Children at Northwest Texas Healthcare System Drive Themselves to Surgery

Monday, June 10, 2019
 Children at Northwest Texas Healthcare System Drive Themselves to Surgery

Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS) has a creative way to make operations a little less scary for children, by providing them with miniature remote-control cars. Children between the ages three and 10 years old can now drive themselves to surgery at Northwest Surgical Hospital.

Three remote-control cars were donated by Chauncey’s Automotive. The local dealership provided the hospital with a Mercedes AMG, Mercedes G55 and a McLaren. The cars are safe — each is equipped with safety belts and a horn.  

“We wanted to donate the cars so the kids being transported to the Operating Room (OR) would not be as scared,” stated Lori Hanke, Chauncey’s Automotive owner and RN at Northwest. “As a parent watching your child being taken into the OR screaming and crying, this will hopefully be alleviated since the child will be preoccupied with the vehicle and driving themselves into the OR. We think this is a win for patients, their families and nurses alike.”

Keisha Bailey, Director of Surgical Services at Northwest, stated, “We are hopeful this is something children will look forward to and will divert their attention, taking their minds off the procedure ahead.”

Northwest Surgical Hospital is located at 3501 S. Soncy Rd, Amarillo, TX 79119. For more information about the services provided, please call 806-359-7999.

Learn more about Northwest Surgical Hospital >