activities related to the further development of Child Life services

    PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

    Sit up to 2 hours per day; 1 hour at a time. Stand for up to 10 hours time; 3 hours at a time. Walk 6 hours per day; 10 minutes at a time. Consistently lift and carry objects up to 10 lbs. Frequently push objects up to 10 lbs. Occasionally lift and carry objects up to 50 lbs. Frequently stoop and bend. Occasionally squat. Frequently reach above shoulder level objects. object through touch. Frequently finger and handle objects. Occasionally firmly grasp, twist and turn and turns objects with hands and fingers. Must be able to hear as it relates to normal conversation. Must be able to see as it relates to general, near, far, color, and visual monotony.

    EDUCATION:

    Bachelor's degree or equivalent in child life, psychology, child development, education, or related field required. Completion of Child life internship under supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist required. Must be eligible to receive Child Life certification from the Association of Child Life Professionals. CCLS Certification required within one year of hire.

    TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

    Prior experience in a hospital-based Child Life program preferred.

    Please complete your application using your full legal name and current home address. Be sure to include employment history for the past seven (7) years, including your present employer. Additionally, you are encouraged to upload a current resume, including all work history, education, and/or certifications and licenses, if applicable. It is highly recommended that you create a profile at the conclusion of submitting your first application. Thank you for your interest in St. Luke's!!

    St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

    About Company

    St. Luke's University Health Network is a regional network of hospitals, physicians and other related organizations providing care primarily in Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Schuylkill, Bucks, Montgomery and Berks counties in Pennsylvania and Warren County in New Jersey.

    The Network provides services at more than 150 sites. St. Luke's University Health Network is comprised of six hospital sites. The Network includes:

    • More than 80 owned physician-practice sites
    • 300 employed primary care/specialist physicians
    • Various outpatient testing and service facilities
    • Home health
    • Hospice services (inpatient and outpatient)
    • Largest ambulance provider in Bucks County and second largest in Lehigh County
    • Other related organizations
    • 57,500+ annual admissions
    • 195,000 annual emergency room visits
    • 1,325 physicians on the Medical Staff (96 percent board-certified)
    • 8,600+ employees
    • More than 1,350 volunteers

    Areas of exceptional medical expertise include:

    • Level 1 Adult Trauma Center: fully accredited by Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation; 2,400+ annual trauma cases; St. Luke's 1.75 percent mortality rate represents top decile performance, significantly better than peer group as measured by National Trauma Data Bank of the American College of Surgeons; aeromedical transport services
    • Oncology: first and only cancer program in Pennsylvania to receive American College of Surgeons' highest quality recognition for three consecutive years; only Pennsylvania program to receive award in 2010; region's only fellowship-trained surgical oncologists; advanced programs for melanoma (internationally recognized melanoma investigator), lung, breast, prostate, gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancers and tumors of the brain and spine
    • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery: multiple-year recipient of highest rating for cardiac bypass surgery, represents top decile performance achieved by only 10 percent of U.S. hospitals (Society for Thoracic Surgery); region's first Joint Commission certified Heart Failure Program; comprehensive surgical services excluding heart transplants
    • Neuroscience: accredited Stroke Center; additional Centers of Excellence include: Balance Center, Headache Center, Memory Disorders Center, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sleep Disorders Center
    • Orthopaedics: advanced expertise in total joint replacement and reconstruction, computer-assisted minimally invasive surgery, primary and reconstructive surgery of the spine, sports injuries, diseases and conditions of the hand and elbow, traumatic injuries
    • Women's/Children's Health: high-risk pregnancy; the region’s busiest obstetrical service; two neonatal intensive care units; pediatric specialty care provided by St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.
    • Robotic/Minimally Invasive Surgery: one of the nation's most experienced robotic surgical teams
    • Radiology: designated international General Electric Healthcare Show Site for imaging technology; designated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by American College of Radiology
    • Bariatric Surgery: designated Center of Excellence by American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Surgical Review Corporation

    St. Luke's offers an exceptional benefit plan for employees. Our values are reflected in all we do for patients, each other and the community:

    Pride - We take pride in our accomplishments and in our organization.

    Caring - We show consideration for others and their feelings. We treat others as we want to be treated.

    Respect - We recognize the value, diversity and importance of each other, those we serve and the organization.

    Accountability - We are responsible to make decisions and solve problems in a timely and effective manner.

    Flexibility - We adapt to the changing needs and expectations of those we serve.

    Teamwork - We work together to improve quality.

    The mission of St. Luke's University Health Network is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

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