The autonomy a patient feels when self-navigating and the
ability to solely focus on their care, combined with the scheduling benefits
from on-time appointments, proves digital wayfinding is a powerful tool - one
that innovative healthcare facilities must consider.
Sprawling hospital campuses can be difficult
and intimidating for patients to navigate. For some, locating the correct
office or unit may feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Some medical
centers cover multiple city blocks, causing navigational difficulties for first
time and repeat patients alike. Medical campuses grow and change over time and
each new unit, department, or building can cause disruption to a patient's
known path.
As healthcare becomes increasingly
competitive, the line between patient and customer begins to blur. Healthcare
facilities must anticipate patient needs and meet their expectations in a
timely manner with convenient and innovative solutions. The health technology
industry is rapidly growing and seeks to provide a quality experience for
patients and their families. With new technologies constantly emerging, facilities
must be selective in implementing proven, user-friendly, and high-ROI solutions
that benefit patients, staff, and operations.
One such solution is digital wayfinding. As
any sized healthcare campus can be overwhelming for patients and visitors to
navigate, digital wayfinding and interactive campus maps provide easy-to-use
indoor and outdoor navigation that efficiently directs users to their
destinations. These cost-effective, GPS-like solutions address an immediate
need with a user-friendly, familiar approach that's easy for facilities to
implement.
Navigating as a pain
point for patients, visitors, and staff
It's not unusual for patients to get lost
during their first visit to a new healthcare facility, some facilities have
reported that nearly 30% of patients get lost on their way to their first
appointment. Even staff report difficulty navigating large campuses. These
challenges can lead to additional stress for patients and visitors, late
arrivals, missed appointments, and ultimately delayed patient care. In fact,
a recent
study found that patients who missed an appointment with their
primary care providers were 70% more likely not to return in the following 18
months. Reports have shown that implementing a digital wayfinding solution
in facilities reduces patient anxiety related to navigation.
Healthcare facilities have estimated losing
$200,000 per year due to scheduling conflicts directly caused by patient
navigational challenges. Combined nationwide, hospitals lose $150
billion each year simply due to missed appointments and
each no-show appointment costs the healthcare industry an estimated $200. Late
appointments can be just as costly. Staff members lose precious time while
monitoring for late patients. Tardiness backs up the schedule and creates costly
inefficiencies, as well as impacts satisfaction for the on-time patients who
are kept waiting. A patient rushing to an appointment will often stop anyone in
a uniform to ask for directions — usually a doctor or nurse — which can also
take time away from providing patient care and other duties, not to mention
increase the potential for exposure risks through added contact.