HAMILTON – Kids’ Health Links Foundation, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Telus today announced the launch of Upopolis.com, the first secure online social network for kids in hospital care.
(Ed note: After seeing it first-hand earlier today, this is one excellent idea.)
Powered by Telus, Upopolis.com provides the best features of social networking for young patients who often feel isolated when they’re in the hospital. It will provide a personal profile, secure mail, instant chat, discussion boards, personal blogs and links to child-friendly games. The site also provides unique features to kids in hospital like a homework site to stay up-to-date with their schoolwork, links to kid-friendly health and wellness information (rather than doctor- or adult-speak), and connections to other children with the same condition.
The online support network was inspired by the hospital experiences of two teenaged friends, Christina Papaevangelou and Katy McDonald. In February 2002, Christina was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at McMaster Children’s Hospital with toxic shock syndrome. Shortly after, McDonald was diagnosed with cancer and had to be hospitalized for a long period of time. Both felt disconnected from friends, family and keeping up with schoolwork. Sadly, McDonald lost her battle with cancer. However, their friendship and common experiences inspired Christina to explore ways to help kids in care stay connected.
"Christina and I established Kids’ Health Links Foundation to make a difference in the lives of hospitalized children," said Christina’s father, Basile Papaevangelou, who is the chairman and founder of KHLF and who spoke emotionally today at the Hamilton hospital launch of the site. "With our partners, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Telus, we are taking the first step in what we committed to accomplish: the launch of Upopolis, a Canada-wide program that enhances the lives of hospitalized children."
The next phase is to get the technology (laptops and the required wires and other gear to make the networks work in hospitals) up and running across 13 children’s hospitals across Canada.
McMaster Children’s Hospital is the first hospital in Canada to launch the service.
"Upopolis is an exceptional program for children in hospital," said Dr. Peter Steer, president, McMaster Children’s Hospital. "Hospital stays can be the most challenging time of a child’s life and so it is important that we make every effort to help alleviate stress for these children and their families and keep them connected to loved ones and friends. Kids’ Health Links Foundation and our partners on the Upopolis initiative are paving the way with innovative technology in caring for the whole child."
Through a unique partnership with Kids’ Health Links Foundation, Telus is providing a gift of technology services to develop Upopolis. Telus helped build the site and, over the course of the partnership, it will continue to provide site expansion, ongoing access to Upopolis.com, managed Web hosting, and application support and maintenance services.
Telus’ president, Business Solutions Joe Natale told the gathering this morning that he found the Papaevangelous idea so compelling when he was first pitched, “he barely got it out of his mouth before I said let’s do it,” he recalled. “One of the biggest stressers for kids in hospital is feeling disconnected from the outside world.
"We are proud to be part of the Upopolis partnership and championing the power of technology to improve the health care experience for children."
www.telus.com
www.mcmasterchildrenshospital.ca
www.upopolis.com
