Healthcare is a dynamic industry with so much to keep up with all the time. The information inflow can get overwhelming, and if it is not streamlined, it could lead to missed information and potential delays. 

This is where technology comes in.

One solution creating a huge impact in the healthcare sector is interactive digital signage. This solution helps your staff with critical information to deliver quality patient care every single time. For patients, it elevates their experience for a more welcoming and less anxious hospital visit. 

For patient-centric healthcare brands, digital signage software has become an investment towards future-forward patient care strategies. Let’s find out how below.

Ways to use interactive digital signage in healthcare

Digital signage excels at streamlining communication and enhancing audience engagement. Here are some top ways to use interactive digital signage in your healthcare center:

1. Wayfinding and navigation 

For easy access, you can position them in high-traffic areas like entrances, registration counters, and common hallways. This way, patients can search for their destinations and get guided instructions instantly!

You can also display your hospital’s layout on large displays. Here, you can showcase frequently searched places to help with navigation. For example, you can clearly outline the different hospital blocks, pharmacies, and cafeterias to ensure easy access to any point of the infrastructure. 

2. Real-time information updates

Digital signage streamlines communication for both your staff and patients seamlessly. On staff-facing screens, you can share real-time updates on staffing schedules, patient information, and healthcare protocols to ensure there is no missed update. These critical updates are right before your staff, ensuring smooth workflows and operational efficiency.

A patient-centric advantage of digital signage is its ability to share live wait times. These displays inform patients about their waiting duration and next-in-line information, alleviating restless waiting. Playing engaging content like weather updates, hospital events, and educational content also engages them during their wait, making the visit less daunting. 

On patient-facing screens, you can also share patient stories and testimonials to instill positivity and hope among patients. These can include text reviews, before and after shots, and video interviews highlighting the overall patient experience at your facility. 

3. Educational content and health promotion 

Some healthcare concepts can be difficult to grasp. Medical jargons and terminologies often leave patients feeling confused and overwhelmed. This can be especially frustrating for patients who want to learn more about medical conditions and best practices.

Medical jargons and terminologies are not easy to understand for all customers. 

But here’s where multimedia content shines. Using visuals, colors, videos, and even audio in some cases, you can share crisp and easy-to-understand medical content that users can comprehend easily. This makes healthcare information more accessible to a diverse range of patients.

For example, you can share an infographic on the ‘Top 5 ways to reduce stress’ to help patients regulate their stress levels. You can also share video tutorials of exercises that help calm the body and mind for more actionable tips.

For maximum impact, share these informational graphics and videos in high-traffic areas. Waiting rooms, cafeterias, and common hallways ensure optimal visibility with audience reach.

4. Emergency alerts and notifications 

In emergency situations, timely communication is critical to patient and staff safety. This is where digital signage excels. 

With a few clicks, you can share evacuation messages, safety routes, and safety shelters on targeted display screens. With device segmentation, you can choose exactly which screen these alerts go to. This ensures people in affected areas are informed without causing panic or confusion in non-affected areas.

You can also add audio in these emergency cases to ensure you capture everyone’s attention. For example, someone in your staff might be away from their station or on a bathroom break. Hearing the emergency alarm, they’ll be aware of the emergency and rush to safety. 

5. Queue management and appointment status

Nobody likes waiting. It’s worse when patients visit a healthcare center, already worried about their health.

Digital signage streamlines the registration process for a hassle-free experience. You can share QR codes on displays in registration areas and entrances. This way, your patients can simply scan the code and sign up at the stop without waiting in long queues. 

They can also get alerts and updates about patient flow, next-in-line information, and appointment status to know exactly when their turn will come. It’s all about optimizing the patient experience for a more pleasant interaction!

Looking ahead 

Digital signage is more than just a tech upgrade. It’s a business move towards crafting more patient-centric experiences. These include enhanced communication, simplified wayfinding, and overall more pleasant in-facility interactions. 

Integrating digital signage into your healthcare ecosystem is a conscious effort toward a future where healthcare is not confined to clinical treatments. Rather, it is a vibrant and immersive journey where the patient’s journey across touchpoints keeps a seamless experience in mind. As we ride the wave of healthcare tech advancements, interactive digital signage stands as a beacon of innovation, reshaping patient care and information systems.