Presentation
HE10 - Navigation: Enhancing the Patient Experience through Wayfinding
DescriptionSummary:
"Navigation: Enhancing the Patient Experience through Wayfinding," underscores the role of human factors principles in crafting efficient wayfinding systems in hospital environments. This approach integrates human factors principles that prioritize user-centered design, information design and display, and usability, with the goal of enhancing the patient experience and safety.
Background:
Our initiative, initially conceived as a tour of our simulation center to showcase its capabilities, has evolved to address observed challenges in medical environments. Recognizing the negative impact of poor signage and wayfinding on patient satisfaction and stress, we've shifted our focus to integrating human factors principles into navigation system design. Available information indicates that challenges such as unclear sign placement, variations in numbering systems, and difficulties in moving between essential locations are factors that contribute to patient discontent and heightened stress levels(Harper et al., 2017; Maqbool et al., 2016).
Patient-centered care and satisfaction are increasingly emphasized in healthcare today. Therefore, we've conceptualized our tour as an opportunity to address the issue of navigation. We are taking a patient-centered approach by creating personalized wayfinding websites specific to high-traffic destinations within the hospital. Our goal is to foster a positive change that enhances the patient’s experience and contributes to the overall well-being of those seeking care within hospital environments.
We recognize that interfaces like wayfinding systems should be intuitive for first-time users to prevent users from abandoning the technology, which could result in economic losses for medical systems. Our tour should complement the hospital's environment, including color coding, landmarks, room and elevator labeling, and signage.
In summary, our tour can address the challenges and opportunities of navigating a hospital, ultimately aiming to enhance the experience for patients and visitors in healthcare settings.
Application:
Our work represents a vital step towards revolutionizing the way healthcare environments are navigated and experienced. As we continue to apply human factors principles in the realm of healthcare settings, we are determined to spread our approach to hospitals and departments that are committed to the well-being of their patients. This will make an impact on the lives of patients.
Cognitive load places significant demand on patients and visitors as they navigate through intricate healthcare facilities. By reducing this load through a handheld, guided tour, we aim to alleviate the stress and uncertainty that often accompanies hospital visits.
Visual clarity is another cornerstone of our methodology. We recognize the importance of creating a wayfinding modality that is not only informative but also easily visible and comprehensible. Clear, well-designed wayfinding can be a beacon of reassurance for patients, guiding them to their destinations with confidence and minimal anxiety.
Ease of use, another essential feature of our approach, ensures that our navigation systems are intuitive and easy to use. We understand that technology can be a powerful ally in this endeavor, and we are committed to harnessing it to create efficient systems that meet the diverse needs of patients. The wayfinding tour can be customized to set the exact path for the patient to travel based on arrows and visual triggers throughout the pathing.
Our next steps involve reaching out to hospitals and specific departments that share our vision for patient-centric care. We hope to collaborate with institutions that prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of their patients and recognize the profound impact that effective wayfinding systems can have on the overall healthcare experience. By partnering with these organizations, we seek to implement our principles, refine our methods, and ultimately create a roadmap for other healthcare facilities to follow.
Our mission is not only to optimize the efficiency of healthcare personnel but also to alleviate this burden on patients and their families during their healthcare journey. We hope to transform the way people perceive and experience healthcare facilities, making them places of comfort, guidance, and assurance. In the end, it's about making a positive and enduring impact on the lives of those who entrust their well-being to the healthcare system.
Overview of Presentation:
The poster presentation will begin with an exploration of wayfinding to navigate from the world of realtors to school tours. We will then delve into the challenges posed by inadequate wayfinding in hospital environments, emphasizing the potential impact on patient care and safety. To conclude, we will venture into the integration of human factors principles, illustrating their pivotal role in developing navigation systems that are both user-friendly and highly effective.
Importance of Message:
Wayfinding is a significant and fundamental aspect of patient-centric healthcare environments. Within the maze of a hospital, the ability to navigate with ease and confidence is not a luxury but an essential component of the patient’s experience. Inadequate wayfinding can lead to delays in care, mounting stress for patients and their families, and, most significantly, the potential compromise of patient well-being.
