Over the past seven years, IDS has proudly partnered with Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS), a non-profit provider of integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services across Washington State.
With over 30 clinics in Bremerton, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Belfair, and more, PCHS wanted to create a consistent, calming, and engaging experience for every child who walks through their doors, whether for a dental check-up or a medical visit.
The Challenge
PCHS was expanding fast and needed a way to elevate their patient experience across multiple clinics, without disrupting operations or exceeding nonprofit budgets.
Their goals were clear:
- Create child-friendly environments that reduce anxiety
- Establish visual consistency across all locations
- Turn each clinic into a community destination that patients remember
The Solution: A Scalable, Phased Strategy
Instead of overhauling everything at once, PCHS chose a phased theming model, adding immersive decor to 2 to 3 locations per year.
To date, IDS has themed 15 installations across 13 facilities, with more on the horizon.
This strategic approach has allowed PCHS to:
- Integrate decor planning into their annual capital budgets
- Minimize downtime and keep clinics fully operational
- Build a recognizable brand identity across their network
- Create ongoing marketing opportunities with each new installation
One standout space is their Family Dental Care Clinic in Bremerton, where the IDS team designed a “toothpaste factory” waiting area filled with playful murals, custom characters, and larger-than-life props that create an exciting, engaging space for young patients. The toothpaste-factory theme transforms the space from a typical clinic into an engaging environment, helping to put children at ease. PCHS touts this clinic as “a beacon of excellence in dental care, serving the community with compassion and expertise,” underscoring how the imaginative decor contributes to an overall positive patient experience*. Such theming aligns with IDS’s goal of making healthcare facilities feel less scary – turning them into “friendly, engaging spaces” that can even become the “obvious first choice” for families in the community.
The other office designs include:
Undersea Mural + Octopus Photo Op
A full wall mural sets the underwater scene for a cheerful ‘Cavity-Free Octopus’ holding a toy bucket,
Jungle Bench
An alligator scout photo op lounging on a rocky jungle bench, shaded by a 3D tree.
Graphic Tree + Owl Pop-Out
A large graphic wall decal tree features a playful 3D ‘Cavity-Free Owl’ popping out from a hollow – part mural, part sculptural accent.
Seal Photo Op + Shipwreck Benches
A cozy corner photo op where a smiling seal lounges underwater, surrounded by sunken ship benches and ocean floor details.
Tree Bookshelf + Medical Squirrel Character
A sculpted 3D tree bookshelf hides a comical surprise, a squirrel receiving medical attention, combining storage and storytelling.
Bench with Koala Topper
A multi-purpose bench with generous storage cubbies, crowned by a hungry koala reaching for a snack.
Flamingo Photo Op + Safari Crate Bench
A curious flamingo photo op reading a safari guidebook stands beside a stack of crate benches, blending seating with whimsy.
Panda Climber + Rocky Cubby Bench
A bamboo wall sculpture with a climbing panda perched above a rocky cubby hole bench for stashing shoes or toys.
Woodland Wall Mural + Fox Check-Up Scene
A vibrant woodland mural alive with happy birds and a charming fox photo op mid check-up, ideal for calming nervous visitors.
Fantasy Dragon Scene + Burnt Marshmallow Bench
A cozy fantasy mural featuring a curious baby dragon photo op roasting a marshmallow, slightly too long, beside a campfire bench.
Bayou Toad Stack Sculpture
A towering 3D sculpture of stacked, silly bayou toads – a perfect corner photo op.
Toothpaste Factory Gnome Village Mural + Sculptures
A whimsical wall mural brings to life a bustling village of gnomes hard at work in the Toothpaste Factory, with 3D character props integrated throughout the office.
Venus Flytrap Sculpture
A towering 3D Venus flytrap sculpture peaking around the corner of a bayou mural in a dental treatment room – perfect for sparking conversation and Instagram moments.
Elephant Traveler Photo Op + Luggage Bench
An adventurous elephant photo op packed and ready to go, surrounded by crates, luggage, and travel-themed bench seating.
Desert Animal Zone + Cactus Bench Seating
A desert-themed seating area complete with sculpted cactus benches, surrounded by a lively menagerie of desert animals, including a watchful vulture, a coiled cartoon snake, and a sweet scene of baby armadillos exploring their sandy home.
