Why Hospitals Need Indoor Maps

Table of Contents

Why Indoor Wayfinding in Hospitals is a Critical Issue

The Challenges of Wayfinding in Hospitals

The Effects of Indoor Wayfinding Challenges

Indoor Wayfinding Solutions

Cartogram’s Solutions

Why Indoor Wayfinding in Hospitals is a Critical Issue

Have you ever been lost in a hospital? If so, you are not alone. Hospitals are complex environments that can be confusing and stressful for patients, visitors, and staff. Indoor wayfinding is the ability to navigate inside a building using signs, maps, directions, and other cues. It is essential for providing a positive user experience and improving the quality of care in hospitals.

Today, many hospitals lack effective indoor wayfinding systems, which can lead to frustration, anxiety, missed appointments, delayed treatments, wasted resources, and even medical errors. In this blog post, we will explore why indoor wayfinding in hospitals is a critical issue and how modern technology can improve it.

The Challenges of Wayfinding in Hospitals

  1. Complex Layouts
    Hospitals have varying layouts throughout the building, with each floor serving a unique purpose. From specialized wards to diagnostic centers and administrative offices, each section demands a different wayfinding approach. Navigating through these distinct layouts can be challenging, particularly for individuals unfamiliar with the hospital’s organization. This complexity can lead to unnecessary wandering and anxiety, hindering the overall patient experience and potentially impacting medical outcomes.
  1. Large Spaces
    Modern hospitals often have multiple floors with various departments, clinics, and treatment areas, creating a significant challenge for patients and visitors regarding indoor wayfinding. Finding the right floor or department can be overwhelming, leading to confusion and delays in reaching essential medical services. Moreover, traditional GPS systems, designed for outdoor use, struggle to function accurately within these multi-story spaces, exacerbating these navigational struggles.
  1. Constant Changes
    Hospitals are constantly adapting. As medical technology advances and patient demands change, hospitals frequently undergo renovations, expansions, and reconfigurations. While these changes are vital for providing high-quality medical care, they create a significant hurdle for wayfinding. New construction, closed-off areas, and shifting departments can leave patients and visitors feeling disoriented and lost, hampering their ability to navigate the hospital efficiently.
  1. Regulations Limit Signage
    While clear signage is crucial for wayfinding, the healthcare environment must comply with stringent regulations. These safety guidelines often restrict physical signage in certain hospital areas, especially near sensitive medical equipment or infection-prone zones. As a result, traditional wayfinding methods may fall short of providing comprehensive guidance to patients and visitors. Striking the right balance between effective wayfinding and adherence to safety protocols poses a constant challenge for hospital administrators and wayfinding designers.

The Effects of Indoor Wayfinding Challenges

  • Eighty-five percent of Patients and Visitors Ask for Directions in a Hospital.
    Navigating through the intricate corridors and numerous floors of a hospital can be an overwhelming experience for patients and visitors. A staggering 85% of individuals seek assistance and directions, leading to delays in reaching appointments and essential medical services. This adds to their stress and strains the hospital’s resources as staff must dedicate time to guiding lost individuals. (Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)
  • Twenty-five percent of Hospital Staff Don’t Know Certain Hospital Locations.
    Hospital staff, the backbone of patient care and support, can also face challenges regarding wayfinding. Approximately 25% of hospital employees report difficulty locating specific destinations within their healthcare campuses. This lack of familiarity with hospital layouts can lead to inefficiencies in service delivery and inaccurate directions to hospital visitors, causing further delays. (Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology)
  • Hospital Staff Spend, on Average, 40 Hours Every Year Helping with Directions
    The burden of providing wayfinding assistance to patients and visitors falls heavily on hospital staff. Hospital employees dedicate around 40 hours annually to guiding lost individuals. This considerable time investment affects staff productivity and takes away valuable moments that could have been utilized for patient care and other critical tasks. (Source: Becker’s Hospital Review)
  • The US Healthcare System Loses $150 Billion Annually to Wayfinding Challenges.
    A lack of efficient indoor wayfinding systems contributes to missed appointments and rescheduling, resulting in significant hospital financial losses. Hospitals lose around $3 million annually due to missed appointments. These losses affect the hospital’s revenue and strain healthcare resources. The cumulative monetary loss due to missed appointments in the US healthcare system amounts to a staggering $150 billion annually. (Source: Becker’s Hospital Review)
  • Decline in Patient Satisfaction Scores (HCAHPS)
    The wayfinding experience significantly influences patients’ overall satisfaction with their hospital visit. A lack of clear and accessible wayfinding can lead to frustration and anxiety, resulting in lower Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. Decreased HCAHPS scores can tarnish a hospital’s reputation and affect patient retention and loyalty. (Source: Patient Experience Journal)