The importance of wayfinding cannot be overstated. A well-designed wayfinding system can significantly reduce the cognitive burden placed on patients, making interactions smoother, more efficient, and ultimately safer. This, in turn, enhances the overall quality of care and contributes to the positive perception of healthcare facilities.
Our approach is firmly rooted in human factors principles, which serve as the guiding point in crafting effective navigation systems. We understand that the success of these systems is measured not just in their practicality but in their ability to instill a sense of confidence and comfort in those who rely on them. Human factors principles empower us to consider factors such as cognitive load, visual clarity, and ease of use to optimize the navigation experience.
The message is clear: the transformation of healthcare navigation is not a luxury but a necessity, and it is within our grasp through the application of human factors principles.
Takeaway Points:
• We recognize that inadequate wayfinding can negatively impact patient satisfaction and increase stress levels.
• We advocate for the integration of human factors principles into navigation system design. This approach prioritizes user-centered design, error reduction, and usability to enhance the patient experience and ensure safety.
• The wayfinding systems should be intuitive for first-time users, and technology plays a crucial role in creating efficient systems that meet diverse patient needs. The system can be customized to set the exact path for patients. Clear and well-designed wayfinding is essential to provide patients with easily visible and comprehensible guidance, reducing anxiety and providing reassurance.
• By reducing cognitive load through a guided tour, we aim to provide an option to alleviate the stress and uncertainty often associated with hospital visits. The wayfinding systems are designed to be intuitive and easy to use. This ensures that patients can navigate through the hospital with confidence.
• The need to collaborate with hospitals and departments that prioritize patient-centric care and well-being is necessary. The goal is to implement the principles, refine methods, and create a roadmap for other healthcare facilities to follow.
• Inadequate wayfinding can lead to delays in care, increased stress, and potential compromises to patient well-being. A well-designed wayfinding system can reduce the cognitive burden on patients, leading to smoother interactions and enhanced overall quality of care.
• The transformation of healthcare navigation is not a luxury but a necessity. The application of human factors principles is crucial in achieving this transformation.
Harper, C., Avera, A., Crosser, A., Jefferies, S., & Duke, T. (2017). An Exploration of Interactive Wayfinding Displays in Hospitals: Lessons Learned for Improving Design. Https://Doi.Org/10.1177/1541931213601884, 2017-October, 1119–1123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931213601884
Maqbool, T., Raju, S., & In North York General Hospital, E. (2016). Importance of patient-centred signage and navigation guide in an orthopaedic and plastics clinic. BMJ Open Quality, 5(1), u209473.w3887. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJQUALITY.U209473.W3887
"Navigation: Enhancing the Patient Experience through Wayfinding," underscores the role of human factors principles in crafting efficient wayfinding systems in hospital environments. This approach integrates human factors principles that prioritize user-centered design, information design and display, and usability, with the goal of enhancing the patient experience and safety.
Background:
Our initiative, initially conceived as a tour of our simulation center to showcase its capabilities, has evolved to address observed challenges in medical environments. Recognizing the negative impact of poor signage and wayfinding on patient satisfaction and stress, we've shifted our focus to integrating human factors principles into navigation system design. Available information indicates that challenges such as unclear sign placement, variations in numbering systems, and difficulties in moving between essential locations are factors that contribute to patient discontent and heightened stress levels(Harper et al., 2017; Maqbool et al., 2016).
Patient-centered care and satisfaction are increasingly emphasized in healthcare today. Therefore, we've conceptualized our tour as an opportunity to address the issue of navigation. We are taking a patient-centered approach by creating personalized wayfinding websites specific to high-traffic destinations within the hospital. Our goal is to foster a positive change that enhances the patient’s experience and contributes to the overall well-being of those seeking care within hospital environments.
We recognize that interfaces like wayfinding systems should be intuitive for first-time users to prevent users from abandoning the technology, which could result in economic losses for medical systems. Our tour should complement the hospital's environment, including color coding, landmarks, room and elevator labeling, and signage.
In summary, our tour can address the challenges and opportunities of navigating a hospital, ultimately aiming to enhance the experience for patients and visitors in healthcare settings.
