LARNED — While the Family Medicine Clinic at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) provides high-quality treatment for children’s physical health, the staff goes a step further for the little ones, said Jewel Davis, clinic manager.

Since the clinic cares for the whole child, it participates in the Turn a Page – Touch a Mind (TAP-TAM) literacy program. This entails offering a free book at every Well Child appointment for newborns to age 5.

“Early-childhood literacy improves children’s lives by helping them prepare for school and then excel when classes begin,” Davis said. “This is another example of how PVCH Family Medicine identifies patients’ needs and strives to improve lives.”

TAP-TAM’s mission is “to make literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care so that children grow up with books and a love of reading.”

The feedback from parents indicates the program is meeting that goal, Davis commented.

“This has inspired some parents to go to the library to find more books to read to their babies and toddlers,” Davis explained. “Some have indicated they love story time as much as their children do. They also say that reading has really helped with their child’s comprehension.”

Davis noted she is not surprised by this feedback because of personal experiences with her own children.

“The time I spent reading to my kids helped build their literacy and expand their imaginations,” she recalled. “Reading also helped create healthy habits that have lasted into adulthood.

“Reading sessions created a time we all looked forward to every day, while strengthening our relationships as a family.”

Davis pointed to a study called Million-Word Gap, which illustrates the importance of reading.

When parents read one picture book a day to children during the five years before kindergarten, “it is estimated they hear approximately 1.4 million more words than children who are never read to,” Davis reported.

Last year, PVCH Family Medicine gave approximately 130 books to families. Davis expects that number to rise this year because of an increase in Well Child visits with the addition of new healthcare providers to the staff.

This staff includes Dr. Arlo Reimer; and Susan Aistrup, Kathryn Buchanan and Marley Palmer, all nurse practitioners. “Each of these providers demonstrates a real passion for pediatrics. They love the kiddos and want to help them nurture their bodies and minds,” Davis commented.

As the local TAP-TAM coordinator, Davis conducts inventories, compiles reports and places orders; TAP-TAM pays for the books. She and the medical director, Dr. Reimer, also participate in an annual training to stay current with the program.

The Kansas Pediatric Foundation supports TAP-TAM, which involves about 125 reading sites throughout the state, according to the website of the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; wound care; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. PVCH Family Medicine provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.