Navigating the Healthcare Maze: Essential Wayfinding Solutions

Navigating hospitals and medical complexes can be overwhelming for patients and visitors. The unfamiliar environment, combined with potential anxiety or stress, can make it difficult to navigate. Clear and effective wayfinding signage is crucial to guiding people safely and efficiently to their destinations.

PSCO Sign Group can create custom wayfinding solutions that not only provide practical information but also contribute to a welcoming and reassuring atmosphere. Our signs can be designed to match your facility’s existing aesthetic, ensuring a cohesive and professional appearance. From exterior signs that clearly identify your hospital to interior signage that directs visitors to specific departments and locations, our wayfinding solutions can help reduce confusion and anxiety. By providing clear and intuitive guidance, hospitals can create a more positive experience for patients, visitors, and staff alike.

Wayfinding as Part of your Sign Portfolio

Wayfinding signage includes interior and exterior signage and addresses four primary types of wayfinding to help users navigate spaces effectively.  These include Directional signs, Identification signs, Informational signs, and Regulatory signs. View a few examples of wayfinding that was done for healthcare clients Northwell Health or KentuckyOne.

Exterior wayfinding signage is essential for attracting attention and guiding visitors to your facility. Monument signs, channel letters, high-rise signage, and pylons can all be designed to showcase your brand and make a lasting impression. At street level, directional signage, such as vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding signs, helps steer the public toward entrances, emergency lanes, and parking areas. In critical situations, even EMTs and first responders rely on clear wayfinding signage. In moments where every second counts, well-placed signage can be the difference between life and death.

Once inside the facility, interior wayfinding signs play a vital role in directing patients and visitors to the care they need. Not only do these signs help speed visitors to their destinations, but they also convey critical information such as evacuation maps, safety and hazard warnings, elevator and stair locations, and emergency exit labeling.

Staff depends on directionals as they traverse buildings with multiple floors, halls, and offices. Many hospitals feature retail spaces like cafeterias and gift shops. Large-format graphics, digital signage, and wall signs can engage the public while promoting products and creating a sense of calm for visitors and employees.

Connect with our team to discuss wayfinding solutions

Research Highlights Confusion in Complex Environments: The Case for Improved Wayfinding

According to research, a significant number of patients at healthcare facilities were unfamiliar with the layout. At least 30% were first-time visitors, and 40% had only been there 1-2 times previously. This unfamiliarity often led to confusion and frustration. For example, 30% of patients arrived at the wrong building for their appointments. Additionally, with many hospital campuses having multiple elevator banks, 1 out of 4 guests mistakenly took the wrong elevator during their visit. Healthcare facilities are frequently undergoing expansion or renovations. Considering how much floor plans can change over time, a person who visits one year may find a completely different layout a year or two later.

Best Practices for Wayfinding Solutions

Hospitals assign healthcare ‘navigators’ to guide patients through their healthcare. Using that model, some of the nation’s top healthcare campuses have begun to employ in-house wayfinding teams and managers dedicated to signage. Here are suggested hospital wayfinding best practices and solutions used by top institutions across the country:

1. 1. Create a permanent, in-house wayfinding team that is responsible for all aspects of the wayfinding system. Team members would be involved during any expansion planning and ensure continued attention to signage throughout the campus, especially during renovations.  Member skills would include graphic design, wayfinding, and project management.
   2. A wayfinding manager can help create the sign standards for the facility and ensure consistent adherence to those standards. A dedicated project manager can map out and document each sign, the locations, and any proposed changes.
   3. Today, there are so many options available for integrating wayfinding solutions – from digital apps to printed maps and physical landmarks. Compiling and linking various tools gives users multiple ways to access information.
   4. Surveys from both visitors and staff can give insight into the effectiveness of your wayfinding system. The feedback can show areas for needed improvements and help with future planning.
   5. Some facilities have assembled wayfinding committees comprising participants from throughout the organization, such as IT, Executive Administration, Marketing, Facilities Management, and Patient Services.

ADA Compliance

Today’s signs must meet stringent ADA Standards for Design. PSCO Sign Group understands the requirements for ADA Compliance – high contrast between backgrounds and characters, easy-to-read fonts without stylized or highly decorative characters, standards for signs read by touch, and the specific positioning of signs at a proper height. Our wayfinding team will create wayfinding signage that seamlessly blends your design elements while meeting ADA standards.

PSCO Sign Group: Experts in Hospital and Medical Facility Wayfinding.

You can trust the Hospital and Medical signage experts at PSCO Sign Group to create a wayfinding sign portfolio for your facility. We have experience managing the process from design and planning to manufacturing and installation – whether for new construction or renovations.

Contact us to discuss your wayfinding needs for your healthcare facility.