9 year old Tom visits the hospital for a check-up. He is tired but his intrigue is perked when prompted by the receptionist to download the hospital app on his tablet, by scanning the giant QR code on the wall. The app lets Tom choose where to wait for his appointment; he can choose from the areas marked: Play., Pet., Discover., Create. or Eat. (the choice of a waiting room allows patients to take control of their situation, ensuring that their needs are recognised). Tom selects Play. The app displays a map of the hospital, a purple line directing him to the 'Play.' area. He intuitively knows to follow the purple line on the floor of the corridor (there are no confusing signs). Meanwhile a nurse is alerted to Tom's chosen waiting location so she knows where to find him to take him to the doctor. Whilst waiting for his appointment, Tom clambers up climbing frames, plays board games on large interactive tables with his mum & dad, and videogames with other children. By the time the nurse arrives, Tom is exhilerated and no longer nervous about his check-up.
Unlike Tom, Harry has arrived at the hospital knowing that he is here to stay. Harry is more reserved and about 10 years older than Tom. He is not interested in games, so chooses to wait in 'Discover.' influenced by his inquisitive nature. The app directs him along the blue line on the floor. Harry is anxious but is comforted by the many water features such as fish tanks and small fountains along the way. In the 'Discover.' area, Harry finds computers and a library where he can relax and in the future, do his homework. The tranquility suits him better than the buzz that is the 'Play.' zone. He plugs in his headphones and tunes into the hospital's radio station via the app, featuring news, specific to the hospital and current affairs, chats with celebrities, educational talks by visiting academics, current music and that recorded by patients in the hospital's own studio. All shows are hosted by patients too. Harry is shown to his private room equipped with a TV, his own bathroom, where he can shower and brush his teeth and a table where he can eat with his parents when they visit, along with some communal cooking facilities just outside his door. Harry is surprised and delighted by the familiarity of his new home. Private rooms are designed for everyday life, helping patients like Harry settle in immediately.
7 year old Henry is gifted with an artistic mind-set. He is therefore entranced by the flamboyant array of artwork which decorates the walls and the giant origami suspended from the ceiling. The bright colour scheme and modern architecture are not what he expected of a hospital. Instead it reminds him of school: a place in which he feels safe and accustomed to. There are no white lab coats and nurses with faces obscured by face masks; contrarily, staff wear vibrant lab coats and always acknowledge their guests. Unsurprisingly, Henry leaps at the opportunity to wait in the Create. centre, where he takes part in a workshop run by a professional cartoonist visiting for the day. Here he learns new drawing skills and meets some of the other patients of a similar age. His enjoyment means he can forget about his illness and is distracted from any delays for his appointment.
Anna is soon to become a mother and therefore needs to be assured that she has access to the best care available. Having been allocated a parking space prior to her arrival at the hospital, Anna feels some consolation in knowing that her husband will be able to join her for her first appointment; he will not be forced to abandon her to find a parking space. Their slot is easy to find in the colour-coded parking bays; the app will guide them to their parking space should they forget later. Whilst waiting in the café in the Eat. area, Anna is further reassured as the app prompts her to view the profiles of the staff who will be helping her through child birth. Trivial facts help to make the experience more personal, particularly great to help children sympathise with their carers, whilst staffs' accolades act to reassure Anna of their incredible abilities as medics. All of these attributes encourage Anna to willingly put her trust in the hands of her carers.
12 year old Jack is delighted to discover that his furry friend from home can be looked after and remain with him during his month-long stay at the hospital, in the Pet. zone. This is a real comfort for Jack, now waiting contently with his dog, for his first appointment. Here he can watch one of the many TVs in public areas broadcasting the hospital's own channel, featuring much of that on the hospital radio station, presented by patients at the hospital. His mother knows that there will be no delays as she summarised Jack's symptoms in a message to the doctor on the app before arriving; this makes for shorter appointments, hence shorter waiting times.
The radio, TV and music recording facilities that is the multimedia centre in Create. can be implemented with the help of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. They can also help to arrange visits by celebrities or people to educate in the Discover., Create. and Play. departments, such as the cartoonist in the story.
