Importance of hospital wayfinding in 2024

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The coronavirus pandemic has shown that not all medical institutions were ready for mass flows of people. The main problem is that searching for the necessary room or doctor&#;s office in hospitals can cause anxiety, making a person ask the medical staff who are already overwhelmed with work. Thus, in , it is essential to organize a quick search for objects and convenient indoor navigation for hospitals, which will significantly facilitate the work of employees and increase visitors&#; loyalty.

Importance of hospital wayfinding

Hospitals are crowded places with daily flows of high intensity. If a medical institution is large enough and consists of many campuses, departments, and buildings, the movement around the territory can be complicated, causing difficulties in searching for the necessary objects. Navigation solutions for healthcare can solve these problems. Using these technologies, patients and visitors can easily navigate in space and avoid stressful situations.

The implementation of navigation into the infrastructure of medical institutions ensures the following benefits:

• It enhances the efficiency of medical staff by reducing their workload, enabling hospital visitors to reach their destinations without requiring external assistance. This reduction in unnecessary interactions between staff and visitors not only saves time for medical professionals but also allows them to focus on more critical daily tasks. Wayfinding contributes to maintaining a calm environment for patients, reducing stress for doctors and nurses, and ultimately enhancing their productivity.
• Furthermore, it offers visitors a quick and straightforward means of locating specific objects or rooms. A well-organized indoor-outdoor navigation system within hospitals is intuitive for most individuals, expediting the process of finding desired destinations and saving visitors valuable time. Patients can navigate more effectively within the sprawling hospital spaces and consistently find their way to their intended locations.
• Additionally, wayfinding systems enable hospitals to enhance their image and bolster visitor and patient loyalty, contributing to the concept of "smart hospitals." Implementing such technology positions a hospital as a modern and technologically advanced institution. Visitors gain a better understanding of the facility, making subsequent visits more convenient. The ongoing improvement of the clinic's services and facilities makes it more appealing to patients, fosters their loyalty, and encourages them to return to the institution repeatedly.

Indoor navigation systems are widely used in healthcare. Statistics show that they&#;re actively implemented in many hospitals and provide more efficient patient care. According to forecasts, from to , the average annual growth rate of the navigation systems market will be 32.56%, and its total volume should reach $92.36 billion by the end of the study period.

Types of wayfinding for healthcare

Wayfinding inside hospitals can be arranged in several ways depending on the size of a medical institution. The most common examples of wayfinding are digital signs, information booths, visual navigation, and a wayfinding app for hospitals.

Digital signs

Physical and digital signs are crucial for hospital performance. They can be used both for displaying information about the place and for simplifying the search for various objects. Signs with arrows pointing the way to the points of interest can be a good example of digital signs. Many clinics use signs of different colors to distinguish different departments. These solutions are intuitive for visitors and ensure better identification of routes.

Information booths

Booths have a two-fold benefit for patients. On the one side, they offer maps for navigating around a hospital; on the other hand, they give detailed information about an institution. Such places can be found practically in any large clinic. They can be digital or usual and help search forwards, procedure rooms, doctors&#; offices, and even individual employees.

Visual navigation

Visual navigation is understood as special tips that help quickly get to the destination. Convenient search is ensured by structured ways that include the original use of the color palette, various symbols, or backlight. If it is necessary to improve the perception of visual navigation, symbols and colors can be simply updated making routes more understandable for visitors.

Indoor navigation in mobile apps

In recent years, modern forms of indoor navigation, organized with the help of mobile apps, have acquired more popularity. To locate the necessary object, a visitor needs a smartphone with the pre-installed mobile application. The system can provide digital maps and create the shortest route which will help to get easily and quickly to places of interest. Thanks to this solution, a visitor can find any objects inside or outside a hospital without disappointment or stress from losing valuable time.

