Kids Aren’t Just Little Adults: Core Elements for the Pediatric Smart Room

Written by: Heather Wood, CPXP, VP Clinical Innovation & Training

Imagine your 8-year-old self. You’ve been sick for days. One morning, your fever spikes and your parents rush you to the doctor’s office. The doctor says, “Go immediately to the hospital. They will be waiting for you at the door.” You don’t understand that your appendix has ruptured. All you know is there’s a lot of commotion and you’re terrified of needles.

Children’s bodies and minds need care environments designed specifically for them – they aren’t just little adults. The anxiety that comes with a hospital visit can be even higher when young ones can’t quite process what’s happening around them. Modern smart room technology, along with intentional design and planning, can create a more engaging and supportive environment for our youngest patients.

Research shows that giving children choices reduces stress. Design touches such as nature themes, the ability to dim the lights or choose a favorite cartoon, listen and watch relaxing images or giggle with puppies and kitten videos, and options to connect with others, support the healing process.

The Pediatric Patient Experience

Hospitals and health systems approaching pediatric patient experience must address three key components when designing for children:

  • physiological differences that require specialized clinical interfaces,
  • emotional and psychological needs stemming from children's limited understanding of the overwhelming hospital environment, and
  • family-centered care that recognizes pediatric patients arrive with parents, guardians, and family members who need access to real-time information to support their child while managing their own stress and concerns.

Leveraging innovative design and modern smart room technology, “hospitals are creating immersive environments to engage children in new ways during inpatient and outpatient visits,” according to the Children’s Hospital Association.

The success of pediatric smart rooms comes down to one principle: meet patients where they are, regardless of age, developmental stage, or family circumstances. Pediatric-focused design represents a commitment to the idea that the youngest and most vulnerable patients deserve technology designed with whole-person care in mind.

Core Elements of Pediatric Smart Rooms‍

‍Visual Design‍

Hospitals often design their pediatric units with specific themes, like castles, woodlands, and ocean scenes. Using animated elements, iconography, navigation options, and age-appropriate imagery, smart room technology can carry these themes throughout the digital experience, helping children feel oriented and secure in their environment. ‍

Content for Developing Minds‍

Studies show that animated content is more easily remembered and understood, making it particularly effective for children who may be learning about their condition for the first time. eVideon, a TigerConnect® Company, collaborates with education partners to develop smart room pediatric content, with heavy emphasis on visual learning through animation and iconography, interactive games and activities, and relaxation and distraction therapy.‍

Flexible Settings, No Custom Code‍

Pediatric smart room technology should be configurable for individual patients without requiring custom development. Working with hospital staff during implementation is critical to configuring the system to specific departmental or unit workflows. For example, settings within the technology can easily be configured to block meal ordering for patients who cannot ingest food by mouth or remove TV channels or content based on trauma-informed care principles.‍

Design for All Ages and Capabilities‍

Pediatric units serve patients from infancy through young adulthood, sometimes including patients in their early twenties who are receiving specialized care for conditions like cystic fibrosis. Smart room technology must accommodate a wide range of developmental stages, literacy levels, and preferences, offering interface flexibility, compatibility with adaptive devices, and scalable education content.‍

Workflow that Supports Families‍

The implementation process for pediatric smart room technology should consider how to support both clinical workflows and family needs. For example, parents and guardians benefit from digital door signs that provide care status updates, isolation levels, and other key details about their loved one even before entering the room.

Whole-Person Care is Key‍

What sets smart room technology for pediatrics apart is its ability to deliver whole-person care – meeting young patients where they are, physically, developmentally, and emotionally. Smart room technology shows how thoughtful design and clinical integration can transform pediatric care. The result? A calmer, safer, and more supportive environment for children and their families.

Learn more about designing smart rooms for pediatrics with these additional resources:

For more information on our Vibe Health smart room platform, or to contact a member of our nursing team, contact us at hello@evideon.com.