Patient Queues<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe use of queues is a great way to help relieve anxiety and keep your patients in the know on their remaining wait time. You\u2019ll also reduce, if not eliminate the number of times that patients ask staff for an ETA on when they\u2019ll be called back. <\/p>\n
You can display the patient queue on an entire screen or on a portion of a screen that is used to drive other types of content, thanks to digital signage templates.<\/strong> Templates are standard with most signage software solutions, and they allow you to break your display into multiple content zones so that you can maximize screen space and give your signage a sleek and professional look. For example, many healthcare providers will display the patient queue on the side of a screen that they use to drive entertainment content. If you take this approach, we recommend displaying the queue on each of your waiting room screens in order to maximize visibility.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/moodmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/health-screens.png” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\nApplication #2 Short-Form Programming<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe standard practice when it comes to waiting room entertainment is to show network television to help patients and their family members pass the time. This approach is fine, as long as it doesn\u2019t detract from the goal of creating a comfortable waiting room experience. Avoid showing negative news programming or TV shows and movies with violent, inappropriate or controversial subject matter.<\/p>\n
Some digital signage providers now offer short-form programming, which includes several 2-5-minute clips of popular TV shows and other pre-recorded family-friendly television content. This is an outstanding alternative to network TV programming. With short-form programming you never have to worry about changing the channel, and you\u2019ll never see competitor commercials displayed on your screen. Additionally, the segments are just long enough for patients to consume in the relatively brief time that they\u2019ll typically be in your waiting room.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/moodmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/healthtv-2.png” alt=”digital signage for healthcare ” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Application #3 Wayfinding and Digital Directories<\/strong><\/h3>\nWayfinding isn\u2019t just for hospitals \u2013 family practices with multiple offices can also use it to ensure that visitors get to the right place as quickly as possible. The last thing you want is a frustrated patient who is late to their appointment because they spent 15 minutes trying to navigate the first floor of your building.<\/p>\n
An added benefit of using digital signage for wayfinding is that you can easily update it in the event that you change the internal location of offices. You won\u2019t have to take on the cost or inconvenience of printing new signs. You can also use screen space to deliver a welcome message that reinforces your positive brand personality.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Application #4 Health and Wellness Tips<\/strong><\/h3>\nYour patients are ultimately coming to you for a cure, but to them, having an educational experience at your practice is truly invaluable. Aim to provide wellness tips, exercise ideas and dietary recommendations that are relevant to the age and health needs of your patients.<\/p>\n
Your strategy for this content application should also include reminders about specific services you offer. Family doctors may want to provide seasonal immunization reminders, while dentists may want to drive awareness about teeth whitening and fluoride treatments, for example.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t think of education as ways for your patients to cure themselves. Rather, think of it as a way to help your patients and their family members embrace a healthier lifestyle and make healthcare a higher priority. Promotion is never \u201csalesy\u201d when it has genuinely helpful intentions.<\/p>\n
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Application #5 Promote Other Areas Of Your Practice And Your Partners<\/strong><\/h3>\nYour patients place a lot of stock in convenience, and it\u2019s in their best interest and yours to promote other on-site facilities you have that may fulfill their healthcare needs. For example, maybe you have an in-house pharmacy or imaging center \u2013 digital signage can be instrumental in ensuring that patients know about these areas of your practice.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if your practice is more focused on a specific set of services, you can use your signage to help promote your partners that offer such secondary levels of care. Doing so will not only provide added value and convenience to your patients, but it will also strengthen your referral network<\/p>\n
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Application #6 Cafeteria Menu Boards<\/strong><\/h3>\nMore hospitals are switching from print signage to digital menu boards for the cafeteria to help reduce costs, improve efficiency and enhance the look and feel of their locations. Not only are digital menu boards easier to see and read, but you can update them instantly. If a menu item isn\u2019t available one day or if you\u2019re adding something new, simply log into your software and apply the change instantly. Additionally, you can schedule different menus to display during different times of day \u2013 a strategy known as dayparting.<\/p>\n
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Application #7 Lobby And Hall Aesthetics<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou can always use ambient visuals in the lobby or large hallways to brighten the look and feel of your facility. The use of soft, bright colors can help enhance the calming experience you\u2019re aiming to create. You can get highly creative with various screen arrays and digital video walls to make a powerful impression.<\/p>\n
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Application #8 Internal Communications<\/strong><\/h3>\nDigital signage is an outstanding medium for effectively communicating with your team throughout the day. You can reinforce federal policies and coding requirements, remind staff about upcoming events, recognize them for a job well done and much more. Ultimately, you\u2019ll better position your staff to provide the highest level of care possible while cultivating an inclusive and supportive culture.<\/p>\n
Now that we\u2019ve explored the most common healthcare digital signage applications, let\u2019s discuss how you can create an effective strategy for making the most of this solution.<\/p>\n
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Digital Signage for Healthcare Strategy<\/h2>\nStep #1 Know Your Goals<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn addition to improving the patient experience, each content application has its own smaller objective(s) that may or may not be relevant to your practice. Review the list of applications above and determine which objectives matter the most to the success of your organization. From there, create a vision of exactly what you want your signage to do and balance your strategy accordingly.<\/p>\n
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Step #2 Know Where It Goes<\/strong><\/h3>\nLobbies and waiting rooms aren\u2019t the only places where digital signage should be placed. Consider examination rooms as well \u2013 anywhere in your facility that your patients and visitors may go is an opportunity to improve their experience in some way. Take a look around – wherever you have static signage today, consider if that space could be better utilized with a digital screen.<\/p>\n
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Step #3 Set A Realistic Budget<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere isn\u2019t a typical budget for healthcare digital signage, so you\u2019re going to need to do some additional research and get quotes. You\u2019ll need to factor in the costs of:<\/p>\n
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\n- The visual media player<\/strong> (a.k.a., digital signage hardware). It\u2019s either purchased at a flat rate or leased for a monthly fee.<\/li>\n
- The digital signage software<\/strong> that manages the content displayed on the screens. Software is typically packaged into a monthly service fee.<\/li>\n
- Content development and management services<\/strong> (if needed). If you don\u2019t already have images and other visual assets, some providers can create content for you. Some can even manage the content on your behalf.<\/li>\n
- Commercial-grade screens*<\/strong> come in all shapes and sizes from numerous brands with multiple features. Do your homework here, as this tends to be the largest expense, but it\u2019s not an area to cut too many corners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
*Some quick notes on screens \u2013 Even though the types of screens you use at home can work with digital signage, they\u2019re not ideal for use in your practice a number of reasons. For starters, the HD screens you use at home are only designed to work about 4-6 hours a day, while commercial-grade screens are made to run continuously. They\u2019re also less prone to \u201cburn in,\u201d a condition that frequently happens with consumer screens. Additionally, using a consumer-grade screen in a business application will void any warranty it came with. On the other hand, commercial-grade screens come with robust warranties that cover typical malfunctions from business use. Finally, commercial-grade screens have higher display ratios, resulting in a better picture.<\/p>\n
In order to get the best bang for your buck, you\u2019ll want to go with a single provider that can offer all of these components. You won\u2019t have to work with several vendors in order to support one solution, enabling you to save time and money in the long run. A credible and trustworthy digital signage provider should also be able to give you an idea of a realistic budget.<\/p>\n
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