Primary Children's Hospital opens new School Zone to aid patient education

Primary Children's Hospital opens new School Zone to aid patient education

(Stacie Scott/Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Hadlee Jo Kotter spent the first week of first grade in Primary Children's Hospital because of a kidney abscess and infection.

The 7-year-old from Howell, Box Elder County, was taken by medical helicopter to the hospital in August of 2014. Her mother, Ladie Kotter, said that was the start of a week full of worries.

Hadlee's recollection of the hospital isn't all shots and owies, though. When asked how her hospital experience was, she said, "(It was) fun. My tutor was Jodi. She was nice."

Besides receiving treatment, Hadlee also received academic instruction from her hospital room. Because of the hospital's educational program, Kotter said her daughter didn't have to play catch up when she went back to school.

Hadlee also used the tutoring services at the hospital during the second week of her second-grade year after she broke her femur in an ATV accident.

On Friday, Hadlee returned to the hospital, but this time it wasn't because of an ailment or injury. She came to cut the ribbon and announce the opening of Primary Children's School Zone, which is a classroom area designed to give young patients a sense of school while they are away.

School Zone computer programs allow patients to connect directly to representatives from their own schools, so they won't miss concepts their classmates are learning back home, project designer Elaine Pollock said. As part of a collaboration effort, Pollock said some patients will participate in science fair projects in the zone next week, which will be video recorded and sent to their local teachers for credit.


This is a huge change for our students. We have many students every year in the hospital for an extended period of time. They already have to figure out how to adjust into the social scene of school again. (The School Zone) will allow them a smoother transition academically.

–Shelly Savage, Jordan School District


"This is a huge change for our students," said Shelly Savage of the Jordan School District. "We have many students every year in the hospital for an extended period of time. They already have to figure out how to adjust into the social scene of school again. (The School Zone) will allow them a smoother transition academically."

Pollock said parents can obtain consultation and documentation about school absences and reintegrating children into their usual classrooms in the School Zone. She also said the zone allows tutors and students to meet in a space that is more conducive to learning than in a patient's room.

The walls and furniture in the School Zone are brightly colored. Stuffed animals are atop some of the books on the back wall of the room. Audio and eBooks are available.

Tutoring in the zone starts Monday. Pollock anticipates that up to five or six patients will be tutored at a time.


Tori Jorgensen is a Deseret News intern and current communications major at Southern Utah University. Find her on Twitter @TORIAjorgensen Email: vjorgensen@deseretnews.com

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