9 Benefits of Wayfinding Kiosks in Hospitals
Wayfinding is an important part of every hospital’s operations and one of the most effective ways to increase efficiency. It can help reduce traffic jams, improve patient flow and cut costs by reducing the amount of time that patients spend standing in long lines at the doctor’s office or in waiting rooms. But for all the benefits of this easy task, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages of using wayfinding kiosks in hospitals. Knowing these can make it easier for you to decide if wayfinding is a good option for your hospital.
The biggest pro of wayfinding is the cost-effectiveness. Hospitals already know that having visitors means that they need to think about ways to get them to the right place quickly and easily. When you install wayfinding signage in strategic locations around the hospital, visitors will move faster and spend less time standing in long lines. This is good for both the hospital and the visitors.
Another pro is that many hospitals incorporate the use of technology into their wayfinding strategies. Kiosk installations make use of touch screen technology, RFID readers and bar code scanning equipment. These are all new technology that can be expensive to operate. However, when you consider how much time it takes to run these systems on manual equipment, the benefits of good, up-to-date technology quickly add up. In addition, the fact that you can customize your wayfinding kiosks to your hospital’s needs makes them a good investment for any hospital.
Many hospitals also use wayfinding kiosks to add convenience to their parking procedures. By allowing patients to punch in their parking location information at the kiosk, you eliminate the need for the patient to go down to the hospital’s main entrance and enter the correct codes. This allows them to simply use the convenient kiosk near their cars and drive off in peace.
Hospitals often use wayfinding devices to improve traffic flow within their buildings. Good wayfinding systems to ensure that patients can easily find their way through the various rooms of the hospital. This is important because not everyone will want to walk through the main lobby to make their way to the doctor or the emergency room. Sometimes, people won’t be able to find their way around the chaotic lobby. A well-maintained wayfinding system should be able to provide directions from every room to every floor of the hospital. Whether you’re dealing with an urgent need for treatment or simply want to make it easier for visitors, good wayfinding is a worthwhile investment for your hospital.
If you look at the benefits of good wayfinding, you’ll quickly see why they’re becoming such an important part of most hospitals. Of course, you should also keep in mind that there are a number of different ways that wayfinding can be implemented. Some hospitals go with a single, larger wayfinding sign and include it on all vehicle types, perhaps even posting it on your emergency vehicles as well. Others may prefer to place a single unit in each floor of their facility and allow the staff to manually place the signs wherever they might be needed. The best way to choose the best way to implement wayfinding is to consult with the hospital’s clinical service management department.
A good wayfinding system can also benefit your patients. Many of them may not be aware that the hospital has a wayfinding kiosk, and if you place signs in places where they might come into contact with patients, you can increase your chances of having them show up again. By placing the signs in areas where patients usually go where they can’t normally get to, you can draw them in and make them feel more comfortable when they’re visiting the hospital. Patients want to come to the hospital and they want to be in an environment where they feel safe and seen. By having a wayfinding unit in the hospital dedicated to signage, you can encourage these patients to visit and come back often.
Finally, having a wayfinding unit in the hospital can actually help with patient relations. Having wayfinding units within the hospital can allow your patients to feel as though the hospital is well staffed and organized, which can have a positive impact on their overall experience in the hospital. Wayfinding kiosks in hospitals can provide information about the services that are offered by the hospital, such as hours of operation, doctor contacts and numbers, and even contact information for the medical staff. This information makes it easier for patients to keep track of their doctors and can even motivate them to go to the doctor when they see a familiar face on the wayfarer.