As per a report, around 75% of caregivers and patients claim that digital signage improves their experience at hospitals. This data highlights the transformative potential of digital signage in fostering a more informative, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare setting.
Wondering how you can integrate this powerful technology into your hospital? Well, don’t scratch your mind further – we’re here to guide you through the whole procedure.
In this blog, we’ll explore:
- Insights into hospital-specific digital signage technology
- Real-world examples showcasing successful digital signage implementations
- The unmatched benefits of digital signage for hospitals
- Strategies for deploying digital signage effectively across healthcare settings
- Recommendations of top digital signage providers for hospitals
A Quick Overview of Healthcare Digital Signage
Digital signage in the healthcare sector is rapidly evolving, offering innovative ways to enhance operational efficiency, patient experience, and communication. This modern technology leverages digital screens to display a wide array of content, from wayfinding arrows and hospital services to health tips and important announcements.
Unlike traditional signage, digital displays can be updated instantly, allowing for the timely broadcast of critical information such as emergency alerts, last-minute schedule adjustments, etc.
Benefits of Using Digital Signage in a Medical Institute
Digital signage in hospitals has emerged as a transformative technology, offering plenty of benefits for both patients and caregivers.
Here are a few major ones:
- Improved patient engagement: Digital signage provides an engaging platform for patient education. Displaying health tips, information about common ailments, and preventive measures empowers patients with knowledge about their health and well-being.
- Enhanced wayfinding: Large hospital complexes can be challenging to navigate. Digital signage offers interactive maps and directories to guide individuals through hospital corridors, thereby reducing anxiety and improving the overall hospital experience.
- Efficient communication: Digital signage content enables the rapid dissemination of information across the hospital. Whether it’s changes in visiting hours, important health advisories, or emergency notifications, digital signage ensures that critical information reaches the intended audience promptly, improving communication efficiency.
- Patient entertainment and comfort: In waiting areas, TV displays can provide entertainment or relaxation content to ease patient anxiety. This can include health tips, news updates, or soothing landscapes, contributing to a more positive and less stressful environment.
- Cost-effectiveness: Over time, electronic displays can be a cost-effective solution compared to traditional signage. The ability to update information digitally eliminates the need for frequent printing and distribution of materials, thereby reducing operational costs.
How Can You Utilize Digital Signage in Hospitals? (Top 11 Strategies)
Let’s explore some of the best strategies to leverage digital signs within a healthcare facility:
1. Wayfinding
Implementing digital signage for enhanced wayfinding in hospitals is a critical strategy to improve patient and visitor experience.
Here’s how hospitals can deploy this strategy effectively:
- Install interactive digital signage: Place interactive digital kiosks at key entry points and junctions within the hospital. These should allow users to search for destinations and receive step-by-step directions.
- Utilize clear, concise maps: Ensure that digital signage displays are easy to read, with clear maps that highlight essential areas like emergency rooms, clinics, restrooms, and cafeterias.
- Incorporate real-time updates: Integrate the signage with the hospital’s scheduling system to provide real-time updates about appointment locations and times, as well as changes in doctor availability.
- Ensure multilingual support: To accommodate a diverse patient and visitor base, include multiple language options in your digital signage so that everyone can easily navigate the hospital.
Pro Tip: Enhance the effectiveness of your wayfinding signage by incorporating visual landmarks in your maps. This can include art installations, distinct architectural features, or themed color schemes for different hospital wings.
2. Patient education and engagement
Leveraging digital signage for patient education and engagement can improve patient well-being. In fact, a study found that informed or educated patients tend to have better health outcomes.
To utilize digital signage for patient education, you may consider these steps:
- Health tips and information: Display a rotating series of health tips, educational videos, and informational slides on various topics such as disease prevention, healthy living, and medication management.
- Interactive health quizzes: Set up interactive digital signage with touchscreen capabilities to engage patients in health-related quizzes. These can be fun and educational, helping to pass time in waiting areas while reinforcing important health messages and promoting wellness.
- Patient testimonials: Use digital signage to showcase patient success stories and testimonials related to specific medical conditions. This can inspire current patients and promote your facility.
- Live health workshops and seminars: Use digital signage to broadcast live or recorded health workshops, seminars, and expert talks. Topics can include nutritional advice, exercise routines for specific conditions, and mental health support.
Pro Tip: Regularly update and refresh content on digital signage information hubs to maintain relevance and sustained engagement.