Indoor Wayfinding Solutions

Navigating hospitals’ intricate and dynamic environments can be challenging for patients, visitors, and hospital staff. Fortunately, advanced technology offers a promising solution – Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS). These systems use sensors, beacons, Bluetooth, or other methods to locate and track users precisely within the hospital premises. IPS enhances wayfinding and empowers hospitals to optimize the flow of people, assets, and resources, ultimately improving the overall healthcare experience.

IPS Includes:

  • Indoor Mapping
    IPS employs digital 2D or 3D indoor maps that visualize a hospital’s floor plan and spatial data. These interactive web-based maps offer users a user-friendly experience and integrate seamlessly with Google Maps visualization, allowing for familiarity and ease of use. Hospitals can customize and update indoor maps, labels, and other information, ensuring that hospital layouts and information remain current.
  • Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
    Leveraging a network of strategically placed tiny transmitters called beacons, BLE IPS calculates location based on Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI). The BLE software stacks return the (RSSI) value, approximating distance with an accuracy of 2-4 meters. This technology facilitates seamless navigation through different floors and sections of the hospital, reducing confusion and optimizing the wayfinding experience.
  • Accurate Indoor Positioning
    IPS determines the real-time location of mobile devices within the hospital’s interior, such as smartphones or smartwatches. Thanks to a “Blue Dot” real-time turn-by-turn navigation feature, users can confidently navigate different floors and sections through dynamic, customizable, turn-by-turn directions. BLE infrastructure management ensures optimal performance and accuracy of location-based services.
  • Inertial Navigation System (INS)
    IPS utilizes INS, which includes inertial sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes to continuously calculate a moving object’s position, orientation, and velocity. INS can be combined with other positioning technologies to offer accurate and reliable indoor positioning information.
  • Indoor Routing Algorithm
    IPS incorporates sophisticated algorithms to generate the most optimal routes between indoor positions. These algorithms consider accessibility requirements, user security access, and the hospital’s physical layout, providing user-friendly and intuitive turn-by-turn directions. By ensuring users follow the most efficient paths, IPS minimizes the risk of getting lost, thus contributing to increased overall patient satisfaction and productivity.
  • Searchable Points of Interest
    IPS provides searchable points of interest, enabling users to quickly find specific locations, departments, amenities, or services within the hospital. By offering detailed information about various points of interest, IPS ensures that users can efficiently access the necessary resources.
  • Mobile and Web-Based Map
    IPS offers mobile and web-based maps that are accessible via smartphones and other devices. Users can easily access indoor navigation through a hospital-customized iOS and Android application, ensuring they have wayfinding assistance at their fingertips.
  • Content Management System
    IPS incorporates a content management system, allowing hospitals to customize and update indoor maps, labels, and other information. This dynamic feature ensures that hospital layouts and information remain current amid constant changes and renovations.

Cartogram’s Solutions

Cartogram provides a comprehensive solution, targeting every potential issue of indoor wayfinding. Our services are designed to optimize navigation experiences within complex indoor healthcare spaces. With a commitment to delivering user-friendly and efficient solutions, Cartogram empowers businesses to improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

