A Hospital or Caring Clown’s mission has always been to do nothing more than to cheer patients through a gentle presence as a means of taking the patient’s mind off their current health condition or painful situation.

Patients are always our primary focus during visitations.

The rule of the day in Rounds is simple is always best. If the patient is under heavy medication, he or she will not really be able to fully participate or grasp the concept of a long or intricate presentation. If a patient is able and seems a likely candidate, we perform nose transplants on the spot, with their visitors participating in the procedure. We often perform along with the visitors, drawing everyone into the act.

Sizing up the audience, including the patient’s condition and alertness, is the second rule of the day on Rounds. Analyzing the environment in the room also plays an important part in determining our performance – are there visitors? What is the mood in the room? Sometimes, our gentle presence is enough, with a smile and wave, to brighten a patient’s day. Sometimes that is all the energy they may have to take in what we can offer.

We entertain the staff at the nurse’s station and in the hallways, as schedule allows. The staff enjoys their joy-filled interlude and comedic stress-relieving moments with us.

Visitors are often treated to entertainment in the patient’s rooms, but sometimes we catch them by surprise in the hallways, waiting rooms, elevators and lobby.