When I was going through cancer treatment a decade ago, I spent a lot of time in various waiting rooms of one large medical complex. Most of the TVs were PSA type shows related to the medical center and its programs. I still remember the grandmother making healthy spaghetti sauce for her next-door neighbor who had just been diagnosed with diabetes. Some were CNN. But one office had their TV on Fox and yes, I complained. I had to be there. I didn’t want to watch propaganda. Things are more polarized now so I don’t know what you do. Weather channel it is.
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Our regional airport plays Fox News. I was so annoyed I don’t even remember if it was closed captioned.
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Winner. Worst t.v. show ever.
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I just spent 2 days at the hospital with my DH for a procedure (brand spanking new facility) and I was so relieved there was no TV in the family waiting lounge. Instead there were comfortable chairs, with USB and plugs, a gorgeous view of the city skyline, desks for doing work and a large monitor that tracked each patient’s status.
I have spent a lot of time in waiting rooms the last few years and there is nothing worse than having a show like The View or a game show (bells! Whistles! Cheering!) going in the background. People have lost the ability to distract themselves and engage in imagination.
I would not advise putting the Food channel on - food and eating can be triggering for a lot of people with misophonia, ARFID, eating disorders, even vegans etc.
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I always bring my needlepoint with me when I go to the Doctor’s office. My Primary Care provider has a tv in the waiting room on mute, and I can honestly say that I have no clue as to what station they have on. I don’t think that my others do. Since I do the needlepoint, I really don’t pay attention as I see my other doctors just once a year for checkups.
Last 4 visits to Dr waiting rooms: 3 HGTV, one no TV.
In our waiting room we use a system that matches our medical practice. It shows patient education. I am sure there are one for your specialty. Plus if you retail products some let you highlight some of those products. No politics… Lol
D had allergy shots for years and I see the same provider every year or so. I was always impressed by the wall of magazines in the waiting room, with selections for all ages. Plus local and national newspapers. On the last visit they were gone but there is no reason to not return them to the shelves.
I grew up having the news on every morning and every evening before dinner, I did the same until a couple of years ago, now I rarely watch the news and yet I’m still in the loop. As stated earlier, almost all medical offices here have TV’s, but no news stations.
The dentist who started the practice that we use (now deceased) was an accomplished underwater photographer and would plan his vacations around dives. The ceilings and walls are covered with his photography. So while reclined back having my teeth scraped, I get to look at corals, sea anemones, tropical fish, etc.
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In early October I went to the local urgent care center because of some acute pain I was having, and the waiting room TV was tuned to one of the cable movie channels (might have been AMC). I happened to be there while the channel was showing one of the films from the Halloweenemphasized text series, so I was treated to numerous loud screams from Jamie Lee Curtis and friends during the 15 minutes I was sitting there. There was only one other patient waiting at the time, and like me she seemed to be more amused than annoyed by the channel selection, but I was tempted to mention to the clinic staff that most folks with medical emergencies probably don’t want to be serenaded with screaming sounds when seeking care.
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My podiatrist plays music throughout the office–waiting room and exam rooms. Frank Sinatra. ONE CD of greatest hits
That’s it. For all the years i have gone there. Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits.
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Larry David’s dentist plays traditional Greek music, and “If you don’t like it go! . . . I don’t give a skata about your crown.”
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My doctor’s office aired CNN until last summer. I had a sports injury in the spring and the day I went in for a follow-up I mentioned that a family with young children was in the waiting room being subjected to graphic details of a murder case. At my previous appointment she mentioned that depression and suicide rates for young people were rising, so I said maybe CNN wasn’t the best choice for the waiting room. She thanked me for letting her know and went out to ask her staff to change the channel. Anytime I’ve been to either of her offices since then the TV’s have been off. I prefer it that way. I don’t mind HGTV or cooking shows, but a few minutes of quiet is nice too.
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Some of the medical offices around us have TVs. There have been times when I took hubby to appointments and day surgery when I actually did appreciation the distraction of a TV. Yes, I did have my cellphone with me (and at least once a laptop for unavoidable work availability). But the mindless watch-whatever-is-there activity worked for me…. there was no audio, only closed captioning. I think it was usually news or HGTV.
At the car dealership repair waiting room there was a “sportsman” channel I disliked, lots of gun stuff.
I dislike sports channels for sure. I’m not a fan of the news either. It is hard to find something that appeals to all, so I’d just aim at things that are fairly neutral—weather and maybe travel photos. Cute dog/cat videos may be non-offensive, or simulated aquarium.
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I decided to take a poll on my Facebook page. So far, nobody in Maine has seen a TV in a doctor’s office that plays any TV station. A couple of people have seen material related to the doctor’s area of practice. Friends from the rest of the country say they see TV stations frequently in medical offices. Very interesting. I hope we stay behind the times, but I imagine we won’t.
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My dentist not only has a tv in the waiting area (typically I go in the morning and they have one of the morning shows on like today or Live with Kelly), he has one in each treatment room. The hygienist will ask if I want it on and what station I want to watch.
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When I was waiting to take my mammogram there was a TV in the waiting room, playing an advertisement for some sort of disease treatment (I blocked it out) over and over and over. Why play this when you have nervous women waiting for a mammogram?
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My Dentist has calming screen shots running on a loop on his waiting room TV. I really like that.
I wouldn’t like HGTV as I hate what all the remodeling waste does to the environment. If you don’t like the countertop color don’t buy the house.
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