3. Effective communication
Hospitals can leverage digital signage to streamline communication and effectively share information with patients, visitors, and staff.
Here’s how:
- Real-time wait times: Display current wait times for various departments like emergency rooms, laboratories, and pharmacies. This helps manage expectations and reduces patient anxiety.
- Hospital news and announcements: Keep everyone informed about important hospital news, upcoming events, and changes in policies or procedures through digital signage.
- Staff communication: Utilize digital signage for internal corporate communication. Share shift schedules, department updates, reminders, and training materials to keep staff informed and engaged.
- Safety and emergency alerts: In case of emergencies, use digital signage to broadcast critical seasonal medical alerts, safety information, and evacuation instructions.
Pro Tip: Segment your content and target it to specific audiences. For instance, waiting room displays can show patient education content, while staff break rooms can showcase internal communication messages.
To further elevate your hospital’s communication strategy, use CrownTV’s customizable, user-friendly internal communication digital signage options. Tailor your content according to the specific needs of patients, visitors, and staff.
CrownTV ensures that each message is impactful and relevant. Use our vast library of templates to content that resonates with your patients. We make digital signage a breeze – from display advisory, to mounting and installation – we handle it all.
4. Streamlined scheduling and check-in
Digital signage can significantly improve the appointment scheduling and check-in process for patients, leading to a smoother and less stressful experience.
To effectively implement this strategy, consider the following approaches:
- Self-service kiosks: Install self-service check-in kiosks at the hospital entrance and key departments. These screens can guide patients through the check-in process, collect necessary information, and even process payments, reducing the burden on administrative staff.
- Digital check-in boards: Display digital check-in boards in waiting areas listing patients by appointment time or doctor. This provides transparency and reduces confusion about wait times.
- Real-time appointment status updates: Utilize digital signage to provide real-time updates about appointment delays or changes. This helps manage patient expectations and reduces anxiety.
- Queue Management Systems: As per a study, digital signs enhance queue management and decrease perceived wait times by over 35%. Thus, be sure to incorporate digital signage with queue management systems. This involves displaying current waiting times and queue numbers on digital screens.
Pro Tip: To further enhance patient experience and operational efficiency, implement a feedback system through the digital signage network. This allows patients to provide immediate feedback on their check-in experience, enabling continuous improvement.
5. Entertainment in patient room
Multiple search findings suggest that entertainment options in hospital rooms can increase patient satisfaction. With digital signage, you can provide a variety of entertainment choices to your patients in the waiting room to enhance the patient experience.
Here’s how:
- On-demand movies and TV shows: Utilize digital signage displays to offer a wide selection of on-demand movies and television shows. Patients can browse through a catalog of entertainment options and enjoy their favorite programs directly from their hospital beds.
- Streaming services integration: Integrate popular streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, with digital signage systems. This allows patients to access their personal accounts and stream content seamlessly on in-room displays.
- Interactive gaming: Install interactive gaming consoles or applications on digital signage screens to provide young patients with gaming opportunities. This can include a variety of games suitable for different age groups and interests, offering a source of entertainment and distraction.
- Live streaming events: Broadcast live events, such as concerts, performances, or motivational talks, on digital signage screens. Patients can participate in communal experiences from the comfort of their rooms, fostering a sense of connection and engagement.
Pro Tip: Customize entertainment options based on patient preferences and demographics. Conduct surveys or feedback sessions to gather insights into the types of entertainment most desired by patients, ensuring a tailored and satisfying experience.
6. Promotion of healthcare services
Digital signage can serve as an effective platform for promoting hospital services, amenities, and special offerings, increasing awareness among patients and visitors.
For promoting your services through digital signage, consider these tips:
- Virtual tours and facility showcases: Provide virtual tours and visual showcases of hospital facilities, including patient rooms, operating theaters, and specialized treatment areas.
- Service highlights: Strategically position digital signage displays in high-traffic areas to showcase key hospital services and specialties.
- Amenities information: Inform patients and visitors about the amenities available within the hospital, such as dining options, gift shops, pharmacy services, and parking facilities.
- Health campaigns and events: Utilize digital signage to promote health awareness campaigns, community events, and wellness programs organized by the hospital.
Pro Tip: Utilize dynamic content and multimedia elements, such as videos, animations, and testimonials, to enhance the appeal and impact of messages shown on digital displays.
