ike every other social, commercial and industrial sector, healthcare is at the vagaries of the ever-evolving technical landscape. While technological advancements have huge implications for Patient treatment, of great import to this particular sector is the effective communication and engagement for delivering quality patient care.

With the creation of Digital Signage, healthcare facilities around the world have discovered an impactful method for interacting with patients, staff, and visitors. Kitcast Digital signage is a viable way to transform the patient experience but also has value as a way to improve communication. 

Digital Signage in US Healthcare: Statistics at a Glance

*Figures courtesy of Grand View Research, Acumen Research and other sources.

• In 2022, the global healthcare digital signage market size was estimated at $5.82 billion. The value for the USA is $1.28 billion.
• It is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 13.6% from 2023 to 2030
• Digital communication systems are present in 70% of US hospitals
• Surveys show 75% of healthcare and patients can recall at least one message they have seen on a digital sign in a hospital.
• The same survey shows that 75% of healthcare and patients have had an improved hospital/clinic experience due to digital signage
• Anecdotal evidence:
  • 40% of patients state that digital communication impacts their choices and experience.
  • 83% of patients have fully engaged with a hospital’s digital signage content.

Let’s take a look at how digital signage improves communication and efficiency in a healthcare setting.

Improved Patient Experience

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If you find yourself lost in a maze when you enter your medical facility, with no idea where to go or how long you might be waiting, digital signage is invaluable. Not only will it give you directions to your provider, but it can also display queue times and information about the services you are accessing that day. This is what digital signage in healthcare settings offers. Interactive displays and other helpful information will change the way you take care of your healthcare needs. 

Digital signage is also an outstanding way for providers to share important messages with their patients, as well as offering educational content to enhance their visit and supplement their services. This might be tips for avoiding the latest virus or how to find support groups for specific health conditions, empowering patients to partner with their provider for optimal health. Digital signage is both appealing and engaging, making it a great way to share this vital information with patients of all ages. 

Efficient Communication

Communication among providers and others involved in healthcare is absolutely critical for timely and appropriate care. Traditional methods of communication, which are most often papers and  static bulletin boards, are no longer enough to satisfy most patients, who likely aren’t spending time looking at such old methods. Digital signage is a clear alternative that appeals to almost everyone living in today’s tech reliant world. 

Digital displays are incredibly useful for bringing imperative bits of data to patients, such as urgent announcements, changes in appointment schedules or emergency notifications. Not only does this get the information out there, but it also ensures that both patients and providers get it in a timely fashion. At the same time, digital signage makes for efficient communication between members of the healthcare team, including updates on patient status, which means better care and outcomes for all patients. 

Improved Efficiency

Digital signage has the potential to substantially improve productivity in a healthcare setting. A key point of issue in the delivery of care to patients is how much time and money is involved in missed and late appointments. 

Canadian hospitals have found that digital signage has improved patient attendance by using signage to help patients navigate the mazes of corridors, provide updates on waiting times and also overcome language barriers. Easy to read, informative graphics, multilingual text and QR codes are all in use.

Promoting Health Literacy

Health literacy is defined as the ability to obtain, understand, and act on health information. It’s a very important component when it comes to promoting wellness and preventing disease. Digital signage helps with this because it allows providers to give their patients education pertaining to their health, as well as offering general healthcare tips and updates to all visitors. Maybe that outlining and encouraging specific healthy lifestyle choices, or perhaps its instructions for medications. In any case, it’s an invaluable educational tool that modern health facilities would do well to add to their space. 

By using videos, animations, and interactive quizzes, digital signage is a simple way to engage visitors and patients, while also ensuring that they receive key health messages effectively. This type of active participation in healthcare settings improves understanding and allows patients to take part in their own health. Using digital signage also allows for the use of multilingual content for non-English speakers. 

According to Stanford Medicine, innovations in digital healthcare are bridging the treatment gap for a variety of patient populations, including increasing health equity and increasing knowledge of a wide range of health conditions and diseases. 

Facilitating Staff Training and Development

In addition to benefiting patients and visitors, digital signage is also a fantastic tool for staff training and development in healthcare settings. Whether it’s providing updates, delivering continuing education, digital signage makes it simple and easy to offer relevant training content to healthcare professionals.

Another great usage for digital signage is to recognize and celebrate the achievements and milestones  of staff members. In terms of building a positive culture of appreciation and motivation, this goes a long way toward keeping providers happy and able to do their best work for their patients. By keeping staff informed and engaged, the healthcare setting will become more cohesive and empowered workforce, which translates to better care for each and every patient.

Boosting Empathy

Patients want to feel seen and heard and digital signage is an effective way of creating the empathy that is so vital to the patient provider relationship. Digital signage offers patients a means to provide feedback, fill out their medical forms, and even engage in a video call with their provider, all of which is done in real time. Not only does this add an empathetic human touch to interactions, but it also helps give patients the feeling of control in an often busy and chaotic medical environment. 

Conclusion

Digital signage is a new and evolving tool and by using the power of technology, healthcare facilities can create an environment that is interactive, something that has been easily linked to improve patient satisfaction. Within the organization, it can also make all services more efficient, enhancing health outcomes. As the healthcare industry continues to make use of digital technology, digital signage is sure to have a place for many years to come. 

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