The coronavirus pandemic has changed how people lived. The changes meant adapting to situations that lower their risk of contracting the virus.
As primary hubs in managing the COVID-19 crises, hospitals had to develop efficient systems that allow occupants to confidently navigate the premises without fear of being unnecessarily exposed to the virus.
Wayfinding solutions are one of the critical factors in adapting to the post-COVID-19 world. In a place where one can inadvertently find themselves in the wrong ward or a high-risk area, clear and concise wayfinding systems will surely help reduce the number of such instances.
Finding Ways for Efficiency, Safety, and Productivity
Now that many locations across the globe are gearing for continued mobilization towards COVID-19 recovery, hospitals and healthcare environments should consider making excellent hospital wayfinding design a priority.
As more people are coming out of their homes brought on by less stringent lockdown measures, it is expected that foot traffic will also increase. Medical practitioners can now conduct routine in-person check-ups instead of online consultations. Surgeries that needed to be delayed or postponed may now be performed. Other medical appointments and businesses in hospitals can now resume.
At DezignTechnic, we believe that creating a flexible public environment in the post-lockdown era is vital to bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic. Efficient wayfinding solutions can help hospitals and similar settings cope with new operational changes. These systems can also help create a safe space that can welcome patients and visitors calmly and confidently.
Here are other reasons why healthcare organizations should place value in creating efficient wayfinding and navigation systems:
1. To ensure safety and security
Efficient mapping tools and wayfinding signage can play a considerable role in helping people adapt to new social norms. Environmental signage can help create a frictionless journey for every person who needs to go to a hospital or healthcare center.
Clear and concise wayfinding signs that are seamlessly integrated into the building’s interior design can make it easier for both hospital employees and clients to find their way around. By researching the best course to take in and around hospital areas, a wayfinding design firm can plot signages in key spots with relevant content.
For example, the signage can steer clients away from the COVID-19 intensive care units or redirect them to the healthcare facility’s predetermined areas. This way, people need not be inadvertently exposed to the risk factors that come with COVID-19. Thoughtfully developed wayfinding signage can help manage traffic flow within the hospital and even surrounding areas such as green spaces and parking areas.
2. To eliminate time wastage
An efficient wayfinding system can also be a valuable tool for eliminating time wastage. A Deloitte Digital report found that 30 percent of visitors get confused or lost during their first visit to a hospital. Since some medical properties tend to expand over time, regular or repeat patients may still find themselves getting lost within the premises.
Even employees can have some trouble finding their way around a hospital complex. According to the same report, a quarter of hospital staff finds difficulty navigating their way in the hospital. This confusion can lead to delays in business dealings or operational procedures and impact the hospital’s bottom line.
The hospital administration must hire professional wayfinding design providers to create an environment with a user-friendly navigational route. Expert wayfinding designers can craft signage systems whose design and operation can guide people through a complex physical setting.
Skillfully designed landmarks, maps, traditional signage, and interactive directional markers can help people avoid time-related issues such as being late to appointments, experiencing physical and mental stress, or missing meetings and destinations.
3. To increase employee productivity and customer satisfaction
Both the hospital and the customers can benefit when time-related concerns and navigational efficiency are addressed. By getting the navigation system right, both internal and external customers of the hospital can get straight to their business.
At DezignTechnic, our wayfinding specialists make it a point to study and understand new protocols and internal systems. Comprehension of how hospitals work leads our team to design seating arrangements or workspaces that make employees more comfortable and confident in their new workstations.
With navigational issues out of the way, higher productivity can be expected. There’s no need to take precious time and energy from hospital staff just by asking for directions. Clients and employees alike will have an easier time getting to their destination and conduct their business. This situation can lead to better customer satisfaction, which bodes well for the hospital’s brand and business objectives.
Finding the Road to Recovery
To make considerable progress in a post-lockdown world, hospitals and other healthcare settings must make efficient wayfinding designs a critical factor in its recovery plan.
A full-service mapping, signage and wayfinding design firm such as DezignTechnic can facilitate healthcare organizations’ various communication needs in creating a safe and user-friendly space. By devising cost-effective and high-quality placemaking and wayfinding solutions for hospital facilities and sites, occupants can ease their worries and stride into these places with confidence. Talk to us today to learn about the best solution for your needs.
