As part of Autism Awareness Month, Oishei Children’s Hospital is proud to be the first hospital in the United States to partner with MagnusCards®, a free mobile application by Buffalo and Ontario-based company, Magnusmode. MagnusCards® leverages digital how-to card decks, complete with step-by-step instructions and intuitive game design, to assist and empower people with autism and cognitive special needs as they navigate a variety of everyday situations with greater ease and independence.
With a focus on improving the overall experience for the nearly 2,000 children with autism and cognitive special needs who have visited The Children’s Guild Foundation Autism Spectrum Disorder Center at Oishei Children’s Hospital since 2010, the innovative approach to accessibility introduces patients and families to common hospital situations like a trip to the emergency or prepping for a surgical procedure.
“At Oishei Children’s Hospital, we want to ensure that all of our patients, including those with autism or cognitive special needs, are able to safely and comfortably navigate the hospital and take advantage of all the services we offer,” said Allegra Jaros, President, Oishei Children’s Hospital. “This new digital tool is another example of our commitment to leading the way in innovation as we foster a positive and more inclusive hospital experience for everyone who walks through our doors.” 
Oishei Children’s Hospital has created five different card decks within the app that offer guidance through photographs, audio and text descriptions to support kids and families before and during their hospital visit, creating a more relaxed and predictable hospital experience. The card decks outlines the following hospital situations:
· Blood Draw Visit
· Outpatient Clinic Visit
· Electroencephalogram (EEG) Procedure
· Emergency Department Visit
· Surgery
The partnership between Oishei Children’s Hospital and Magnusmode, a 43North winner in 2018, is a great example of the benefits that stem from collaborative public-private partnerships. “I believe strongly in the importance of collaboration across the Western New York community, said Bill Maggio, Vice Chair of Kaleida Health and Immediate Past Board Chair of 43North. “That’s why I’m particularly pleased by today’s announcement that Oishei Children’s Hospital is the first hospital in the U.S. to partner with Magnusmode, a 43North portfolio company, to offer MagnusCards to help their young patients with autism and cognitive special needs better navigate situations at the hospital like blood draws and emergency room visits. This is excellent news for the hospital, for a growing Buffalo startup, and – most importantly – for the families the hospital serves.”
Oishei Children’s Hospital is proud to join a growing suite of venues and brands including McCarran International Airport, Colgate-Palmolive, A&W, and the New England Aquarium, amongst others, who have implemented MagnusCards® to assist those with autism and cognitive special needs.
“MagnusCards® is an innovative and easy way to build an accessible patient experience that all hospitals can adopt. We look forward to continuing our support of more accessible healthcare at Oishei Children’s Hospital and other healthcare facilities around the world,” said Nadia Hamilton, Founder and President of Magnusmode.
Patients and families can download the free MagnusCards® app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
To learn more, visit https://ochbuffalo.magnuscards.com/
