PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A new medical facility in Philadelphia is taking the stress out of going to the doctor. Jefferson Health’s new outpatient facility, the Honickman Center, is a state-of-the-art facility.
In addition to the latest medical equipment, the facility is also specially designed to provide a calming environment for visitors.
A trip to the Honickman Center is a journey into a rarefied world of sensory sensitivity.
“The building has a lot of amenities for people to relax and calm down,” said Dr. Wendy Ross, director of the Jefferson Autism and Neurodiversity Center.
Corridors are filled with views of nature and there are spaces designed for neurodiverse people diagnosed with conditions such as autism or ADHD who may become anxious in unfamiliar environments.
“Our residents are often an afterthought or an accommodation, but they were invited to be involved in aspects of this building from the beginning, so I think this is really special,” Ross said.
She said something like a textured wall can be a pleasant distraction.
“Touch feels good, so the tactile element is really good for calming the mind,” Ross said.
There are special seats with raised sides for privacy.
“It helps me relax and calm down,” Tom Deely said.
Dilley, who is part of Carousel Connections, an organization that works with people on the autism spectrum, helped design the chair, which also has tactile hand pads.
“They feel good,” Luke McGivern Cowan said.
The waiting room features a special art installation.
“When you look at it, it looks like the painting is moving. It’s like it’s coming to life,” says Lynn Godley, industrial design director at Jefferson Health’s Immersive Arts Center. “When you involve someone in an immersive experience, it kind of transports them to another world and takes them out of the present moment.”
Doctors say professional design can be a calming force for everyone in healthcare. Welcome to the new era of inclusive design.
“The facilities we’ve created here are designed for people with developmental disabilities such as autism and other neurodiverse disorders, but they actually benefit everyone,” Ross said.