For many patients, a hospital visit can already feel vulnerable. The experience becomes even harder when personal, cultural or religious needs aren’t reflected in the care environment.

“We were doing our best,” says April Hatterick, system radiology program manager at University of Vermont Health – UVM Medical Center. “But it felt like we were checking a box instead of truly meeting patients where they are.”

Listening First

The effort grew from conversations with staff and patients, and from a broader push to think more intentionally about inclusivity, particularly in moments where patients may already feel exposed.

“We realized some patients didn’t want their head or neck uncovered, and we didn’t have a standard solution,” says Amanda Lake, MRI supervisor at University of Vermont Medical Center.

Staff had sometimes offered towels or blankets as a workaround, but efforts felt improvised and insufficient.

Designing With the Community

To build a solution that actually worked for patients, the team partnered with the Multilingual Patient and Family Advisory Council and brought the design process directly into the community.

Two styles of disposable paper hijabs were mailed to advisors’ homes, where families tried them on, shared photos and provided detailed feedback on fit, comfort and cultural appropriateness.

“It was important that this wasn’t just us deciding what would work,” Hatterick says. “We needed to hear directly from the people who would use them.”

The feedback shaped the final approach and highlighted the need for options suited to different ages, preferences and levels of experience wearing a hijab.

Although the idea began with Muslim patients in mind, the team quickly saw broader impact.

“This isn’t just about one population,” Lake says. “It’s for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable uncovering their head or neck.”

That includes patients undergoing chemotherapy, those experiencing hair loss or anyone seeking added privacy during care, reinforcing the idea that inclusive design often benefits more people than initially expected.

The team also reviewed other cultural and religious needs, including support for patients who wear yarmulkes, and updated processes to make accommodations easier and more consistent.

Building Trust Through Small Details

During a presentation on the work, one health care professional shared her experience as a resident, when no such accommodations existed. She felt a core part of her identity was overlooked.

Moments like that underscore the purpose behind the effort: small, thoughtful details can profoundly shape a person’s experience during care.