Engaging Room Design and Distraction Techniques Comfort Pediatric Radiology Patients, Leading to Less Need for Sedation, Shorter Wait Times, Higher Satisfaction | AHRQ Innovations Exchange

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Engaging Room Design and Distraction Techniques Comfort Pediatric Radiology Patients, Leading to Less Need for Sedation, Shorter Wait Times, Higher Satisfaction | AHRQ Innovations Exchange

Engaging Room Design and Distraction Techniques Comfort Pediatric Radiology Patients, Leading to Less Need for Sedation, Shorter Wait Times, Higher Satisfaction

Summary

To reduce the need to sedate young patients and improve the patient/family care experience, the radiology department at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC introduced the Adventure Series program, which uses child-friendly, engaging, theme-based room designs; multisensory distractions (e.g., music, videos, aromatherapy); and staff who go out of their way to engage with patients and use age-appropriate techniques to distract and calm them. The program has significantly reduced use of sedation, nearly eliminated lengthy waits to schedule computed tomography scans, enhanced throughput, and increased parent and staff satisfaction.