Calif. hospital lets kids drive mini cars to surgery

Kids have a choice between a black mini Mercedes and a pink Beetle


Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, Calif., helps young patients who are anxious before surgery by giving them mini cars to drive to the operating room, according to an article on the People website.

A pre-op nurse, Kimberly Martinez, came up with the idea. She did research and found the cars have a lasting impact on young patients. 

The hospital purchased a black mini Mercedes and a pink Beetle was donated by an employee and her family. The one-seater cars are both equipped with a stereo and a collection of preloaded music and an MP3 player, which the kids can operate themselves or by remote control.

The cars have doors that open, working headlights and back-up and dashboard lights.

Read the article.



April 11, 2019


Topic Area: Maintenance and Operations


Recent Posts

EV Charging Station Design: Ensuring Patient Access

The question is not whether to install charging infrastructure — the organization eventually will have to — but how to do it without disrupting patient care.


Sanford Health and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Merge

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System will transition to the Sanford Health name and brand while preserving and expanding health services across the communities it serves.


Sedgebrook Falls Victim to Data Incident

The organization detected the event on May 5, 2025.


How Efficiency Checklists Help Hospitals Save Energy, Water and Money

Keith Edgerton explains how a simple, systematic tool can help healthcare facilities identify savings, support sustainability goals and reinvest in long-term decarbonization.


Designing with Heart: Seen Health Center Blends Cultural Warmth and Clinical Care

Case study: The Alhambra-based facility uses Wilsonart Woodgrains to create a space where comfort, tradition and durability come together for an elevated senior care experience.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.