Jason Clark Teen Lounge and Game Room

History

In the fall of 1993, Eric Montross was a member UNC basketball team that clinched the 1993 NCAA men's national championship. Already a routine visitor on the pediatric ward of N.C. Memorial Hospital, Montross made a special trip to the hospital at the request of a staff member to meet Jason Clark, a 15-year-old cancer patient and avid Tar Heel fan. Over video games and basketball talk, the pair bonded and became close friends.

When conversation turned to a new children’s hospital at UNC, Montross asked Clark what could be done to make the planned facilities more child friendly. Clark gave it some thought—and then responded with three written pages of suggestions.

Jason lost his cancer battle after a 9-month fight, but his recommendations for the new hospital became his legacy. When N.C. Children's Hospital opened its doors nearly a decade later, the Jason Clark Teen Lounge was dedicated in his memory, the fulfillment of Jason's wish led by Eric and his wife, Laura.

About

The Jason Clark Teen Lounge and Game Room is supervised by Recreational Therapy and Child Life. This seventh floor recreational area was renovated in 2013 to include updated furniture and technology. The room has one section dedicated as a lounge and a separate area for arcade style games.

YouTube video thumbnail Watch this video from our FY2013 annual report highlighting the renovation of the Jason Clark Teen Lounge.

Teen Lounge (for ages 13 and above) Features

  • Full kitchen
  • Flat screen TV
  • Various gaming consoles and video games
  • Computers with Internet
  • DVD player
  • Board games

Game Room (for ages 10 and above) Features

  • Arcade style games, including Carolina Basketball Pop-a-Shot and Bike Racer
  • Pool table
  • Air hockey table
  • Video games

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday
 11 a.m. - Noon
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday
 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

General Rules and Requirements

  • The Teen Lounge and Game Room are subject to age restrictions. The Game Room is for ages 10 up, the Teen Lounge for ages 13 up.

  • Siblings, family and friends of patients are welcome to join patients in the Teen Lounge and Game Room.

  • All visitors under 18 years of age must obtain a blue clearance sticker from the nurse’s station of the patient you are visiting.

  • Patients must have a green Off Unit sticker before leaving the floor.

  • Parents and other adult visitors must have a visitor’s pass obtained from the main lobby reception desk on the ground floor of the hospital.

  • Patients on contact or protective precautions may contact our staff to arrange one-to-one visits to the facility when available.

  • Recreational Therapy and Child Life may only provide resources for in-room play for patients on enteric, airbourne and droplet precautions.

  • Visitors of patients on contact, enteric, airbourne, and droplet precautions CANNOT visit the Teen Lounge and Game Room after being in the patient’s room. Please come before you visit the patient.