Wayfinding signage is important for all types of businesses, but this is especially true for hospitals. Hospital wayfinding signage helps patients and visitors find their way around the facility whether they are there to see a doctor, have a procedure, or visit a friend or family member. Hospital wayfinding signs have multiple uses and provide many benefits to the public, medical personnel, and hospital employees. In this article, we will cover the history or wayfinding signs in hospitals and also touch on the design and usage of this marketing and branding technique.
The History of Hospital Wayfinding Signs
In general, hospital signage developed and evolved over time in a similar manner to signage across other industries. The evolution of this signage was made possible by insights provided by research studies on human behavior, as well as color theory and visual studies.
In addition, hospital signage was also created due to the needs of the public to have an easy way to navigate a facility, and to make it easy for those with physical, mental or medical issues to find their way to a doctor or medical office that will help them with their health needs.
Hospital Wayfinding Design
The task of creating an effective and informative hospital wayfinding design is dependent on a strategy created by the key decision makers of the medical facility. In other words, this group of people must have a plan in mind of what they want the signage to accomplish and what the overall design is meant to achieve for both the public and the hospital.
There are many design theories that hospitals must keep in mind including the amount of visuals on the sign when compared to the amount of text on the sign. In addition, the signage can be kept clean and uncluttered by including mobile accessibility in the design so some of the necessary information can be found by scanning a QR code.
Hospital Wayfinding Signage Landmark Usage
The use of landmarks in relation to hospital wayfinding signage helps people find their way from one destination in a hospital to another destination. Wayfinding signs speak a universal language through the use of pictures, patterns, and themes that are included in the objects (landmarks). The goal is to help the public remember where things are located or help them find where they are going for the first time. Some of the common landmark uses for hospital wayfinding signs include:
- Ceiling Danglers
- Statues & Other Objects
- Pictures & Posters
- Patterns
Using Color & Themes in Your Signage to Direct Patients Effectively
Ask any marketing and branding expert and they will tell you that the public responds to certain colors and also associates them with specific feelings or areas of a business. The use of color-coding can help organize and distinguish different sections of a hospital in the eyes of the public. For example, pediatrics can be one color while emergency services and labor and delivery can be different colors. The public will learn to associate certain colors with a specific section or department of the hospital which makes it easier for them to navigate the facility.
How to Best Orient Visitors at Your Healthcare Facility Using Signage
The ability to use signage at a hospital is not a “one size fits all” solution. There will be a need to utilize multiple shapes and sizes of healthcare facility wayfinding signage to ensure everyone is able to navigate the building efficiently. It will take some research and testing of hospital signage to determine the colors and shapes that people respond to in a positive manner. In addition, the amount of text and visuals on each sign will be a learning process along with the best areas to place the signage so they are easily noticed and provide the desired directions. As mentioned earlier, the content on a sign can speak a universal language regardless of the home country or language of the person viewing the signage.
Common Hospital Wayfinding Signs & Graphics
There are many different types of signs and graphics used for wayfinding purposes. Popular choices include:
- Wall Graphics
- Window Graphics
- Floor Graphics
- Directional Signage
- Banners
Benefits of Hospital Wayfinding Signage
There are many benefits to the use of effective and successfully implemented hospital wayfinding signs beyond giving directions and sharing information. Some of these benefits are easy to see while others are indirect (but important) as shown below:
- Improved Patient Visits and Outcomes
- Reduction in Staff Stress
- Improved Level of Patient Safety
- Reduction in Stress Felt by Patients & Their Families
- Increase in Overall Effectiveness and Quality of Care
If you are ready to create or upgrade your hospital wayfinding signage, our design team can help.
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