Children are incredibly perceptive to their surroundings, and that includes hospitals, treatment centers, and testing rooms. While there is no way around the fact that no one wants their child to endure MRIs and CT scans, sometimes they are necessary. CT scans and MRIs can be an intimidating process for children, but creating a fully immersive and experiential space can help alleviate some of that fear.

Creating Scenic Spaces

Hospitals and designers can create environments to make younger patients feel more comfortable when having to go through these daunting procedures. Vinyl coverings can be used to wrap equipment, walls, and millwork, creating an interactive and vibrant space that ideally distracts young patients from the fear of the equipment. The covering is durable and can be cleaned using specific cleaning products. An additional shield or film may be used as a secondary clear covering applied to specific areas that are susceptible to wear and tear.

The photo above shows an MRI renovation that we completed for a children’s hospital in Texas where an old MRI machine was being replaced with a new Siemens Vida 3T MRI. The walls, millwork, and MRI were wrapped in an underwater bliss theme to allow the room to feel less intimidating for a child. We worked with a third-party vendor to produce these custom wraps as part of the design process.

CT scans and MRIs can be an intimidating process for children, but creating a fully immersive and experiential space can help alleviate some of that fear.” Aimee Ramos

Transforming Healthcare for Children and Their Families

GE Industrial Designer Doug Dietz was featured in a Ted Talk nearly a decade ago for his ideas around this very topic. During his presentation, “ Transforming Healthcare for Children and their Families,” he describes observing the terrified faces of the children who were clinging to their parents’ legs and the parents’ concerned looks before their child had to go through a procedure. Taking matters into his own hands, Doug worked with his design team to turn imaging departments into small theme parks. For example, designers could turn a medical test into a voyage on a spaceship or a visit to a pirate island.  As designers, we strive to improve people’s experiences. Creating themed spaces allows us to develop imaginative worlds in an attempt to ease an otherwise stressful situation for children and parents.