‘We can always make contact with patients, safely’

Challenge:
Patients at the Van der Hoeven Kliniek often experience complex psychiatric issues, and managing high-energy or violent behavior in a high-security environment is difficult. De-escalation rooms can be stressful for some patients, and the care team needed an effective way to calm and engage individuals in crisis.

Solution:
The clinic introduced the CoWin 48 media wall in January 2022, later installing a second unit due to its success. The system is simple and intuitive, offering tailored music, images, and other media to meet individual patient needs. It provides a calming influence and diversions that reduce stress and help de-escalate potentially violent situations.

Impact:

• Early de-escalation leads to fewer incidents and violent outbursts.
• Patients benefit from personalized content, which promotes relaxation and stress relief.
• Care teams can safely engage with patients in crisis and gradually increase stimuli.
• The system fills a critical gap in providing entertainment in low-stimulus environments, supporting smoother transitions back to normal care.
• Feedback highlights a need for further development, such as incorporating gaming options to enhance patient engagement.