Healing Environment
BALTIMORE-Adding to a plethora of activities in Baltimore, the ADVANCE staff attended a reception celebrating Kennedy Krieger Institute's newly opened outpatient center. The state-of-the-art facility was designed to improve and expand the services offered to children and young adults with developmental disabilities and spinal cord injuries.
The six-story, 115,000 square-foot building features the latest technology and is surrounded by extensive healing and therapeutic gardens. The healing garden serves two purposes, according to Laura Jaweed, PT, MS, DPT, director of physical therapy at Kennedy Krieger.
First, the garden is an area where patients, families and employees may retreat to decompress. "The garden helps families handle the stress of illness and disability," Dr. Jaweed shared with ADVANCE.
Second, the garden serves a therapeutic purpose with its many terrains and surfaces for patient navigation. The beautifully constructed area includes a labyrinth, touchable fountains and three "therapy rooms," where therapists can help patients practice real-world challenges such as maneuvering a tight ramp in a wheelchair.
The aquatic center-located on the top floor-features two pools equipped with underwater treadmills, video systems, sensory temperature controls and hydraulic lifts that raise and lower the floors for easy patient access.
The new Kennedy Krieger Institute-founded in 1937-has been in the works for nearly 15 years. The therapists and other staff were instrumental in identifying the need for standout features such as gait assessment and pressure mapping labs, sensory gyms, patient observation spaces equipped with video and audio and a floor dedicated to spinal cord injury patients.
Each floor offers dramatic views of downtown Baltimore and an opportunity to observe the therapy garden. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the new space is also practical and kind to the environment. Green elements were incorporated into the building's design to increase efficiency and reduce energy usage.
ADVANCE will be posting photo and video coverage of the tour as well as an exclusive interview with Dr. Jaweed on our Website soon so be sure to check back and let us know what you think!