Healthcare Digital Signage
Improving Patient Experience and Outcomes
Healthcare digital signage reduces patient anxiety, improves wayfinding in complex facilities, and ensures timely communication to staff. From emergency department wait times to donor recognition walls, digital displays enhance every aspect of the healthcare experience.
Healthcare Signage Impact
Key Benefits
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Reduced perceived wait time | 35% decrease with entertainment/info |
| Wayfinding improvement | 50% fewer "where is" questions |
| Patient satisfaction | 15-20% improvement in HCAHPS |
| Staff communication | Real-time updates across departments |
| Emergency response | Instant facility-wide alerts |
ROI Considerations
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Staff time savings | Less direction-giving |
| Reduced missed appointments | Clear navigation |
| Improved throughput | Better patient flow |
| Donor engagement | Recognition drives giving |
| Print cost reduction | Dynamic wayfinding updates |
Healthcare Applications
Facility Overview
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HEALTHCARE FACILITY │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ MAIN LOBBY │ │
│ │ • Welcome/check-in kiosk │ │
│ │ • Wayfinding directory │ │
│ │ • Donor recognition wall │ │
│ │ • General health information │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ EMERGENCY DEPT │ │ WAITING AREAS │ │
│ │ • Wait times │ │ • Queue/status │ │
│ │ • Triage info │ │ • Health education │ │
│ │ • Patient flow │ │ • Entertainment │ │
│ └────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌────────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ CLINICAL AREAS │ │ STAFF AREAS │ │
│ │ • Room status │ │ • Announcements │ │
│ │ • Patient info │ │ • Metrics/dashboards │ │
│ │ • OR schedules │ │ • Recognition │ │
│ └────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ CAFETERIA / PUBLIC SPACES │ │
│ │ • Menu boards, events, visitor information │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Patient Wayfinding
| Feature | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Interactive directories | Touch-screen map navigation |
| Turn-by-turn directions | Print or send to phone |
| Multilingual support | Major languages + translation |
| Accessibility | ADA compliant, audio options |
| Real-time updates | Construction, closures |
Wayfinding Design
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WAYFINDING KIOSK │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO? │ │
│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐ │
│ │ [ICON] │ │ [ICON] │ │ [ICON] │ │
│ │ Emergency │ │ Radiology │ │ Laboratory │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐ │
│ │ [ICON] │ │ [ICON] │ │ [ICON] │ │
│ │ Surgery │ │ Maternity │ │ Pharmacy │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐ │
│ │ [ICON] │ │ [ICON] │ │ [ICON] │ │
│ │ Cafeteria │ │ Gift Shop │ │ Parking │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ [SEARCH BY DOCTOR NAME] [KEYBOARD] │ │
│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Languages: English | Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Waiting Room Displays
| Content Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Queue status | Reduce anxiety, set expectations |
| Health education | Preventive care, wellness tips |
| Entertainment | Reduce perceived wait time |
| Facility info | Services, hours, policies |
| Visitor guidelines | Current protocols |
Emergency Department
| Display | Information |
|---|---|
| Public wait time | Estimated wait, queue status |
| Triage guidance | When to seek emergency care |
| Check-in status | Registration confirmation |
| Patient flow | Staff-facing throughput |
Clinical Displays
| Application | Use Case |
|---|---|
| OR schedule | Today's surgeries, room status |
| Patient boards | Whiteboard replacement |
| Handoff displays | Shift change information |
| Census boards | Bed availability |
| Code status | Emergency response boards |
Compliance Considerations
HIPAA Compliance
| Concern | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| PHI display | Never show on public screens |
| Patient names | Use initials or numbers only |
| Room assignments | Careful screen placement |
| Access control | Role-based content permissions |
| Audit trails | Log all content access |
Accessibility (ADA)
| Requirement | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Screen height | Interactive at 48" max reach |
| Clear floor space | 30" × 48" minimum |
| Color contrast | WCAG AA minimum (4.5:1) |
| Audio alternative | Hearing loop or audio jack |
| Text sizing | Readable at distance |
Joint Commission
| Standard | Signage Role |
|---|---|
| Wayfinding | Clear navigation reduces falls |
| Emergency codes | Instant alert dissemination |
| Hand hygiene | Reminder displays at stations |
| Patient safety | Medication, allergy alerts |
Donor Recognition
Digital Donor Walls
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DONOR RECOGNITION │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ FOUNDING BENEFACTORS │ │
│ │ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │ │
│ │ The Johnson Family Foundation │ │
│ │ Smith Medical Trust │ │
│ │ Community Health Partners │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ PLATINUM DONORS │ │
│ │ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │ │
│ │ Anonymous • Dr. Mary Williams • Regional Bank Corp │ │
│ │ Healthcare Foundation • The Robinson Trust │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ GOLD DONORS │ │
│ │ [Scrolling list of donors...] │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ [Touch to search donors] [Learn about giving] [Add your name] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Benefits of Digital vs. Static:
- Easy updates without reconstruction
- Multimedia storytelling (photos, videos)
- Interactive exploration
- Campaign integration
- Lower long-term cost
Staff Communications
Applications
| Type | Content |
|---|---|
| Announcements | Policy changes, alerts |
| Recognition | Employee of month, milestones |
| Metrics | Quality scores, performance |
| Education | Training reminders, CME |
| Scheduling | Shift information, coverage |
Integration with Healthcare Systems
| System | Integration |
|---|---|
| EHR (Epic, Cerner) | Patient status, census |
| Nurse call | Alert display |
| Scheduling | Kronos, API Scheduler |
| RTLS | Asset, staff location |
| Building management | Temperature, maintenance |
Emergency Communications
Code Alerts
| Code | Display Response |
|---|---|
| Code Blue | Location, team notification |
| Code Red (Fire) | Evacuation routes, instructions |
| Code Silver | Active threat protocols |
| Code Orange | Hazmat/external disaster |
| Lockdown | Shelter in place instructions |
Alert Override
| Priority | Display Behavior |
|---|---|
| Normal | Regular content loop |
| Advisory | Ticker/banner addition |
| Warning | Full-screen takeover |
| Emergency | All screens, audio if equipped |
Technology Requirements
Healthcare-Specific Needs
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Infection control | Cleanable displays, antimicrobial |
| Privacy screens | Viewing angle limitation |
| Reliability | 24/7 operation, redundancy |
| Integration | HL7/FHIR for clinical data |
| Security | HIPAA-compliant infrastructure |
Display Specifications
| Location | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Lobbies | 55"-85" commercial LCD |
| Waiting rooms | 43"-65" commercial |
| Hallway wayfinding | 32"-43" with touch |
| Room doors | 10"-15" room signs |
| Clinical | 22"-43" antimicrobial |
Frequently Asked Questions
Next Steps
- Education Signage - Schools and universities
- Accessibility Guidelines - ADA compliance
- Wayfinding Design - Navigation best practices
- Data-Driven Content - System integration
Healthcare signage solutions from MediaSignage, improving patient experiences since 2008.