Little Lucy project aims to enhance imaging experience for children

Making children feel more at ease in medical facilities is the aim of Fujifilm’s ‘Little Lucy’ initiative, which launched across Europe to mark International Childhood Cancer Day in February. The project draws attention to the experiences of young patients in hospitals and clinics and is designed to make rooms more welcoming and reward their cooperation.

Cartoon characters adorn waiting rooms, wards and radiology clinics equipped with child-friendly devices. On arrival, patients will receive a copy of The Great Adventure of Little Lucy, an illustrated story translated into seven languages. Along with graphics for walls and devices, this story recounts the first hospital experience of a little bear who gets hurt and undergoes an MR scan. The bear learns how the examination takes place and asks many questions about the device, in an environment conceived and designed for children. As they enter environments populated by the characters in the story, it is hoped children will identify with Lucy’s experience in a positive and comfortable context.

Lucy soft toys, T-shirts and colouring pencils will be given away, while the final part of the experience is the ‘brave patient diploma’, which patients will receive once the examination is over.

The project complements the introduction of the Oasis and Aperto Lucent MRI systems in the facilities involved. These are suited to paediatric imaging due to their open gantries designed to make patients feel comfortable and safe. The FDR nano mobile x-ray system, offering low dosage and a light and manoeuvrable design suited to paediatric applications, and the Arietta 750 ultrasound system will be equipped with graphics designed for paediatric environments.

Picture: Lucy the bear’s experience of an MR scan is told in an illustrated book.

Published on page 12 of the March 2022 issue of RAD Magazine.