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Navigation using QR codes

QR hospital wayfinding is a convenient and effective system for helping patients navigate inside the building. Visitors can easily scan QR codes located in various areas or rooms to get information about their current location and directions. This is especially useful for hospitals, where a complex structure and a large number of areas can be challenging. Using QR navigation, patients and visitors can quickly find the right room or doctor&#;s office, which contributes to a better patient experience.

To see how the QR navigation system works, scan the QR code below:

Indoor navigation for hospitals: What&#;s this?

More and more medical institutions are applying indoor navigation. Mobile technologies work more efficiently in comparison with signs or information booths and allow increasing patient satisfaction with visiting clinics.

Any navigation system is based on a combination of software and hardware that is adjusted to display the detailed scheme of the place and the territory. Using the navigation, a person can see the location of an object on the map and track his movement around the hospital in real-time.

The system is characterized by wide functionality and offers visitors not just simple step-by-step navigation, but a wide range of additional options, including:

• Intuitive search for objects on the map by keywords;
• Possibility to make a remote appointment;
• Reminders about appointments or other visits;
• Personalized notifications based on the current location;
• Possibility to share your location with relatives or friends.

The technology allows finding the shortest way to the needed object. The system is configured to use the most suitable lifts, entrances, and halls. If desired, users can choose the routes that will allow them to avoid too narrow stairs or steep climbs. More detailed information can be provided about each object. Thus, if it is a doctor&#;s office, a visitor can get access to his contact information or data on his working hours.

Example of Navigine indoor navigation platform interface for hospital

Indoor navigation belongs to innovative solutions that allow managing flows of visitors and reducing the time of their staying inside a hospital. Thanks to the system implementation, it is possible to cut down on appointment time and avoid queues near rooms or registration desks. Every year indoor-outdoor tracking solutions are used more and more widely for improving navigation at hospitals and other medical institutions. It is particularly relevant with the beginning of the pandemic when hospitals got an important task of ensuring social distancing and lowering the staff workload.

Technologies for implementing indoor-outdoor navigation

The navigation system in the mobile application can be realized with several techniques to choose from. One of the most effective solutions is iBeacon technology based on the Bluetooth® Low Energy platform. The halls and rooms of a medical institution are equipped with special beacons that transmit signals at specified intervals. Users&#; mobile devices detect these impulses and let the system define the location of a person. The accuracy of calculations is about 1 m.

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Based on the data about a user&#;s location, the platform builds routes, delivers information about objects, and sends out notifications. iBeacon technology is characterized by simple integration into the already existing hospital infrastructure and doesn&#;t require high implementation costs. Sensors (beacons) are powered by independent sources of supply that can function, on average, for 5 years, so the system maintenance costs are minimal.

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Another popular solution is Wi-Fi technology that automatically identifies objects using the existing points of access and allows localization in real-time. As well as iBeacon, the system makes it possible to build routes and send out messages, but its accuracy is, on average, up to 3-5 m.

UWB technology is applied for high accuracy localization. It allows detecting an object with an accuracy of up to 30 sm. Moreover, indoor navigation can be realized with the help of such technologies as RFID, GPS, and some other modern solutions which are selected taking into account the size and needs of an institution.

Example of implementation by Navigine

As an example of wayfinding in healthcare, let&#;s take a look at the system that Navigine implemented in collaboration with equipment supplier Minew. Our task was to facilitate the movement of visitors and staff under the condition of a large influx of patients, as well as ensure social distancing compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic and simplify the search for medical equipment within the building.

As part of the project, our specialists created an effective hospital wayfinding system, which worked based on the SDK for indoor navigation. To implement it, beacons and wearable equipment from Minew were used.

After implementing the system, the clinic&#;s efficiency increased by 10%. The results were the following:

• reducing search time for medical tools and equipment by an average of 20%;
• building convenient routes within the territory of the medical facility;
• increasing the safety of people by reducing the occupancy of halls and reception areas.

What is necessary for navigation implementation?

