How BrightSign and 22Miles Help Health Systems, VA Medical Centers, and Hospitals Improve Patient Experience, Safety, and Communication

In today’s complex healthcare environments — from expansive health systems to VA Medical Centers and hospitals — clear visual communications and real-time digital experiences are critical. Visitors need help navigating large campuses efficiently, and patients must be kept informed during high-stakes emergencies. Traditional signage methods simply can’t meet the pace and complexity of modern healthcare.

Together, 22Miles and BrightSign deliver a unified solution that brings together interactive wayfinding and dynamic digital signage, helping healthcare providers improve the patient experience, streamline operations, and enhance emergency preparedness, all while supporting a range of infrastructure, security, and accessibility needs.

 

Why Real-Time Wayfinding Matters in Healthcare

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are complex environments. With sprawling campuses, multiple departments, and ever-changing layouts, it’s no surprise that navigation is one of the biggest challenges for patients and visitors. In fact, missed or late appointments due to navigation issues cost the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $150 billion annually, a staggering figure that underscores the critical need for better digital wayfinding solutions.

Outdated static signage simply can’t keep up. Traditional wayfinding systems are slow to update, hard to follow, and often fail to accommodate the unique needs of patients, visitors, and staff. The result? Frustration, delays, and a diminished perception of the hospital’s overall quality and innovation.

Real-time digital wayfinding solves these problems by offering:

• Dynamic, searchable directories that reflect live updates across departments, clinics, and provider schedules.
• Mobile wayfinding that empowers users to scan a QR code and continue their route seamlessly on their smartphone.
• ADA-accessible routes and interfaces that ensure inclusive navigation for patients and visitors with mobility challenges or other disabilities.
• Multi-lingual support and voice guidance to assist users with varying language and communication needs.

By delivering intuitive, interactive, and accurate directions from any entry point to any destination, real-time wayfinding doesn’t just guide people, it improves the overall care experience, reduces stress, and helps hospitals operate more efficiently.

 

Smarter Emergency Communication for Safer Hospitals

In fast-paced healthcare environments like hospitals, clear and immediate emergency communication is essential. Whether it’s severe weather, a security incident, or a fire, every second counts, and outdated communication methods put lives at risk. Hospitals must be able to reach staff, patients, and visitors quickly and effectively, including those with mobility or sensory limitations.

By integrating with emergency alert systems, 22Miles’ digital signage platform enables hospitals to deliver real-time, location-specific alerts across all displays. Paired with BrightSign’s secure and reliable media players, this solution ensures that critical information reaches the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

During an emergency, the system can:

• Override scheduled content to display urgent messages and safety protocols.
• Guide people to ADA-accessible evacuation routes and safe zones based on their location.
• Deliver instructions in multiple languages or formats, including text, visuals, and audio, to ensure accessibility for all.

This dynamic emergency signage solution is deployed in VA Medical Centers and private health systems alike, providing peace of mind and life-saving visibility when it matters most. Whether it’s a code alert or a campus-wide lockdown, healthcare organizations can depend on 22Miles and BrightSign for rapid, visual crisis response.

 

Hardware Built for the Demands of Healthcare

In healthcare, signage must be dependable, secure, and easy to scale. BrightSign’s digital signage players are trusted across the healthcare sector, from small clinics to major medical centers, for their:

• Rugged, self-healing, and reliable performance in high-traffic, mission-critical settings.
• Secure operating system, BrightSignOS^TM, that protects sensitive data and networks.
• Scalability and free remote management for multi-site deployments through bsn.Control.
• Compatibility with a wide range of signage formats, including touchscreens, wall displays, kiosks, and more.

With minimal maintenance and long-term durability, BrightSign makes it easy for hospital IT and facilities teams to roll out and manage a network of interactive signage with confidence.

 

Smart, Interactive Wayfinding and Digital Signage Designed for Healthcare

22Miles delivers a comprehensive digital wayfinding signage solution built for the complex needs of modern hospitals and medical centers. With a focus on accessibility, flexibility, and real-time responsiveness, 22Miles’ interactive wayfinding platform goes far beyond digital maps — it transforms how patients and visitors navigate and engage with the facility.

Key features include:

• Interactive kiosks, touchscreen signage, and mobile wayfinding provide intuitive turn-by-turn directions, 3D floor plans, and searchable directories for departments, providers, restrooms, and more.
• Real-time updates and dynamic route closures, so staff can instantly adjust paths for construction, cleaning, or emergency scenarios.
• API integration with Alertus and other emergency systems, allowing safety alerts to override normal wayfinding content and redirect users to safe zones or exits.
• On-premises or cloud hosting options, perfect for VA hospitals that require more secure solutions.
• ADA-compliant solution with screen reader support, voice-guidance, high-contrast mode, adjustable text, and touch-free options.

Behind the scenes, content is managed from a centralized CMS, making it simple for administrators to keep information up to date across all displays. Whether guiding patients to an appointment or rerouting visitors during an emergency, 22Miles empowers hospitals to deliver a seamless, safe, and inclusive navigation and interactive digital signage experience.

 

A Unified Solution for Modern Healthcare

Hospitals face the challenge of both keeping patients and visitors oriented in often overwhelming environments, and ensuring rapid, effective communication when emergencies arise. BrightSign and 22Miles meet both needs with a seamlessly integrated solution that combines hardware resilience with intelligent, real-time software.

Together, they help deliver:

• Faster, easier navigation for patients, visitors, and staff.
• Fewer missed appointments and operational inefficiencies.
• Enhanced safety through real-time emergency messaging.
• Scalable, ADA-compliant systems that integrate with hospital IT and emergency infrastructure.
• Centralized content control that reduces administrative burden while maintaining brand consistency.
• Flexible on-premises or cloud hosting options.

From day-to-day visits to crisis response, BrightSign and 22Miles empower hospitals to deliver a smarter, safer, and more compassionate experience for everyone who enters the building.

Have questions about deploying digital signage in your healthcare facility? Our experts are ready to help. Request a free demo or proof of concept.