THEY’RE OPENING UP WHAT THEY
CALL RECHARGE ROOMS IN A MOST
UNEXPECTED PLACE.
>> Reporter: ASK A NEW YORKER
WHAT SIGHTS AND SOUNDS THEY’LL
REMEMBER FROM THE COVID
OUTBREAK, AND THEY’LL LIKELY
MENTION THE ENDLESS SIRENS.
THE NIGHTLY CLAPPING FOR MEDICAL
WORKERS.
AND THE TRIADJUTANTGE TENTS THAT
UP.
>> SEEING ALL THIS, IT WAS
REALLY DIFFICULT.
IT WAS THIS REALLY STARK SIGN
THAT WE WERE MOVING INTO A SURGE
AND WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> Reporter: THE TENTS A DARK
OMEN OF WHAT WAS TO COME.
DR. DALIA RIZIC IS THE CHIEF OF
MT. SINAI BETH ISRAEL.
>> EVEN BEFORE WE GOTTEN OUR PPE
WE WOULDN’T GET INFECTED KNOWING
HOW DETRIMENTAL IT HAD BEEN.
SUCH AN UNSPEAKABLE TIME.
ROBERT TE RKS IF FEFFER WAS A RE
NURSE AT THE HOSPITAL. >> SO IT WAS BASICALLY YOU WOULD
>> SO IT WAS BASICALLY YOU WOULD
TREAT THE PATIENTS AND YOU FELT
LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD
DO TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER.
AND THEY WOULD GET A LITTLE BIT
BETTER, BUT THEN THEY’D GET
WORSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS A NURSE YOU
DIDN’T FEEL LIKE YOU COULD DO
YOUR JOB.
>> Reporter: NEW YORK CITY IS
NOW WELL PAST THE PEAK OF COVID.
BUT THE EMOTIONS TIED TO THAT
PERIOD ARE ONLY BEGINNING TO
CREST FOR ITS HEALTH CARE
WORKERS.
>> WE’VE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED
SOMETIMES MORE EMOTION DURING
THIS PHASE THAN DURING THE PEAK.
BECAUSE WE DIDN’T REALLY HAVE
TIME TO THINK DURING THAT TIME.
>> Reporter: NOW THERE IS A
SURPRISING REFUGE FOR THOSE
MEDICAL WORKERS.
THOSE TRIAGE TENTS ONCE A SYMBOL
OF A CITY UNDER SIEGE, THEY’VE
BEEN TRANSFORMED BY MT. PSI KNOW
TO HELP THEIR HEROES.
>> SO AS SOON AS YOU STEP IN,
FIRST OF ALL THE LIGHTING
CHANGES SO YOU HAVE THIS
EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN A SORT OF
FOREST OR AN OCEAN ENVIRONMENT
AROUND DUSK.
SO WE USE DIFFUSERS WITH
ESSENTIAL OILS TO CREATE SORT OF
FOREST FLOOR EXPERIENCES THAT
AGAIN ARE EVIDENCE BASED TO
CREATE A RELAXING EFFECT.
>> Reporter: THE HOSPITAL
PARTNERED WITH THE GROUP STUDIO
ELSEWHERE TO TURN THE TENTS INTO
SO-CALLED RECHARGE ROOMS.
>> I WAS VERY SURPRISED.
IT JUST LOOKS SO REALISTIC.
I MEAN, THE FIRST THING I DID
WAS SAT DOWN IN THE CHAIR AND
LOOKED UP AT THIS TREE HERE.
IT WAS SWAYING AND I COULD FEEL
THE BREEZE ON MY ARM AND THE
CRACKLING OF THE FIRE.
IT JUST WAS VERY REALISTIC.
>> Reporter: THE DESIGN OF THE
SPACE IS GROUNDED IN
NEUROSCIENCE.
>> WE’RE LEVERAGING A LOT OF
LITERATURE THAT FOCUSES ON THE
IDEA THAT GREEN SPACES CAN
REALLY IMPROVE YOUR BODY’S
PHYSIOLOGY, LOWER BLOOD
PRESSURE, LOWER HEART RATE,
IMPROVE BREATHING.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ASSOCIATED
WITH HEIGHTENED RELAXATION.
>> IT HAS SETTLED ME IN THE
MIDDLE OF A BUSY DAY AND IT’S
SORT OF LIKE STARTING OVER
AGAIN.
>> Reporter: WORKERS LIKE ROBERT
REPORTED A 60% DROP IN STRESS
LEVELS AFTER VISITING ONE OF THE
TEN RECHARGE ROOMS NOW IN THE
MT. SINAI SYSTEM.
THEIR SUCCESS PROMPTING OTHER
HOSPITALS TO INQUIRE ABOUT
SETTING UP SIMILAR SPACES.
>> IT’S A WAY TO FOCUS ON THE
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF
ALL KIND OF FRONT LINE
PROVIDERS.
>> GREAT IDEA.
>> GOD BLESS THEM.
>> ISN’T THAT AMAZING?
IT’S INTERESTING THEY’RE FEELING