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Digital Compassion in Cancer Care.

Forest Friends at OSU Wexner Medical Center

Forest Friends is a magical woodland experience designed to bring delight and "positive distraction" to pediatric cancer patients.

From 2014–2015, we collaborated with the Ohio State University’s new Wexner Medical Center James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (the “James”), to create a playful experience for patients that helps the doctors and nurses concentrate on the serious work of curing cancer.

The James is a top academic medical center that prides itself on using innovation to drive their research, education, and clinical care. Forest Friends is based on research which shows that when patients experience “positive distraction” during their course of treatment, for example, by being able to view natural environments from their bedside, they can distract themselves from the discomfort from their care. This distraction enables parents to be less stressed, which enables staff to perform their jobs more effectively, ultimately resulting in improved patient outcomes.

Overview

Multi-location installation across pediatric cancer ward

Personalized animal companions accompany patients through cancer treatment

Touch & Wearable-based interactions

Utilizes positive patient distraction to improve patient outcomes

Press

  • "Playful Environments"

    "Forest Friends has become integral to the activities of the Wexner Medical Center."

    Interiors & Sources

We asked ourselves: How can we generate an interior design intervention that could help patients aged three to 18 endure a treatment that would help save their lives?


We asked ourselves: How can we generate an interior design intervention that could help patients aged three to 18 endure a treatment that would help save their lives?


Credits

  • Potion
    Concept & Design Development
    Graphic & Interactive Design
    Software Development
  • SoundComm and U-Touch
    AV Consultation
    Hardware Integration
    Hardware Development
  • HOK
    Architectural Design
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital
    Branding and Consultation
  • Ralph Appelbaum Associates
    Graphic and Brand Production
  • Wachtenheim and Marianetti
    Animation
  • Jay Rothman
    Sound Design
  • Ben Weisgall
    Bell Fabrication

The digital woodland welcomes patients and their families in the Waiting Room. Thereafter, patients trigger their animal companion (frog, duck, bunny) by scanning their hospital bracelet

To address this challenge, we created Forest Friends, a magical environment of interactive interventions that support a patient during three stressful waypoints on their journey: the Pediatric Waiting Room, the Exam Room, and the Anesthesia Induction Room.

To create Forest Friends, we transferred our years of experience with museum and institutional environments into a new setting — healthcare —  where the effects of an interactive experience not only create delight for our most vulnerable users, but may have transformative effects on what matters most: their health.

The patient's animal accompanies them through all stages of treatment and, when cued, demos behaviors like sleep during anesthetic administration or departure at the end of a visit or wait.

The digital woodland welcomes patients and their families in the Waiting Room. Thereafter, patients trigger their animal companion (frog, duck, bunny) by scanning their hospital bracelet

To address this challenge, we created Forest Friends, a magical environment of interactive interventions that support a patient during three stressful waypoints on their journey: the Pediatric Waiting Room, the Exam Room, and the Anesthesia Induction Room.

To create Forest Friends, we transferred our years of experience with museum and institutional environments into a new setting — healthcare —  where the effects of an interactive experience not only create delight for our most vulnerable users, but may have transformative effects on what matters most: their health.

The patient's animal accompanies them through all stages of treatment and, when cued, demos behaviors like sleep during anesthetic administration or departure at the end of a visit or wait.

Awards

  • 2015

    Winner, Communication Arts Interactive Annual Awards

Press

  • "Playful Environments"

    "Forest Friends has become integral to the activities of the Wexner Medical Center."

    Interiors & Sources

Credits

  • Potion
    Concept & Design Development
    Graphic & Interactive Design
    Software Development
  • SoundComm and U-Touch
    AV Consultation
    Hardware Integration
    Hardware Development
  • HOK
    Architectural Design
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital
    Branding and Consultation
  • Ralph Appelbaum Associates
    Graphic and Brand Production
  • Wachtenheim and Marianetti
    Animation
  • Jay Rothman
    Sound Design
  • Ben Weisgall
    Bell Fabrication