In collaboration with healthcare professionals from Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden (MCL), team 8D is developing an innovative “experience route” within the hospital. The aim is to encourage patients in the cardiology department at MCL to engage in more physical exercise. Many patients often underestimate their ability to exercise, yet appropriate physical activity can significantly enhance rehabilitation.
The intervention will initially be piloted in the cardiology department, with plans to design the concept in a modular way, allowing for future adaptation to other departments or even other hospitals.
Johan likes to think along!
Regular physical activity and mental engagement are widely recognized as crucial for physical health and mental well-being. Even during a hospital stay, remaining physically active and mentally stimulated can significantly aid recovery. However, physiotherapists Elmer de Wit and Jelly Hoekstra, both from MCL, observed that the hospital environment does not encourage physical activity.
In fact, the opposite is true: meals are typically served at the bedside, examinations are often conducted while patients remain in wheelchairs or beds, and the rooms and corridors have a sterile, inactive layout. To address this, MCL Innovation decided to develop an intervention aimed at creating a more “active hospital.” Team 8D was enlisted to assist with concept development and implementation.
Development ProcessJohan van der Meulen (8D Games) led a brainstorming session to establish the practical frameworks for the intervention. During this session, all strict design requirements were defined, including adaptability, varying levels and integration within existing infrastructures. Key outcomes highlighted the need for the intervention to be scalable and adaptable, as well as suitable for patients with diverse levels of exertion and mobility capabilities.
Based on the outcomes of the brainstorming session, team 8D developed several creative concepts. Following the ideation phase, it was essential to weigh the pros and cons of each concept and evaluate how well they aligned with the project’s objectives and specific requirements. The most promising solution was a modular “Discovery Trail” utilizing QR codes. At each QR code, patients can access engaging, educational, or inspiring content about health and well-being during the (Frisian) Middle Ages. Additionally, each point of interest features a video created by physiotherapists with exercise instructions tailored to different difficulty levels. The placement of the QR codes, at varying heights, further strengthens the route’s versatility and adaptability.
The advantage of this type of route is that healthcare professionals can recommend a specific path tailored to each patient’s exercise needs and abilities. One day, a patient might perform three exercises; on another day, they might complete six, or follow a specific sequence that promotes recovery. The “museum-like content,” featuring texts and historical images, stimulates curiosity and enhances mental well-being. This approach ensures there is always something engaging for patients to experience in the hospital!
ResultsThe project is currently in the implementation phase. The next step is to strengthen support among healthcare providers and volunteers. Team 8D is working with the project initiators and frontline staff to determine what they need to integrate the route into their daily practice. This is not something we can decide for them; it must come from the ground up. This involvement and dialogue are crucial to ensuring that the experience route gains traction with patients, just as it did during the development of the prototype.
The intervention will soon be piloted in the cardiology department of the MCL. If successful, the intention is to expand the concept to other departments—or, if there is interest, to other hospitals!
In this article, we discuss the opportunities and dangers of AI for the serious gaming sector. We also show with examples from our portfolio how AI can increase the impact of games – and how we have taken advantage of it in recent years.
Serious Games as a Research Tool Games as a Method Serious games can contribute to scientific research in many different ways and at many different stages. Think of collecting quantitative…
Working on education and youth welfare Although our home base is firmly in the Frisian clay, we have built up a large network of international cooperation partners in recent years….