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Today in Health IT, we’re discussing how children’s hospitals are getting into the spirit of Halloween. This episode is brought to you by SureTest. Transform your health system’s application testing and reclaim thousands of hours with SureTest. Visit ThisWeekHealth.com/suretest to learn more.

I’m Kate Gamble, Managing Editor at This Week Health, where we host a set of channels and events dedicated to transforming healthcare, one connection at a time. I’ve spent the last 12 years interviewing healthcare leaders, and I’m excited to bring that knowledge into this community. Today, we’re discussing a very Halloween-appropriate topic: how children’s hospitals are bringing the spirit of Halloween to patients.

I am joined by Sarah Richardson, President of This Week Health’s 229 Executive Development Community. Sarah, thanks for being here.

“Happy Halloween, Kate. Thank you.”

Spirit Halloween, a national costume retailer, has been bringing the holiday to kids in hospitals for several years through the Spirit of Children program. It transforms hospitals into festive environments with decorations, costumes, and activities, making Halloween fun for kids undergoing treatment. The program typically focuses on providing a sense of normalcy and joy for children and their families during difficult times.

“Unfortunately, most of us know or have known families who have had lengthy stays at children’s hospitals, and we know it is so emotionally draining. And on top of that, the kids, their siblings, and their families are missing out on holidays. Something like this is just so important to bring some joy to these kids.”

“In your experience, have you been a part of anything like this, where a hospital celebrates a holiday like Halloween?”

“Absolutely. My very first organization that I ever worked at from a hospital perspective, we did all the big holidays. So whether that was Easter, Hanukkah, or the 4th of July, you realize that patients miss out on that experience when they are in the hospital. And unless you are in a space where someone’s at the hospital to celebrate something, it can be a really trying time, and connecting with your patients is more important than ever.”

“Yes, being able to hide Easter eggs for the kids or celebrate Hanukkah with the patients or even just bringing people American flags for the 4th of July—if they’re allowed to have a treat—makes such a big difference. That whole understanding of the patient experience is really important for all CXOs, but the CIO too, because you get a chance to think about if technology is serving the patient effectively while they’re here. What better reason to engage with them than to realize we’re integrating care with community-driven initiatives? You get a different experience from the family and the patient in those types of settings.”

“Yeah, that’s such a good point. I was actually going to touch on how this impacts staff—physicians and nurses—also. For those in oncology units who are dealing with very sick patients, I would think it’s important for them too, to have some kind of lighthearted activity.”

“100%. You think about efforts like this and how they highlight the role of healthcare in serving vulnerable populations. When you foster patient well-being beyond medical treatment and support holistic care experiences, it’s a win across the board. I always take the time to go see patients, and that whole perspective, whether it’s philanthropy or otherwise, brings physical and mental benefits.”

“When you do things for others, especially when they are a vulnerable population, it reduces stress by releasing a hormone like oxytocin, which promotes feelings of well-being. Studies have shown that giving back lowers blood sugar and improves heart health, particularly for those who volunteer regularly. Mentally, providing this type of support fosters a sense of purpose, boosting self-esteem, combating feelings of isolation, and promoting happiness and life satisfaction. For kids in hospitals, activities like dressing up and choosing a costume for Halloween bring a lift to everyone involved.”

“I love the story in this article about the little girl who couldn’t decide between two costumes, so they let her take both. She’ll decide on Halloween which one to wear. At five years old, she doesn’t have much control right now, and this little choice means the world.”

“That’s such a great way to look at it. You mentioned philanthropy, and I’m so proud to be part of an organization like This Week Health that does so much, like raising money through Alex’s Lemonade Stand. When I speak with CXOs, anytime I ask about philanthropy, you see them light up. It brings out so much positivity, which is important when dealing with such serious issues all day long.”

“Agree. And if you’ve been to a Spirit Halloween store, you might think, ‘This place is crazy.’ They pop up in old locations, not very organized, and it gets chaotic right before Halloween. But then you realize they’re putting all this time and energy into helping children’s hospitals celebrate Halloween for patients. What a fantastic endeavor. It’s a way for hospitals to bring joy to families. Halloween is a holiday that centers on children, even though adults have fun too.”

“Bringing costumes, decorations, and activities to hospitalized children boosts morale and fosters a positive atmosphere for those undergoing longer-term treatments. It gives them a chance to feel happy, with people focused on them outside of their illness. These philanthropic efforts create moments of happiness and wellness, lifting everyone involved. When you’re hospitalized, everything is about your illness. Moments like these bring a reprieve and a focus on happiness.”

“Yeah, and as someone who has spent a lot of time and money at Spirit Halloween over the years on my kids’ costumes, I love how they’ve made this a focus, putting so much time and energy into making Halloween happy for all kids. It actually changed my view of them, honestly.”

“There’s always the commercialization aspect—our yard looks like a Halloween ad—but it’s nice to know that beyond that, Spirit Halloween is doing something positive. I’m actually a unicorn this year! I’ll be in a unicorn onesie handing out candy. How about you, Kate?”

“Halloween’s a big holiday in my house. My dog and I are both dressed as pirates, handing out candy. It’s a fun day that lets everyone, including us adults, just be kids.”

“Thank you for bringing this story forward. While we get to hand out candy on the street and dress up—even the dog—there are children in hospitals missing out. Knowing that they might have a better experience than they expected on this holiday is definitely worth sharing.”

“That’s a wrap on this special Halloween edition. We hope you’ll share this podcast with a friend or colleague. Use it as a foundation for daily or weekly discussions on topics relevant to you and the industry. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you for listening, and have a happy Halloween.”