Hopsital hero is a dutch gamified mobile app created by Veronique van Noort and Nicole Donkel, two nurses at the pediatric ward of the Willem Alexander Children's Hospital.
It is a smartphone app created for children are visiting hospitals for procedures such as blood draws and other outpatient appointments. It uses gamification and interactive storytelling to make the hospital journey more engaging and less intimidating for young patients. It helps to prepare parents and children for a hospital visit and help reduce their stress, tension and anxiety.
The app provides children and their families with informational content and videos about treatments and what happens in the hospital, helping children feel more prepared for their visit.
A discovery map visualises hospital spaces such as the waiting room or treatment room so kids can follow a path through the environment in a way that feels safe and predictable.
Children can begin using the app at home to learn and prepare and continue using it in the hospital for distraction while waiting.
Peek-a-Look Game: Children and parents can explore at home what will happen during a medical procedure and identify associated tools. Animals will guide this exploration such as explaining why an ultrasound room is dark or how an MRI machine sounds. This playful preparation helps kids go into the appointment more confidently.
Measure & Weigh Game: During routine steps like being measured and weighed, children explore fun facts about animals such as how much an elephant weighs or how tall a penguin stands which turns clinical moments into a playful learning experience.
Personal Route Map: Each healthcare visit is unique. Within the app, children can build a step-by-step route tailored to the procedures they will undergo (like blood tests or X-rays). The app even visualises what the treatment room looks like so children know what to expect. This boosts confidence and helps kids feel proud of completing their journey.
Hospital Hero is used in collaboration with hospitals and clinics to support children during outpatient visits and treatments, making care experiences less intimidating and more child-friendly
Children and their parents are the end users of this products as they use the app to explore what happens during visits, play interactive games and feel more at ease. While their parents can use it to prepare them for visits, reduce fear and facilitate communication about medical procedures.
Hospital Hero works with partners and innovators who support implementation, research and enhancement of the app. These partnerships help make the app more effective and more widely available, though they are not primary customers in the financial sense.