The Therapeutic Gaming and Patient Technology Department at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is committed to enhancing the patient experience and supporting healing through creative use of gaming and a wide range of emerging technology platforms.
Therapeutic gaming and virtual reality offer a number of benefits to patients, including:
- Encouraging fine motor movement, problem solving and critical thinking
- Facilitating cooperative game play to encourage socialization and normalization
- Reducing isolation from friends and family outside the hospital through online gaming
Our digital endeavors are constantly evolving with technology and patient feedback.
Select current initiatives include:
- Gaming for Everyone:
- Bring Your Own Device: Patients can bring their video game consoles from home to be connected to their hospital room TVs. Internet access is available to stay in touch with their family and friends through online gaming.
- Bedside Gaming: Our Patient Technology Specialists are available to provide bedside gaming experiences to assist in reaching therapeutic goals. Patients can request a visit through the GetWell Network on their TV or by asking their care team.
- Game Cart Volunteers: Volunteers play games with patients to reduce isolation and encourage socialization during their stay.
- iPads for Kids: All in-patient units have iPads available upon request from their care team filled with games, activities, and entertainment. - 3D Printing: Patient Technology Specialists can help patients design a 3D printed model to take home to commemorate their stay at C.S. Mott Hospital.
- Lego Robotics Program: LEGO Educators from Build-Up Steam provide bedside experiences with customized Lego robotics kits to help keep patients’ minds busy during hospital stays, while teaching basic coding and STEAM educational skills.
- Virtual reality: We use virtual reality technology to help patients experience a world that may sometimes feel out of reach. Patients can experience scuba diving, explore rain forests, ride roller coasters and run down the tunnel onto the field at Michigan Stadium. We even have a 360-degree video where patients can explore the inside of an ambulance.
- Augmented reality: Augmented reality brings together the virtual world with the real world. Our team uses augmented reality to explore the hospital in new ways and capture Pokemon.
Our therapeutic gaming and patient technology programs have garnered the attention of media around the world:
- Here’s What Virtual Reality Means For Kids Stuck In The Hospital (Tech Crunch)
- Hospital Walls Disappear into Virtual Reality for Young Patients (NBC Nightly News)
- Advocating VR and gaming in hospitals (SXSW blog)
- Children’s hospital using Pokemon Go to get patients out of bed (USA Today)
- The charity that wants video game karts in every hospital (Engadget)
Check out our videos demonstrating the healing power of gaming and VR:
- Oculus Rift takes sick kids beyond the hospital
- Kids in the hospital use the HTC Vive virtual reality system
- Opening the door to a virtual world for sick kids: The Harbaugh Fund
- Pokemon GO at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
- Therapeutic Gaming Program Boosts the Patient Experience
- Nearly every child at U-M Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital gains access to iPads at bedside thanks to $240k grant
For more information about our therapeutic gaming and VR/AR programs, contact our patient technology coordinator.
#StreamForMott
Video game enthusiasts and content creators across the country have worked together to raise over $120,000 since 2020 to support the Therapeutic Gaming Program at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. We thank them for their support and dedication in helping keep our program running. Learn how to get involved.
Stream For Mott Fundraiser in News
Therapeutic gaming: Students host tourney to raise money for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital patients