Only On 7News: Mobile fish tank at Inova bringing comfort to pediatric patients
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — We've heard of therapy dogs, but what about therapy fish? Inova Children's Hospital is using a new way to help the physical and mental well-being of the smallest of patients.
The Fairfax hospital is the first medical facility on the east coast to get a fish tank on wheels. The portable saltwater aquarium goes where the kids are.
While the fish aren't snuggly like a pup, the tank is an option for kids who have allergies, are afraid of animals, or for children with illnesses where they cannot leave their hospital rooms.
Patients can also request "fishy sleepovers" where the tank can be left with the child overnight so they can have some comfort in an often-unfamiliar hospital room.
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While the tank can go directly to patients, it's also used as a motivator. Little Cora Morgan recently had open heart surgery and nurses want to get her moving.
"She's two years old. It’s really scary to get out of bed when you have all of this equipment attached to you and you’re in this scary environment. So, having something like the fish tank as a motivator for her to get up and move, has been really helpful," said Nicole Johnson, Cardiac Child Life Specialist at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
"It kind of got her mind off on something else and relaxed her and kind of distracted from everything that’s been going on in the past week," said Cora's father, Jeremy Morgan.
The new therapy isn't an additional task for hospital staff; the tank is equipped with an auto-feeder.
The Chicago-based company "Something Fishy" designed with they call a "medical-grade mobile aquarium" that can travel throughout hospitals. The tank is leased and costs around $6,000 a year.
