How we improved the waiting room experience.
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Facing the unique challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic at Södersjukhuset's Sachsska children's emergency room, where traditional toys and engagement tools were restricted, Knightec was tasked with transforming the stressful waiting room environment into a calming space for both children and parents.
The Challenge
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sachsska children’s emergency room faced significant challenges as restrictions on traditional toys and physical engagement tools increased stress for both children and parents. This led to a surge in inquiries to staff, diverting their attention from critical patient care.
The Solution
Knightec embarked on an immersive discovery phase to identify specific needs within the waiting room environment through workshops, interviews, and observations. Utilizing these insights, Knightec developed an engaging digital game app with soothing sounds designed to calm young patients. This tool provided valuable distraction and engagement for children, alleviating their anxiety and minimizing disruptions to healthcare staff.
Delivered Value
The digital game app significantly transformed the waiting room experience, enabling healthcare staff to dedicate more time to direct patient care rather than managing the waiting area. This improvement enhanced operational efficiency and elevated the quality of care provided. The app created a more tranquil and understandable waiting experience for visitors, distraught parents, and their children. The soothing elements of the game reduced children’s anxiety levels, helping parents manage the stress associated with emergency room visits.
How We Did It
The success of this project was driven by a human-centered design approach, focusing on understanding the needs of end-users. Knightec’s’ team employed a systematicKnightec’sto approach to gather insights through direct engagement with visitors and staff. The app’s development was iterative, incorporating continuous testing and feedback from actual users in the emergency room. This method ensured that the app effectively addressed children’s and their caregivers’ emotional and informational needs.
Sachsska Children’s Emergency Unit is a critical part of Södersjukhuset, providing qualified emergency care for patients from premature infants to young adults up to 18. Annually, they treat more than 120,000 emergency patients. They utilize a four-part process to determine the treatment order, ensuring efficient and effective care.