Technology: Focused on people
 Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) is the only center in the United Arab Emirates delivering fully integrated adult cardiovascular services, and when the opportunity arose to revamp its adult cardiac catheterization lab, the 550-bed acute care hospital became the first in Abu Dhabi to offer Ambient Experience – an optimised medical environment harnessing the synergy of architecture, design and technology.
Today, the renovated patient holding area offers an open, stress-free and interactive environment designed to promote patient comfort and caregiver satisfaction throughout the interventional experience. Three private holding areas glow with soft, coloured light, creating a soothing welcome. On a wireless touch-screen, staff share a selection of ‘themes’ the patient can choose – experiences that come to life upon entering what was once a cold and impersonal imaging environment.
Bathed in calming audio and visual stimuli, the patient is free to escape to the virtual environment presented here. Said the hospital’s acting CEO Dr Scott Strong: “It’s like nothing they’ve ever encountered before. The lighting, the sound, the projection, the relaxation, all come together to make a more comfortable environment, in a space not often thought of as delivering a pleasurable experience.”
 Complementing sound and moving imagery is a ‘skylight’ offering more than just thematic lighting. Caregivers use this feature to illuminate areas of the patient’s body, reducing eye strain and enhancing their ability to view fine vessel detail. Optimised storage and minimised visual barriers offer enhanced workflow and better patient-staff interaction.
Another feature is the privacy glass. The window changes from clear to opaque at the flip of a switch, separating imaging room from control room. Patients are assured of an increased level of privacy during procedural preparation and staff can focus on other activities between procedures without impacting the patient.
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