  • Interactive Web-Based Maps
    Cartogram’s interactive web-based maps offer a seamless and intuitive wayfinding experience. Users can easily access maps from any device with internet connectivity, making navigation accessible.
  • Google Maps Visualization
    By integrating with Google Maps, Cartogram provides users a familiar platform and convenience, ensuring a smooth transition from outdoor to indoor navigation.
  • Printable PDFs
    Cartogram offers printable PDF maps, ensuring users can access wayfinding information in multiple formats to suit their preferences.
  • Searchable Points of Interest
    With Cartogram’s searchable points of interest feature, users can effortlessly locate specific departments, amenities, or services within indoor spaces, streamlining their journey. Cartogram also uses common points of interest as landmarks when providing directions, helping to orient users.
  • User and System Analytics
    Cartogram’s analytics provide valuable insights into user behavior and preferences, enabling businesses to optimize layouts and service offerings for better customer experiences.
  • QR Codes
    With QR codes, Cartogram facilitates quick and convenient access to web-based indoor maps and directions without downloading an app.
  • Custom Branding/Custom Logo
    Cartogram allows businesses to customize maps with their branding, allowing for a consistent and branded wayfinding experience for visitors.
  • Dynamic, Customizable, Turn-By-Turn Directions
    Cartogram’s turn-by-turn directions offer real-time guidance, ensuring users can confidently navigate complex indoor spaces, including indoor-to-outdoor-to-indoor navigation.
  • Mobile and Web-Based Maps
    Cartogram’s maps are accessible via mobile and web platforms, providing a user-friendly wayfinding solution that fits users’ preferences.
  • Content Management System
    With Cartogram’s content management system, businesses can easily update and customize indoor maps through a web or app-based platform, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for users. Cartogram can also manage map content upon request.
  • Hospital-Customized iOS and Android Application Publishing
    Cartogram offers hospitals a customized iOS and Android application tailored to their wayfinding needs and brand identity.
  • Native iOS and Android SDK Integration
    Cartogram’s native iOS and Android SDK integration ensures seamless compatibility with existing applications, enhancing user experience.
  • Epic MyChart Integration
    Cartogram seamlessly integrates with Epic MyChart, providing patients with a unified and efficient navigation experience within healthcare facilities.
  • Direct Access to Cartogram APIs
    Businesses can directly access Cartogram’s APIs, allowing for easy integration with various systems and platforms.
  • BLE Infrastructure Management
    Cartogram’s BLE infrastructure management ensures the optimal performance of indoor positioning systems, guaranteeing accurate and reliable location-based services.
  • SMS Chatbot and 24/7 Wayfinding Call Center
    Cartogram’s SMS chatbot and call center allow users to receive wayfinding assistance via text messages and phone calls, providing additional communication channels for a positive wayfinding experience.

Conclusion

Indoor wayfinding in hospitals is a critical issue that affects the user experience and the quality of care. Many hospitals lack effective indoor wayfinding systems to help users navigate their complex environments. Technology can offer solutions to improve indoor wayfinding in hospitals by using indoor positioning systems that provide real-time maps, directions, and information to users on their devices.

Indoor wayfinding in hospitals is a matter of convenience, safety, and satisfaction for both users and providers. By improving indoor wayfinding in hospitals with technology, we can create a better healthcare environment for everyone.

Summary

Many hospitals today lack effective indoor wayfinding systems, which leads to frustration, anxiety, missed appointments, delayed treatments, wasted resources, and even medical errors.

There are many hurdles for hospital wayfinding, including:

  • Complex Layouts
  • Large Spaces
  • Constant Changes
  • Regulations that Limit Signage

These issues have many effects, including:

  • 85% of visitors ask for directions.
  • 25% of hospital staff are unfamiliar with parts of their hospital.
  • Staff spend 40 hours a year giving directions.
  • Hospitals lose around $3 Million a year to missed appointments.
  • A cumulative loss of $150 billion in the US Healthcare system.
  • Indoor wayfinding systems have features to combat these losses, including:
  • Indoor Mapping
  • Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
  • Accurate Indoor Positioning
  • Inertial Navigation System (INS)
  • Indoor Routing Algorithms
  • Searchable Points of Interest
  • Mobile and Web-Based Maps
  • Content Management Systems

Cartogram provides a line of services for a comprehensive hospital wayfinding solution:

  • Interactive Web-Based Maps
  • Google Maps Visualization
  • Printable PDFs
  • Searchable Points of Interest
  • User and System Analytics
  • QR Codes
  • Custom Branding/Logo
  • Dynamic, Customizable, Turn-by-Turn Direction
  • Mobile and Web-Based Maps
  • Content Management System
  • Hospital-Customized iOS and Android Application Publishing
  • Native iOS and Android SDK Integration
  • Epic MyChart Integration
  • Direct Access to Cartogram APIs
  • BLE Infrastructure Management
  • SMS Chatbot and 24/7 Wayfinding Call Cente

Ready to revolutionize indoor navigation at your hospital? Request a demo here and discover how BLE Beacons will enhance patient experiences and optimize staff efficiency to take your hospital’s navigation to the next level!

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