We heard from Hillary D’Amato, who is a child life specialist at MGHfC, about how she’s using “You Are Here: Wendy’s Welcome to the Emergency Department.”
When did you hear about the project?
I first heard about this project when the chair of the MGHfC parent advisory council convened a meeting of ED staff (MD, nurse, social worker, child life specialist) to look over Wendy’s paper and try to figure out how it could be utilized in the Pediatric Emergency Department. That was probably two years ago.
What were your initial impressions?
I was extremely impressed with the detail in Wendy’s written work and excited about sharing a patient’s perspective with other young patients who may be visiting the Emergency Department for the first time.
How is the video being used?
The video is being used in the pediatric waiting room to let patients and families see where they will go and what may happen before it actually does. Children cope better when they know in advance what to expect and what is expected of them and this video gives the children and families a glimpse into the pediatric Emergency Department environment – where they will go, who they will meet and what they will do. It is a wonderful way for us and specifically Wendy, to welcome the patients to the Emergency Department and to prepare them for their visit.
What are you observing?
The children are very engrossed in the video when they are watching it. The animation and narrative keep the patients and families engaged. When I talk to children about the video and let them know it was created by a patient close to their own age they are extremely impressed. Patients have said that the video is “cool” and “helpful.” Parents have also said that the video is very helpful in explaining the process of care in the Emergency Department to them.
What’s the need for projects like this?
The need is great! As a child life specialist, it is my job to prepare pediatric patients for the different tests and procedures they may have during their emergency department visit. Currently I use photos taken with an iPad to show patients where they will go and / or what will happen. After observing the amazing effects PAYETTE was able to create with the video and how engaging it is for children, I think all our preparation tools should be made like this! The combination of the animation and the patient narration are an amazing combination. I could see this type of project being used to create a preparation video for going to the OR, being admitted to the inpatient units, and having a MRI, just to name a few! The possibilities are endless, but the outcome would be the same for all these videos; it would help teach children about what to expect at the hospital in an engaging, fun and “cool” way!
Related:
Bringing Lines to Life
Animating Architecture
Patient View Institute Recognizes “Wendy’s Welcome to the ED”
Wendy’s Theme: Creating the Musical Score
Compositing Animation, Video and Drawings
The 2025 OpenLAB Boston studio work will be exhibited at Virginia Tech Monday, March 2nd through Wednesday, March 4th.
Please join us for the following events on Monday, March 2nd:
11:00am - Lecture with Parke MacDowell
1:00pm Lobby talk with Kevin Sullivan
This year’s studio identifies seven sites along the frayed edges of Boston’s Greenway. The Greenway is a one-mile-long linear park running through the heart of the city, reconnecting downtown Boston with its waterfront. Many of the parcels along its edges remain undeveloped and present mute, blank facades to the public realm. Addressing and repairing these edges through acts of infilling, layering, grafting, framing, and placemaking is the core focus of the studio—SUTURE.