Digital Signage in Healthcare: Improving the Patient Experience from Check-In to Discharge

Two out of three patients believe a ‘digitally-forward healthcare practice’ would enhance the overall patient experience during a doctor’s visit.

The digitization of information sharing alone makes a significant impact. Healthcare wayfinding displays and waiting room screens are one of the first things a patient sees and benefits from when they enter a hospital or doctor’s office.

Digital signage shapes the patient’s first impression and everything in between. Let’s dive deeper into the role of digital signage in healthcare settings from check-in to discharge.

Power Stress-Free Navigation & Check-In

For a patient who’s already feeling nervous about a doctor’s visit, they don’t want to worry about navigating the facility.

Digital signage can serve as a hospital wayfinder, clearly displaying the offices located on each floor so patients can easily determine where to go. In large facilities, healthcare wayfinding can include estimated route lengths and elevator wait times for optimal planning.

These wayfinding capabilities help hospitals minimize congestion and ensure everyone’s safety during an emergency. If staff are transporting a patient or responding to a crisis in one hallway, they can easily update their digital signage to direct other patients and visitors in a different direction. As many healthcare facilities undergo renovations and updates, clear digital signage also ensures patients identify alternate paths for optimal safety and efficiency.

Digital signage can help alleviate disruptions outside the facility as well. If road construction minimizes access to the hospital parking garage, staff can easily update all displays across the campus with warnings or revised wayfinding directions.

Once patients arrive at the check-in desk, digital displays can guide people to the quickest lines to minimize waits and crowd congestion. Meanwhile, wait time signage gives them real-time estimates for appointment duration, minimizing a common point of patient stress: the uncertainty of wait times.

Create an Engaging, Relaxing Wait

Digital signage offers healthcare providers the versatility to transform their space according to visitors’ sentiment, making the wait experience more relaxing. AI-powered digital signage software can help detect the mood of the room by analyzing facial expressions and seeing where patients’ eyes migrate, adjusting content to power an optimal environment.

If patients appear bored during long wait times, displays can present helpful information such as flu shot reminders and best practices for seasonal allergies to help educate patients while they wait. This reminds patients of important topics to bring up with the doctor for a more impactful conversation. Digital signage software can help translate this information into multiple languages so it’s clear and accessible for all patients.

On the other hand, if patients appear stressed and overwhelmed when they enter the waiting room, the last thing they want to see is more health reminders. In that case, content can switch to soothing imagery – like a beach sunset or a peaceful mountain scene.

Regardless of the visuals displayed, AI-powered tools help providers determine which content performs best so they can optimize its impact.

Drive a Seamless, Cohesive Back-End Experience

Giving hospital staff access to the right technology on the back-end empowers them to optimize the patient experience.

With clinician workflows becoming increasingly digitized, it’s more important than ever to implement technology that can integrate different digital health content – from telehealth platforms to remote care and EHR systems. Digital displays help bring that information together in a single view so care teams can easily collaborate and determine the best course of action for the patient.

In nurses’ stations and areas where care teams strategize, digital signage can help everyone stay up-to-date on current schedules, medication reminders, check-ups, and more, streamlining handovers from one shift to another. This is much more efficient and less error-prone than each member of the team updating clipboards and paper forms with critical information.

The Impact of Digital Signage on the Patient Experience

As the healthcare industry grows increasingly digitized, facilities benefit from real-time, engaging digital signage that can grow with them.

Whether it’s powering a stress-free check-in experience, relaxing waiting room environment, or real-time, comprehensive patient updates across the care team, digital signage helps healthcare facilities drive a more seamless and connected patient experience.

If you’re exploring ways to improve patient experiences and support your staff with digital signage solutions, let’s talk.