7 Ways to Use Digital Signage in Your Healthcare Project

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities require great operational management, which requires even greater signage. In fact, healthcare digital signage alone can help you go from delivering an adequate patient experience to delivering an excellent patient experience – and beyond. Here is a look at some of the specific ways you can use this in your facility, and why dynamic signage can be such a game changer. 

1. Digital Signage in Waiting Rooms

Healthcare waiting rooms are one of the most frustrating places someone can be. Not only is their reason for being there almost certainly stressful, but the actual environment is often miserable, too. To help change this for your patients and visitors, consider using digital signage. Even doing something simple like displaying the estimated wait time or letting patients know which patient number you are currently seeing can go a long way in reducing uncertainty. You can also offer information about what to expect in a certain area of the hospital, important guidelines to follow and so forth, to equip, empower and soothe those who walk through your doors. 

2. Wayfinding Kiosks

The only thing potentially worse than sitting in a healthcare waiting room for hours is getting to the facility and getting lost. Hospitals and other medical buildings are often like mazes; impossibly large with winding corridors that all look like each other, making it very difficult to know where to go. Use wayfinding kiosks to ease this pain for your patients and their visitors. Provide an interactive map or color-coded signs that help someone get from Point A to Point B, and you will upgrade their experience instantly. Plus, you will save your staff time, since they will not need to help so many confused people figure out where to go. 

3. Self-Serve Kiosks

Digital signage also extends to self-serve kiosks which are becoming increasingly popular. By providing such a tool, patients can check in at a station, fill out forms and receive information – all without having to wait in a line or speak with your staff. Use signage to make the process clear and direct people to these kiosks as soon as they enter your facility.  

4. Interactive Boards

Digital signage does not have to be boring; in fact, there are many applications that are actually really engaging. For example, a hospital could use an interactive board to show the running total of how many donations have been received to date. It could also display pictures of the donors or fun facts about how the donations have been used, along with a URL where people can go to donate if they would like to. 

Any board like this can help the facility gain more donations, and it can also provide an additional medium for advertising space. The more boards you have, the more ads you can run for local business partners, giving you an additional revenue stream through dynamic signage. 

5. Internal Communication Signs

The beauty of digital signage is that it is helpful to patients and visitors but it is also useful to your team internally. Use signs throughout your facility to let staff members know about important events and information, and to highlight the great work they are doing. A simple shout out to your employee of the month on one of your digital boards can go a long way in boosting morale and giving employees something to feel proud about. 

6. Patient Entertainment

Next, think about your patient rooms. How are you helping them have a smoother experience? If you have TVs in each room, for example, do you also provide instructions for how to operate the devices and how to request tech support if they run into issues? Use digital signage to make the process of accessing entertainment an easy and positive one, so patients can enjoy pleasant distractions while passing the time in their room. 

7. Digital Menu Boards

Finally, what about your cafeteria? All too often, medical facilities use static signs that have to be changed, re-printed and re-posted as offerings change. You can say goodbye to this hassle by using digital menu boards instead. A few simple keystrokes and you can update your menu, pricing and information any time you need to.