Connective furniture Today, many patients and family members sitting in waiting rooms use personal mobile devices for en40 HCDmagazine.com 03.14 tertainment, to review and update personal health information, or to make payments and arrange future appointments. Institutions must accommodate this constant interaction via mobile technology-and find ways to utilize the connectivity to their advantage. Winthrop has observed that when some patients experience slow (or no) Internet access and have insufficient access to outlets for charging personal devices, it causes some frustration within the waiting area. By enhancing waiting rooms with connective furniture-augmented with outlets for charging-and a robust Wi-Fi system, Furniture with power and data connectivity is arranged in lounge clusters to create a casual atmosphere at the Winthrop facility. An interactive zone for pediatric patients, where games and images are projected onto the wall that will respond to the movements of the children in front of it, will encourage activity. COURTESY OF PERKINS EASTMAN phone or a printout for identification. The system at Winthrop also includes a patient-flow management system that will track room availability and ultimately reduce wait time. The entry sequence of the floor is designed so the kiosks are a central focal point between the elevator lobby and the circulation stair but are still adjacent to open staff workstations in case assistance is required.http://www.HCDmagazine.com