Healthmark Industries,
Avanti
Press, and
Fathead
teamed together to create themed areas featuring whimsical, universally relatable Avanti animal characters in designated locations at
University
of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where children might be more apprehensive for care, including the surgery
waiting room area, along with some patient rooms and clinics. In addition, PPE themed scrub caps with these happy Avanti animal characters are being provided to staff in the children's operating room areas to help create a fun distraction for children in preparation
for surgery. Children will also be able to select animal character themed stickers which they can use as a badge of courage on patient gowns, IV bags, PICC line sleeves, casts, and other areas. All images are being provided by Avanti Press, the Detroit-based
publisher whose humorous characters are featured on greeting cards and numerous consumer goods sold nationwide and around the world. Avanti's bright, bold, photographic characters are featured in select areas of the hospital to help alleviate stress for children
undergoing treatment.
Healthmark Industries envisioned this as a way to provide children with a fun, calming distraction within a hospital, doctor's office or dentist's
office and would allow them to create a bond with hospital teams and focus on something other than their illness.
The businesses came together to develop this concept and approached the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital to test this concept
on a complimentary basis. Based upon feedback, the concept will be offered to other hospitals, physicians, dental and veterinary establishments to purchase for their healthcare environments.
The three companies will work with University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital to evaluate response and gain input from patients,
as they move forward with this concept introducing it to other locations.
Karen MacDonald
Specialty Apparel Designer