To have only a positive and successful indoor-outdoor navigation experience for hospitals, the implementation into the clinic infrastructure has to be done professionally and the following moments should be considered:

• Hospital plan. For the quality implementation of navigation solutions, it is necessary to have a detailed plan of all rooms and objects so as not to have problems in the future in searching for points of interest.
• Selection of equipment. It is essential to competently approach the issue of choosing the technology and equipment that will meet the needs of a particular hospital. All beacons and tags have to be installed correctly and in appropriate places, so the installation should be trusted only by professionals.
• Successful deployment. To make navigation work, correct installation is not enough &#; people have to be informed about its availability. Advertising, information booths, or even the &#;word of mouth&#; can assist in this.
• Accessibility. While implementing the system, one should make sure that all the objects on the territory and hospital buildings are accessible for patients, especially elevators and ramps for people with limited mobility.
• Cross-platform. Navigation needs to be available on any device &#; smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc. Patients should have the possibility to choose the most convenient way of interaction for them.

The future of hospital wayfinding

Many experts believe that hospital wayfinding solutions have a bright future. Gradually, many healthcare facilities will be able to move to real-time healthcare systems (RTHS), which will provide movement through buildings based on the patient's location. With those, you can easily build routes to points of interest and improve the quality of customer service. The wayfinding systems will allow for:

• eliminating the stress associated with searching for offices or rooms in a place unfamiliar to visitors;
• optimizing patient care;
• providing users with access to constantly updated information about hospital activities (opening new areas, doctors&#; schedules, etc.);
• saving the time of medical staff, which can sometimes be spent on giving directions to visitors.

Navigine develops navigation systems and offers clients effective solutions for navigation in hospitals. At your service are carefully thought-out software systems based on defining the exact location of objects. They help to develop user-friendly mobile apps that can assist in searching and wayfinding inside buildings. For obtaining more detailed information on our offers, contact Navigine specialists by filling in the form. 

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David Staczek is a principal at ZGF. Staczek&#;s 26 years of design experience have focused on healthcare facilities while being informed by a broad portfolio of work, from office buildings and financial institutions, to pedestrian bridges and multimodal centers.

We like lists because they provide tidy packages for complex ideas. Listicles are everywhere: top 15 buildings of the year, top 3 new products, top 100 architecture schools; the list goes on (literally!).

But how do we tackle something as sophisticated as the modern hospital? How can we distill the journey of healthcare design into a chart of key elements?

The answer is, it&#;s hard. Healthcare environments continue to grow in complexity. Today&#;s perfect hospital design addresses many functions for a variety of users, including patients, families, staff, and c-suite. And while patients and their families are the primary focus for many healthcare institutions, even a list that focuses on patient-centered design is extensive.

Despite the complexity, I believe there are design elements that have the power to positively affect multiple populations within a hospital. If I had to pick 10 areas to advise a client on where to focus &#; if I looked carefully at the basic elements healthcare designers must chart &#; I would start with the following:

1: Architecture & Campus Design

Good campus planning and architecture allows the layout of streets, building approach and building entries to serve as wayfinding devices. Trying to read signs while driving is nerve-wracking. Vehicular access and approach roads should be designed to be intuitive and clear to alleviate stress on the commute. In addition, choices in scale, lighting and materiality for the main entry to the hospital, parking structures, and medical office buildings put patients and their families on the quickest path to the front door. Locating vertical circulation towers and major public spaces near main entries serves as a beacon for those arriving at night, signaling to patients and families where to go with clearly illuminated entrances.

2: Welcoming Design Aesthetic

Good hospital design should reflect both the region and the visual and cultural ethos of the institution. Today, many institutions reference elements of hospitality design when discussing their vision for new buildings. This includes covered drop-offs with valet parking, open and transparent lobbies and public spaces, and warm, natural materials that evoke a sense of comfort. Concierge and check-in services are becoming more common. Art and sound play a key role in creating a calming and welcoming aesthetic and providing positive distractions upon arrival.

