Wobble Room Opens at Royal Inland Hospital

When it comes to supporting staff retention and wellness at RIH, the RIH Foundation is fully invested. On December 9, 2021 – RIH administration announced the official opening of a “Wobble Room”. This room is open 24/7 and is designed to be a space where staff can come unwind and decompress whenever they need.

“When the idea for opening a Wobble Room came about, we did not hesitate in offering to fund this fantastic idea! The Foundation is committed to ensuring the healthcare providers and support staff at RIH have a positive environment to work in. Day after day, our healthcare professionals have been pushed to their limits, sacrificing their work-life balance for the betterment of others. With the implementation of a Wobble Room at RIH, we hope to restore this balance by offering a calm and quiet place healthcare professionals can escape to when feeling overwhelmed or mentally exhausted,” says Heidi Coleman RIH Foundation CEO.

With prolonged uncertainty and fears associated with COVID-19, healthcare professionals on the frontlines are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, stress, and burnout. Chronic exposure to workplace stressors have the potential to negatively impact the health and wellness of healthcare workers. The “Wobble Room” is a wellness intervention tool designed to protect the psychological well-being and safety of our beloved hospital staff. The concept was created at a hospital in Vancouver, with Kelowna General Hospital and Royal Inland Hospital being amongst the first hospitals in Interior Health to adopt the idea. 

The Wobble Room occupies a quiet area on the 9th floor, open to any staff member feeling the need to de-stress or re-charge. The space is decorated with calming colours and pictures of nature to evoke feelings of peace and serenity. The room is equipped with a TV, coloring station, and three luxurious recliners in case staff feel the need to sit or engage in an activity that takes their mind off whatever is burdening them. RIH’s Wobble Room also has an inspiration board where colleagues and peers can share messages of encouragement and positivity. Whether visiting alone or with a co-worker, the Wobble Room is a place of wellness for all.

When people choose to donate to Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, they are directly supporting fantastic initiatives like this!