For effective promotion of your hospital, choose CrownTV’s advanced digital signage solution. Our team provides expert guidance on selecting the ideal screen size, brightness, and resolution to suit your specific business requirements and budget constraints.
And, with our intuitive unified dashboard, you can seamlessly integrate dynamic content and multimedia elements, ensuring captivating displays that effectively engage patients and visitors.
7. Telemedicine services
According to a report, the global telemedicine market is expected to reach USD 286.22 billion by 2030. Therefore, hospitals must offer virtual care services to stay competitive in the healthcare industry.
For this, healthcare facilities can count on digital signage in the following ways:
- Telemedicine education: Use digital signage displays in hospital waiting areas and common areas to educate patients about telemedicine services. Provide information on how telehealth appointments work, their benefits, and how patients can schedule or access virtual consultations.
- Virtual waiting rooms: Create virtual waiting rooms using digital signage to facilitate a seamless telemedicine experience. Patients can check in electronically upon arrival at the hospital or from home, and digital signage can provide updates on their appointment status and estimated wait times.
- Real-time teleconsultation displays: Install digital signage displays in consultation rooms to facilitate real-time teleconsultations between healthcare providers and patients. These displays can showcase medical records, diagnostic images, and other relevant information during the consultation.
- Remote patient monitoring: Integrate digital signage with remote patient monitoring systems to display vital signs, medication reminders, and other health-related data in real-time. This allows healthcare providers to monitor patients’ health status remotely and intervene as needed.
Pro Tip: Ensure that digital signage displays used for telemedicine support are compliant with healthcare privacy regulations, such as HIPAA in the United States.
8. Community engagement and outreach
Digital signage serves as a powerful tool for hospitals to engage with and reach out to the community, fostering a sense of connection and promoting health awareness.
Consider the following tips for community engagement and outreach using digital signage:
- Community events and workshops: Promote upcoming community events, health fairs, and educational workshops through digital signage. Include details about topics covered, guest speakers, and registration instructions to encourage participation.
- Community events calendar: Maintain a dynamic calendar of community events and activities on digital signage, including health-related events hosted by the hospital as well as other community organizations.
- Local health resources: Provide information about local health resources, such as free clinics, support groups, and wellness programs. Digital signage can serve as a platform to highlight available services and encourage community members to take advantage of them.
- Social media integration: Integrate social media feeds into digital signage displays to showcase community engagement initiatives, patient testimonials, and updates from hospital events. Encourage viewers to follow the hospital’s social media channels for regular updates and interaction.
Pro Tip: Invite community members to contribute content for digital signage displays, such as health tips, personal stories, or photos from community events. This not only fosters a sense of ownership but also diversifies the content to appeal to a broader audience.
9. Feedback Collection
Digital signage can serve as an effective platform for hospitals to collect valuable feedback from patients, visitors, and staff. Using these insights, you can facilitate continuous improvement in service delivery and patient satisfaction.
Here’s how to implement this strategy:
- Interactive surveys: Design interactive surveys displayed on digital signage screens throughout the hospital. These surveys can cover various aspects of the patient experience, including satisfaction with care, cleanliness, wait times, and staff interactions.
- QR code feedback: Incorporate QR codes into digital signage displays, allowing individuals to scan the code with their smartphones to access online feedback forms or surveys. This provides a convenient way for patients and visitors to share their thoughts and suggestions while they are in the hospital or waiting areas.
- Suggestion box displays: Create virtual suggestion boxes using digital signage screens within the hospital. This allows for anonymity and encourages candid feedback.
- Employee feedback: Provide staff members with the opportunity to submit feedback anonymously through digital signage platforms. This can help identify areas for improvement within the organization and promote a culture of open communication and continuous learning.
Pro Tip: Make sure that feedback collection processes protect patient privacy.
10. Donor recognition
Digital signage provides a unique opportunity for hospitals to recognize and engage with donors, fostering a culture of gratitude and encouraging future contributions.
Here are some tips for utilizing digital signage in donor recognition:
- Donor walls: Implement digital donor walls that display the names and contributions of individuals, families, and organizations that have supported the hospital.
- Success stories: Share success stories and patient testimonials that were made possible through donations. Highlighting the tangible outcomes of contributions can motivate others to give.
- Interactive content: Incorporate interactive elements into digital signage that allow viewers to learn more about.
