Amber Klein: “Part of our job is to use a flashlight (metaphorically speaking) and crack the door open so they get a little bit of light and see there are no monsters under the bed.”
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
As a child life specialist at Riley Hospital for Children, Amber Klein has comforted and calmed countless children over the past two decades.
In her bag of tricks, she carries Play-Doh, stickers, stress balls, Wikki Stix, fidget toys and an iPad, for starters. But it’s in her gentleness, her humor and her advocacy that kids often find their courage.
“Children are afraid of the dark because they don’t know what’s out there,” she said. “It’s the same with healthcare. They don’t know what to expect, so some are terrified. Part of our job is to use a flashlight and crack the door open so they can get a little bit of light and see there are no monsters under the bed.”
Klein and her colleagues are there to prepare patients for the unknown, to answer their questions, to shift their focus when needed and to give them a small sense of control when possible.
Klein, who began her career with Riley 20 years ago this month after graduating from Indiana University and completing an internship and fellowship at the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital, has worked in radiology and MRI for the past 10 years. Before that, she worked on the eighth floor, primarily with cystic fibrosis patients.
In that time, she has seen the role of child life specialist become a more integrated part of a patient’s care team as physicians and nurses grow in their appreciation for the specialized skill set.
“There is a lot more respect and understanding of what we do,” Klein said, adding that partnering with clinicians and parents leads to a better experience for patients.
As a parent herself (she and her husband, Jeff, have two children), she understands that it is parents who know their kids best, so she likes to get a sense from them about how best to support their children.
“We are with them (in the outpatient center) a short time, so getting to know them – are they strong-willed, laid-back, anxious, what are their interests – helps us prepare them,” Klein said.
“It’s really fulfilling to see them be successful – they faced something they were scared of, and then after the fact be so proud that they were able to do it.”
Indeed, many of the procedures done in the outpatient radiology and MRI areas can be scary and overwhelming for patients and families, said Jenna Yarnell, manager of the child life team at Riley. Klein is not only a “fierce advocate” for them, she exudes a calm, reassuring presence during procedures, Yarnell said.
“Amber is a true gem. She collaborates beautifully with the teams in those areas to set the patients and families up for success during their procedures.”
And her 20 years of experience and knowledge make her an expert in the child life space, Yarnell added.
“She is such an amazing asset to our team, often helping other team members debrief during difficult cases and supporting them as they experience the ups and downs of being a child life specialist.”
For Klein, it is a privilege. She recalls a patient who was going in for a procedure and his mom was not able to be there. He was understandably anxious and as Klein explained that she would be with him throughout the procedure, he said to her, “So you’re going to be my hospital mommy?”
She practically melted on the spot, telling him, “I’ll be right here with you holding your hand, even while you’re asleep, and I’ll be here when you wake up.”
And she was.
Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org