Wayfinding is an important consideration for all facilities, but it carries particular urgency for patients who are trying to make their way around health care facilities. Often, health care facilities are large and complex, and comprehensive wayfinding plays a crucial role in whether or not people can get to their appointments and medical procedures on time. If a health care facility lacks an efficient wayfinding system, then unhappy, frustrated patients will be the inevitable result. On the other hand, good wayfinding solutions for health care facilities significantly enhance patient experience.

First Impressions

When health care facilities integrate intuitive wayfinding into their structure, people can more easily find their way around, and as a result, they get good first impressions of the facility. First impressions count for a great deal. Patients who, with the help of a good wayfinding solution, can reach their destinations experience much less stress. Another way health care facilities can assist people with wayfinding is to give them online information, which helps with issues like parking before patients even reach the facility. Such assistance greatly enhances patient confidence.

Timeliness

For patients, timeliness is one of their most pressing concerns. Patients want to be on time to see their doctors, and they want to be on time for their medical procedures. When a health care facility provides intuitive wayfinding so that people can reach their destinations with less frustration and aggravation, there are fewer missed appointments and procedures as well as fewer problems with lateness. Good architectural signage solutions that are integrated into the structure of health care facilities do a great deal to streamline operations and make sure that people can find their way to where they need to be.

The People Factor

An effective wayfinding solution for a given health care facility must include the people factor. No matter how streamlined and intuitive the wayfinding solution might be with regard to its integration into the structure of the building and optimized signage, staff need to be able to give patients accurate information when asked. If inaccurate information is given, people will still get lost. So, the better the wayfinding system, the more easily health care staff will be able to assist patients who have questions about how to get around.

Outcomes

When patients can better find their way around a health care setting, then outcomes become more positive. Patients are able to keep their appointments and undergo medical procedures with less stress, and these things contribute to a more positive attitude all the way around. Health care facilities pride themselves on delivering compassionate medical care to patients, and part of that compassion is enhancing patient experience, of which efficient wayfinding is an inseparable component. Good wayfinding solutions play a tremendous role in enhancing patient experience at health care facilities. Patients and their loved ones often are dealing with a lot of stress already if they’re being treated for illnesses. When a health care facility does everything it can to lessen patients’ stress and frustration, then they’re showing those patients yet another level of compassionate care.