- different donation opportunities
- process of giving
- benefits associated with being a donor
- Donor-related events: Promote upcoming fundraising events, donor appreciation gatherings, and philanthropy workshops through digital signage. Use engaging visuals and call-to-actions to increase participation.
Pro Tip: Implement systems to update digital signage with new donor information in real-time. This immediate recognition can amplify the positive feedback loop for donors, making them feel appreciated the moment their contributions are received.
11. Cafeteria menu board
Digital signage in hospital cafeterias can enhance the dining experience for patients, visitors, and staff by providing dynamic menu displays. To effectively leverage digital signage for cafeteria menu boards, consider the following steps:
- Daily menu displays: Utilize digital signage to showcase the day’s menu, including meal options, prices, and nutritional information.
- Allergy and ingredient information: Provide detailed information about the ingredients in each dish, including potential allergens. This is crucial in a hospital setting, where patients may have specific dietary restrictions or allergies.
- Seasonal and thematic menus: Implement digital signage to introduce seasonal or thematic menus, celebrating local produce or cultural events.
- Multilingual support: Cater to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of patients, visitors, and staff by offering menu information in multiple languages.
Pro Tip: Design interactive digital menu boards with a user-friendly interface, allowing easy navigation through different categories and options.
3 Best Digital Signage Providers for Healthcare Facilities
When it comes to digital signage solutions for hospital settings, selecting a reliable provider is paramount to ensure effective communication and seamless integration into existing workflows. To narrow down your choices, we’ve highlighted some of the best digital signage providers for healthcare clinics:
1. CrownTV
CrownTV offers an innovative solution for healthcare organizations seeking to enhance the patient experience and operational efficiency through digital signage. Our healthcare digital signage solutions cater to a wide array of needs within the healthcare sector, from emergency information dissemination to tailored health education in specific hospital areas.
- Key features:
- Unified dashboard: A versatile dashboard allows for easy digital signage CMS across various displays within the hospital.
- Hardware and software solutions: The platform offers a complete turnkey solution that includes both the software for managing the content and the hardware required for display.
- App library: Facilities can choose from a wide range of apps in Crown TV’s free store, adding functionality and engagement to the digital signage experience.
- Customer support: Crown TV is known for its strong customer support service, ready to assist with any issues or queries.
- The White Glove Experience: The “White Glove Experience” provided by CrownTV encompasses a comprehensive suite of services to ensure the successful implementation and utilization of their digital signage solutions in healthcare settings. This experience includes:
- Initial consultation to understand your business goals and challenges.
- Customized proposal and plan that aligns with your business objectives.
- Selection and design to choose the right hardware for your needs.
- Installation coordination to integrate CrownTV solutions seamlessly.
- Software setup and training to manage and utilize digital signage effectively.
- Launch with impactful, brand-aligned content.
- Ongoing support and optimization for dynamic and effective signage.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the digital signage and explore additional solutions.
- Ratings: 5 stars
2. ScreenCloud
ScreenCloud offers a flexible and affordable digital signage solution for healthcare facilities, aiming to make patient wait times more pleasant and free up staff to concentrate on crucial tasks. Their platform supports an array of apps and integrations, allowing for the display of engaging content such as noticeboards, countdown apps, building directories, and more.
- Key features
- Diverse app integrations: Features apps for noticeboards, countdowns, directories, and more, enabling a variety of content presentations.
- Patient anxiety reduction: Offers engaging content for waiting areas to entertain patients and reduce anxiety.
- Operational efficiency: Supports wayfinding and critical updates, saving staff time for more essential tasks.
- Educational content: Digital noticeboards are used to disseminate important health information to patients.
- Quick setup and support: Promises a 5-minute setup with support for using existing hardware and offers robust customer support.
- Ratings: 4.8 stars
- Pricing:
- Core plan: $20 per month
- Pro plan: $30 per month
3. Screenfluence
Screenfluence offers a digital signage platform specifically tailored for healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and doctor offices. With its easy-to-use platform, medical centers can manage content that educates and entertains visitors.
- Key features:
- Educational content in waiting areas: Provides registration instructions, health tips, and patient check-in guides to enhance the waiting room experience.
- Digital directories and wayfinding: Helps patients navigate facilities with ease, using digital maps and directories.
- Operating room updates: Offers real-time room status to streamline scheduling and optimize staff focus.
