MANSFIELD — General surgery nurses Zoe Kalb and Josie Smith noticed pediatric patients would be nervous and sometimes teary leaving their parents to enter surgery at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
“We wanted a way to calm those nerves and comfort them,” Kalb said. “I had mentioned wagons, and I think it was Josie’s idea to get mini cars, which are so much fun.
“It’s also a great safety tool too, because some of those kiddos are bigger and we can’t safely carry them back to the surgery room. These cars have buckles and straps and are super safe, and the kids get really excited when we bring them out.”
OhioHealth Mansfield bought two mini cars to help calm the patients’ nerves. Kalb said the hospital started using them in the spring of 2024. One is a push car for toddlers, and the other is a ride-on car for older kids.
“They both have horns the kids can honk, so they love that,” Kalb said. “They wave to people when we’re going down the hall and smile at everyone.”
‘The mini Jeep definitely brought smiles to all of our faces’
Jace Painley, age 8, rode in a mini Jeep in June before a tonsil and adenoid surgery by Dr. Mykola Prykhodko.
His parents Andrea and Jason Painley said they appreciated the personal touch of the car ride.
“I think he was a bit nervous ahead of the surgery — any child would be,” Jason said. “Even though it’s a routine procedure, there’s always a little bit of anxiety as parents, too.
“The arrival of the mini Jeep definitely brought smiles to all of our faces. I happen to drive a black Jeep, so I think Jace was especially excited because it looked like his dad’s car.”
OhioHealth’s ride-on car also includes a rubber duck on the Jeep. Hospital staff have a remote to direct the car, but Jace’s mom said she didn’t think he noticed.
“I think he really thought that he was driving the car,” Andrea said. “He was really excited.
“We were really grateful to have everything be seamless and everyone at the hospital was wonderful working with our kids, and us as parents, too.”
Jason said he thinks the car ride “washed away” any anxiety their son had before the procedure.
“We knew he was in great hands for the surgery, and the mini Jeep took an already excellent experience and made it better for everyone,” he said. “We’ll always remember his sweet smile when he was driving that day.”
‘Our small way of giving back to our small patients’
Nurse Josie Smith said OhioHealth Mansfield has pediatric surgeries on certain days of the week.
“On those days, you’ll see cars in the hallways frequently,” she said. “Seeing the parents reactions’ too is fun, they usually want a picture and will send it to the other parent if they’re not able to both be there.
“I think seeing a photo of your kid smiling before surgery probably gives them peace of mind.”
Smith said the hospital’s surgeons also have fun with the cars.
“We’ll make a fun game out of it trying to catch up to the surgeon,” she said. “Just seeing how happy the kids are and how at-ease their parents became is awesome.”
Kalb remembered a toddler putting his stuffed animal in the push car before he sat down.
“While the doctor was talking to his parents, he was pushing his toy in the car — it was really cute,” the nurse said.
“When we bring the cars out, they’re usually ready to go. I had a kid jump in there before the doctor was even in the room to say hi to mom and dad.
“This is just another reason I’m proud to work here — being able to innovate safe ways to take care of these kids. It’s just our small way of giving back to our small patients.”