The Impact: Real Results, Real Delight
Theming isn’t just decoration, it’s become part of how PCHS defines its care model. These playful spaces ease children’s nerves, impress families, and reinforce the message that every patient, especially the youngest ones, is valued and welcome.
According to PCHS’s 2023 Annual Report, the new decor has received strong feedback from patients and parents alike, who describe the clinics as feeling “less like a hospital” and more like a fun place to visit. Internally, the upgrades have boosted staff pride and morale. Externally, each newly themed space offers new material for press releases, social media campaigns, and community engagement.
In fact, PCHS has seen improved community awareness and brand recognition, helped in part by the “shareability” of these installations online and in local news outlets.
“The moment kids walk through the doors, we want them to feel comfort, and even joy. Themed decor helps us do that.”
– Dr. Jennifer Kreidler-Moss
CEO Endorsement and Patient Experience
PCHS’s CEO, Dr. Jennifer Kreidler-Moss, has been a vocal champion of these themed installations. Under her leadership, PCHS has implemented IDS designs across numerous locations (she now oversees 15 themed offices in the PCHS network). Dr. Kreidler-Moss praises the results, saying “IDS delivered exactly what we wanted. They took our grand ideas and turned them into cohesive themes suitable for our spaces and our budget. We loved customizing the small details and they walked us through the process every step of the way.” This testimonial highlights her satisfaction with how IDS brought PCHS’s creative visions to life in each clinic.
Dr. Kreidler-Moss and PCHS leadership have noted that the thematic decor is more than just decoration – it’s part of improving patient experience and clinic identity. A bright, playful environment helps reduce anxiety for pediatric patients and makes visits more enjoyable. “Having a themed hospital space… can strengthen your brand and create an unforgettable patient experience, taking the anxiety out of medical visits,” notes an IDS overview of the impact at client sites.
At PCHS, the investment in themes, from undersea murals to jungle reception desks, is likewise meant to delight children and signal a caring, fun atmosphere rather than a clinical one. The positive feedback from families has been clear. In fact, PCHS reports that its kid-friendly clinics are now often recognized and talked about in the community. The whimsical decor is highly “shareable” on social media and has led to “increased…positive online reviews,” according to IDS, helping PCHS stand out as a provider that truly caters to young families.
Community Reactions and Reception
Public mentions of the PCHS makeovers have been enthusiastic.
PCHS’s 2023 Annual Report proudly describes the new themed dental clinic and how the “fun atmosphere” has been received by patients.
Parents have commented that the lively decor makes the clinic feel “less like a hospital” and more like a welcoming play space for kids.
Even local media have noted PCHS’s efforts to create friendly spaces; for example, an earlier mural project at PCHS’s Bremerton site (a nautical “sea life” wall mural) was celebrated for brightening the clinic and making it inviting for neighbors and patients*.
On social media, PCHS has shared photos of its brightly colored exam rooms and cartoon-themed waiting areas. These posts often highlight quotes from Dr. Kreidler-Moss about the importance of a child-centric approach. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and we strive to make our clinics welcoming for everyone, especially kids, she emphasizes in outreach messages. By transforming clinics with IDS’s playful themes, PCHS aims to ensure that “the moment [children] walk through the doors,” they feel comfort and even a bit of joy – an experience that supports wellness rather than fear.
Overall, the themed decor installations by IDS at PCHS have been publicly praised as a significant improvement to the clinical environment. They exemplify how thoughtful design can enhance patient satisfaction and community perception. As Dr. Jennifer Kreidler-Moss succinctly put it, the theming has enabled PCHS to turn “grand ideas” into real-world spaces that delight patients and families – reinforcing PCHS’s mission to put patients first in every way, including the very walls around them.
Sources:
- Public statements and reports from PCHS and IDS, including PCHS’s 2023 Annual Report*
- IDS healthcare decor overview and client testimonials
- Local media coverage from the Kitsap Sun on PCHS’s community mural project*
Why This Model Works
Because this client has chosen to theme 2 to 3 locations each year as part of a long-term strategy. This phased approach makes it easy to plan theming into their annual budgets while continuously improving patient experience across their network.
It also provides a steady stream of marketing opportunities. Each new install becomes a fresh story to share with patients, staff, and the community. Whether it’s a press release, social media campaign, or internal celebration, there’s always a new upgrade to highlight and promote throughout the year.
This model allows this client to grow their brand presence, maintain consistency, and demonstrate ongoing investment in patient care, all in a manageable, scalable way.
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