- Employee bulletin boards: Facilitates internal communication, displaying operational info and staff schedules.
- Promotional screens: Allows for the promotion of new procedures, seasonal offers, and healthcare initiatives.
- Comprehensive support: Includes onboarding, installation, and ongoing customer and technical support for a seamless transition to digital signage.
- Ratings: 4.8 stars
- Pricing:
- Monthly plan: $20 to $30 (depending upon the number of digital sign players)
- Annual plan: $18 to $27 per month (depending upon the number of digital sign players)
Real-Life Examples of Healthcare Institutes Using Digital Signage
1. Schweiger Dermatology Group
Schweiger Dermatology Group, a prominent provider of dermatological services in New York and New Jersey, partnered with CrownTV to enhance its digital signage system. This initiative aimed to address their dissatisfaction with the existing system’s functionality, particularly the lack of content control and versatility.
- ChallengeBefore CrownTV, Schweiger faced two main challenges with their digital signage:
- Limited control over content, makes it difficult to update or schedule information effectively.
- The content was primarily static slideshows, which lacked engagement and flexibility for showcasing services, products, or promotions.
- Solution CrownTV upgraded Schweiger’s digital signage with:
- A cloud-based content management system (CMS) for easy updates and scheduling.
- Digital signage players that work with the office’s existing screens.
- Features allowing for multiple user access, customizable templates, and real-time player status monitoring.
- Enhanced content possibilities, including live Instagram feeds, interactive apps, and dynamic templates.
- ResultsThe implementation led to increased control over content, enabling dynamic and engaging displays. Schweiger Dermatology Group now efficiently showcases a wide range of services, promotions, and educational content, significantly enhancing the patient experience in their offices.
2. Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center
The Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center (ANHC) in Alaska, serving over 13,000 patients annually through more than 52,000 visits, integrated digital signage to enhance patient experiences and streamline communication.
- ChallengesHere are the challenges that the center was facing:
- Management challenges: The system was difficult to manage, requiring considerable effort and technical expertise.
- System reliability: The initial system was unreliable, leading to frequent operational disruptions.
- Content update difficulties: There was a lack of easy content update capabilities, making it cumbersome to maintain or modify content.
- System freezes: Frequent system freezes were a common issue, significantly impacting functionality.
- Manual reboots required: The instability of the system necessitated frequent manual reboots to restore functionality.
- Communication inefficiency: The system’s inefficiency in communication was a significant concern, hindering effective information exchange and operational efficiency.
- Solution: To solve the challenge, ANHC transitioned to digital signage software. Here are the key highlights of this transition:
- Utilization of Android media players: The new system simplified the process of updating and managing content by leveraging Android media players, which are known for their reliability and ease of use.
- Ease of content updates: The digital signage software enabled swift and easy updates to content. This improvement facilitated the timely and efficient dissemination of information.
- Real-time communication: The new system supported real-time communication, allowing for instant sharing of information and updates across the health center. This capability was crucial for enhancing communication efficiency.
- Results: The implementation of digital signage markedly improved communication with patients and staff, facilitating the display of vital health information, promotions, and educational content. The digital signs were strategically placed in high-traffic areas to maximize visibility and impact, also serving as entertainment for waiting patients.
Seeking a Digital Signage for Your Hospital? Explore Crown TV’s Tailored Solutions
To wrap it all up, the integration of digital signage in hospitals represents a significant advancement in healthcare communication and operational efficiency. By adopting this technology, hospitals can enhance patient engagement, streamline processes, and provide essential information in real-time.
Key Takeaways:
- Digital signage are beneficial for fundraising and charity event promotion.
- Customizable displays provide relevant health tips and information, promoting wellness and prevention.
- Digital signage, particularly, interactive maps and directories facilitates easier navigation through complex hospital layouts.
- Internal communication screens keep staff informed, motivated, and aligned with hospital goals.
- Deploy digital feedback displays to collect insights from patients and make necessary adjustments.
Equipping your hospital with the right digital signage tools, especially in the healthcare sector, is crucial for maximizing its impact on patient experience and operational efficiency.
That’s where CrownTV Healthcare Digital Signage steps in. With our specialized expertise and comprehensive range of display options tailored for healthcare environments, the platform can help you create a customized signage network that perfectly complements your hospital’s unique needs.
Seems interesting? Book a FREE Demo now by filling out the contact form.
