How to effectively use digital signage in hospitals

Health institutions (hospitals, doctor/dental offices, clinics) are complex environments that require simple communication tools. The potential of digital signage is immense, from signage to entertainment, including the distribution of information for patients. Beyond its role in assisting patients, digital signage can also support medical staff, by providing early answers to patient questions and by improving internal communications.

Thanks to a digital signage content management system (CMS), the programming of the screens is centralized and simple. It is possible to automate content deliveries and manage them remotely to offer varied and always up-to-date content.

Here are the relevant and effective use cases of digital signage in the health sector.

Prevention and information messages

Use digital signage in the healthcare sector to educating and informing patients with information on preventive measures or health, with advice on what to do in the face of common pathologies or childhood illnesses, on best practices of medication or on hygiene rules. You don't have to create this content yourself: videos and content are available on government, charitable, and supplier websites and YouTube channels.

Third-party content as well as yours makes it possible to Vary your digital signage in a medical environment. Waiting is part of the patient journey, and seeing the same content over and over again can be frustrating, especially if they have to look at the screen to find out when their name will be called. Adapt the content to the surgical specialties in your institution, such as pediatric surgery or back surgery.

Virtual secretariat via screens in hospitals

Anticipate potential questions from patients and use digital signage to disseminate essential information about your clinic: extension of opening hours, surgical specialties, nearby pharmacies open 24 hours a day, etc. If you digitize certain parts of your service, you can communicate about it through your digital signage.

Tell your patients about online appointment procedure and explain to them how they can access the digital version of their medical records.

To diversify your content, you can also add feeds that present information from outside sources (local weather forecasts, news). Does your establishment have a catering service? View the menu and special offers. You can also spread more information user-friendly : collection of donations by the team, celebration of the end of an important project or an important event for the clinic.

Internal communication with your medical teams

Digital signage not only makes it possible to communicate with patients, but also to establish a better team communication. A screen that displays important and automatically updated information (for example, a list of hospital admissions) can allow medical staff to be notified in real time, and can simplify the delivery of information in an intense and stressful environment.

Regular updates on the situation for a more serene wait for patients

Once admitted to the waiting room, but before being called by his doctor, a patient may feel nervous thinking about the impact of this wait on the progress of his day: will he arrive at work or at the nanny on time? Did he put enough money in the parking meter? You can use digital signage to reassure patients, to meet their expectations or Turn this waiting time into useful time. You can use the screens to let patients know that the consultation with the doctor will take place at the scheduled time, that there will be Delay, or display the position of patients in the appointment list. Using a fleet of screens allows you to assign a screen to each doctor or dentist outside the office. With a single screen, you can set up a rotation to broadcast information about each doctor one after the other.

Welcoming patients to the hospital

Hospitals, clinics, and large medical homes can be intimidating, in that patients only go there when they are worried about their health or the health of the person they are visiting. The establishment of a clear signage reduces patient stress and ensures the smooth running of appointments. Digital signage solutions for the healthcare sector can facilitate patient orientation, thanks to screens that welcome them the first time they arrive at the institution, that remind them to use a disinfecting for the hands and who display a card or an arrow sign for orienting to the appropriate direction. You can place screens at any strategic location (where the patient will have to make a choice to find their way around) and at the reception of each clinic. If your signage is outdated, there is no need to print new signs: screens can be updated immediately with ease.

But also entertainment!

Sometimes it's hard to find content that everyone likes. You should consider the tone and relevance of your content, but feel free to include animations, quizzes, music videos, or even recipe tutorials in your content program to alleviate patient boredom and stress.

For more information on using digital signage to improve communication in medical offices, read our article on dynamic signage in the waiting room and contact us to find out more about our digital signage solution.