Wir überwinden Grenzen

From May 3 to 8, the 19th Teddy Bear Hospital of Freiburg medical students will take place in the park of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg in cooperation with trainees of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg

Playfully demonstrating how exciting a visit to hospital can be and that children need not be afraid of it - Freiburg medical students are once again taking on this task. In cooperation with trainees from the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, the Offene Fachschaft Medizin Freiburg e.V. is organizing the 19th Freiburg Teddy Bear Hospital. This year it will take place from Friday, May 3, 2024 to Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in the park of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. The cuddly patients will be treated every day from 9 am to 4 pm. Children aged three to six can have their sick or injured cuddly toys examined in the Teddy Bear Hospital by specially trained students, the so-called "Teddy Docs". In this way, the children can experience a visit to the physicians without being the patients themselves. "It's really great that the students and trainees show such great commitment. Of course, they also benefit a little by being able to practice contact with young patients," says Prof. Dr. Lutz Hein, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

Daycare and kindergarten groups (of five or more children) are welcome to visit the Teddy Bear Hospital during the week. Prior registration is required. Families can visit the Teddy Bear Hospital at any time. Registration is recommended and reduces the waiting time, but is not mandatory. About two hours should be planned for a visit to the Teddy Bear Hospital.

From the Teddy school to the dentist

During their visit to the Teddy Bear Hospital, the young visitors go through various stations that are modeled on a real visit to the hospital. After registering, the children take a seat in the teddy school and are given an explanation of the human body before being picked up by the teddy docs to have their cuddly toy examined. After the initial treatment, the sick stuffed animals are either taken for further examinations, such as X-rays, or, in the case of serious injuries, even to the teddy surgery. After treatment, the children can redeem the prescription for their stuffed animal in the teddy bear hospital pharmacy. Finally, the dentist's tent takes care of the health of the teddy teeth. On Friday and Tuesday, a short activity program designed by physiotherapy trainees awaits the children after the visit.

The patron of the Teddy Bear Hospital is Prof. Dr. Brigitte Stiller, Medical Director of the Department of Congenital Heart Defects and Pediatric Cardiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. The Teddy Bear Hospital is supported by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and by donations.

Further information and registration can be found here: www.tbk.ofamed.de/aktuelles

Caption: What's wrong with the teddy bear? An examination at the Teddy Bear Hospital provides the answer.
Image source: Fabio Smitka