In our ongoing series on wayfinding in healthcare, we’ve looked at why finding things in hospitals can be challenging, what some of the solutions are, and why it matters. We’ve also talked a bit about what to look for when you go onsite for walk through to test wayfinding. In this post, we wanted to highlight a few other key things to be aware of when purchasing a wayfinding solution.
Wayfinding in healthcare is more complicated than it is for other industries. When it isn’t done well, it can impact patient experience, result in late or missed appointments, and put more burden on staff. Doing it well requires a focus on quality, accuracy, and scalability. Here are a few key things in each of those areas to watch for.
Accuracy
- Blue dot accuracy: The solution must be able to reliably locate you, put a 'blue dot' at your location, and track you as you move through the facility.
- Blue dot navigation: The navigation should update as you walk through the facility and direct you with appropriate instructions to get to your destination.
- Floor level accuracy: It’s important for the application to be able to identify what floor you are on and navigate you between floors.
- Saving parking spot: Can the solution save an individual parking space when you get on campus?
- Surface lot support: Can it save that parking spot in a surface lot as well as a garage/parking deck?
- Building transitions: When navigation crosses from one building to the next, is route continuous and easy to understand?
Quality
- Location Detail Quality: Can you manage details for locations including photography, video, descriptions, links, and phone numbers?
- Offline Navigation: Will the system keep navigation functional while offline?
- Off-Route / Reroute: Does the application Detect when you go off route and generate a new route to your destination?
- Wrong Way Detection: Does it tell you to turn around if you go opposite the suggested direction?
- 3D Maps: Are there high-quality renderings of the facilities, designed for easy orientation?
Scalability
- Campus Navigation: Does the platform support multiple entrances and moving between multiple buildings in a campus?
- Network Map: Does the system show a map of all the health system’s points of care and locations?
- Network Search: can you search the map of all locations for s pacific destination?
Of course there are many other key features to a good wayfinding and indoor positioning solution, but it’s important to think about some of these things to ensure the best possible patient experience.
If you want more information, download the report on what to look for when testing wayfinding onsite.