3: Drop-Off and Parking

There is no better way to feel that you are being taken care of &#; pampered even &#; than by eliminating all worry of arrival, drop-off and parking. Free valet services reduce stress of finding a space, paying and returning to your car. An expanded vehicular drop-off and pick-up area accommodates these services. It is also adaptable for ride-share and a potential autonomous car revolution. With more patients and visitors utilizing alternative arrival methods, this drop-off sequence will become more important than ever before as parking garages shrink or are converted to other hospital functions.

4: Internal Wayfinding

When architecture, medical planning, interior design and environmental graphics harmoniously blend, a first-time visitor can walk through a space without the aid or &#;you are here&#; maps. Aligning the patient journey with key architecture and interior elements alleviates the need for excessive signage, which can become distracting. Less signage also means more room for design that creates joy and delight. For example, bold colors or visually distinct changes at elevator banks pull people toward them. Using the concourse concept or promenade to connect departments together is a way to intuitively organize wayfinding.

5: A Better Waiting Area

The same holds true for check in desks and waiting areas &#; use the spaces and their visual identities to intuitively help patients navigate. The waiting room is one of the most stressful parts of a visit so make it an amazing place to be: provide expansive views, windows for daylight, art and beautiful, comfortable furniture. Locating waiting areas along the perimeter is an effective way to promote wayfinding and mitigate patient and family stress.

6: Pleasant Clinical Environment

Patients and staff benefit from a well-designed space. While it is tempting to focus only on lobbies and waiting areas, clinical areas need just as much attention. Imaging suites, procedure rooms where patients are conscious, and blood-draw stations benefit from natural daylight and positive distractions in art, material palette and views. These areas are critical in creating a calming and healing environment.

7: Onstage / Offstage Environments (The Disney Effect)

Today, many healthcare institutions take cues from Disney&#;s onstage/offstage concept, where impeccable service appears to happen seamlessly. When designing a new hospital, it isn&#;t just about separating experience areas from service areas but designing a circulation and planning diagram that allows the separation of goods and services from patients and their families, both vertically and horizontally. There are varying degrees to this separation and many influential criteria. For example, adding service and patient transport elevators centered in the patient wing instead of at the end of the units decreases the amount of crossover between patients and services.

8: Healthy Building = Healthy Occupants

Healing happens inside hospitals and the building itself should participate in that healing process. Designing with Red List-free materials, providing clean and filtered air, and offering access to outside experiences with operable windows or terraces in places where immune systems are not compromised are all strategies for healthier buildings. Looking beyond patients to a healthier planet, excess heat, rain and wind should be captured and stored for use. Since hospitals are mission critical facilities and need to remain open and accessible after events like wildfires, tornados and earthquakes the perfect hospital is a standalone, net zero, resilient structure.

9: Personalization and Choice

Personalization goes a long way in creating a comforting experience. It also helps patients and their families have a better visit &#; potentially leading to better outcomes. Just think of all the different ways for patients to customize their experience: change room color or lighting; pick from a group, semi-private or private room for infusion or dialysis treatment; customize overhead music or artwork; select from city or river views. When patients are offered choice it provides a feeling of control over their visit and their care.   

10: Dignified Discharge

Finally, consider how to give a dignified exit for patients who are leaving the hospital, but still require assistance. Provide a comfortable and private discharge route that does not go through the main hospital doors for those using crutches or a wheelchair for the first time or recovering from a day procedure. This not only provides the departing patient a more dignified departure but can calm nerves for new patients entering the hospital.

As designers, we must pay attention to these 10 patient-centered elements to create positive reactions for all populations within a hospital. For healthcare institutions, this list can be used to start asking the right questions about your own healthcare project and how design decisions will affect your hospital. For patients, these 10 elements have the power to ensure a comfortable visit for patients and their families, faster healing and improved outcomes.

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