Are you struggling to connect patients with doctors, automate administrative tasks, and make healthcare institutions more data-driven? Patient wayfinding can help you do it. What is it and how can it improve patient care and satisfaction? Keep reading!
Patient wayfinding – what is it?
In a healthcare facility, patient wayfinding is the process of guiding patients and visitors to their destinations. This can be a challenge, especially in large facilities with many departments and complex floor plans.
Modern technology makes patient wayfinding easier. Interactive wayfinding kiosks can be placed in strategic locations throughout the facility. They can provide directions and floor plans, and can even allow patients and visitors to search for specific destinations by keyword.
In addition, mobile wayfinding apps can be used to provide turn-by-turn directions. These apps can be downloaded onto smartphones and other devices and can be used even when offline.
By using modern technology for patient wayfinding, healthcare facilities can make the process easier and less stressful for everyone involved.
What are the benefits?
Patient wayfinding can benefit healthcare institutions in a number of ways:
- Reduced stress and anxiety of patients and their families – patients and their families can feel overwhelmed when visiting a healthcare facility for the first time. Having clear and concise wayfinding signage makes this moment less challenging by clearly directing them to their destination.
- Improved patient satisfaction – Patient satisfaction is strongly linked to the quality of care they receive. If patients are able to find their way around easily, they’re more likely to be happy with their overall experience.
- Reduced staff time spent on giving directions – If new staff members are able to quickly and easily find their way around the facility, they can spend more time caring for patients and less time searching for things or giving directions.
Patient wayfinding apps and tools are a simple recipe for increasing patient and visitor compliance with hospital policies and procedures, improving staff efficiency, reducing patient wait times, and boosting patient safety.
What technology to use?
There are many different types of technology that can be used for patient wayfinding, but beacons are a great option because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
Beacons can be placed throughout a hospital or other healthcare facility, and they can be used to help patients find their way to their appointments.
