Industrial designers have helped transform the often-frightening process of MRI and CT scans into an adventure for children, according to an article on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The sight of a terrified child about to have an MRI scan gave GE Healthcare industrial designer Doug Dietz a different perspective and led to a project that has turned imaging departments at 27 children's hospitals into small theme parks.
The designs transformed a test into a voyage on a spaceship, a visit to a pirate island and other adventures. The imaging departments became elaborate sets and the techs became amateur actors with scripts.
The series consists of a variety of themes for the different tests. For an MRI, it is a space voyage, with technicians telling children that the spaceship is about to go into hyper-drive when the machine becomes loud. For a PET scan, it is Camp Cozy, because children need to be calm and the test takes about 45 minutes.
GE Healthcare estimates that the Adventure Series costs $50,000 to $100,000 for each "room" with imaging equipment.
Avoiding Mistakes in Healthcare Site Selection
Can Rural Hospitals Be Saved?
Ascension Saint Thomas Breaks Ground on Hospital and Health Campus in Tennessee
The Hidden Risks of QAC Disinfectants in Healthcare Facilities
Sprinkler Compliance: Navigating Code Mandates, Renovation Triggers and Patient Safety