Application:
Our work represents a vital step towards revolutionizing the way healthcare environments are navigated and experienced. As we continue to apply human factors principles in the realm of healthcare settings, we are determined to spread our approach to hospitals and departments that are committed to the well-being of their patients. This will make an impact on the lives of patients.
Cognitive load places significant demand on patients and visitors as they navigate through intricate healthcare facilities. By reducing this load through a handheld, guided tour, we aim to alleviate the stress and uncertainty that often accompanies hospital visits.
Visual clarity is another cornerstone of our methodology. We recognize the importance of creating a wayfinding modality that is not only informative but also easily visible and comprehensible. Clear, well-designed wayfinding can be a beacon of reassurance for patients, guiding them to their destinations with confidence and minimal anxiety.
Ease of use, another essential feature of our approach, ensures that our navigation systems are intuitive and easy to use. We understand that technology can be a powerful ally in this endeavor, and we are committed to harnessing it to create efficient systems that meet the diverse needs of patients. The wayfinding tour can be customized to set the exact path for the patient to travel based on arrows and visual triggers throughout the pathing.
Our next steps involve reaching out to hospitals and specific departments that share our vision for patient-centric care. We hope to collaborate with institutions that prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of their patients and recognize the profound impact that effective wayfinding systems can have on the overall healthcare experience. By partnering with these organizations, we seek to implement our principles, refine our methods, and ultimately create a roadmap for other healthcare facilities to follow.
Our mission is not only to optimize the efficiency of healthcare personnel but also to alleviate this burden on patients and their families during their healthcare journey. We hope to transform the way people perceive and experience healthcare facilities, making them places of comfort, guidance, and assurance. In the end, it's about making a positive and enduring impact on the lives of those who entrust their well-being to the healthcare system.
Overview of Presentation:
The poster presentation will begin with an exploration of wayfinding to navigate from the world of realtors to school tours. We will then delve into the challenges posed by inadequate wayfinding in hospital environments, emphasizing the potential impact on patient care and safety. To conclude, we will venture into the integration of human factors principles, illustrating their pivotal role in developing navigation systems that are both user-friendly and highly effective.
Importance of Message:
Wayfinding is a significant and fundamental aspect of patient-centric healthcare environments. Within the maze of a hospital, the ability to navigate with ease and confidence is not a luxury but an essential component of the patient’s experience. Inadequate wayfinding can lead to delays in care, mounting stress for patients and their families, and, most significantly, the potential compromise of patient well-being.
The importance of wayfinding cannot be overstated. A well-designed wayfinding system can significantly reduce the cognitive burden placed on patients, making interactions smoother, more efficient, and ultimately safer. This, in turn, enhances the overall quality of care and contributes to the positive perception of healthcare facilities.
Our approach is firmly rooted in human factors principles, which serve as the guiding point in crafting effective navigation systems. We understand that the success of these systems is measured not just in their practicality but in their ability to instill a sense of confidence and comfort in those who rely on them. Human factors principles empower us to consider factors such as cognitive load, visual clarity, and ease of use to optimize the navigation experience.
The message is clear: the transformation of healthcare navigation is not a luxury but a necessity, and it is within our grasp through the application of human factors principles.
Takeaway Points:
• We recognize that inadequate wayfinding can negatively impact patient satisfaction and increase stress levels.
• We advocate for the integration of human factors principles into navigation system design. This approach prioritizes user-centered design, error reduction, and usability to enhance the patient experience and ensure safety.
• The wayfinding systems should be intuitive for first-time users, and technology plays a crucial role in creating efficient systems that meet diverse patient needs. The system can be customized to set the exact path for patients. Clear and well-designed wayfinding is essential to provide patients with easily visible and comprehensible guidance, reducing anxiety and providing reassurance.
• By reducing cognitive load through a guided tour, we aim to provide an option to alleviate the stress and uncertainty often associated with hospital visits. The wayfinding systems are designed to be intuitive and easy to use. This ensures that patients can navigate through the hospital with confidence.
• The need to collaborate with hospitals and departments that prioritize patient-centric care and well-being is necessary. The goal is to implement the principles, refine methods, and create a roadmap for other healthcare facilities to follow.
• Inadequate wayfinding can lead to delays in care, increased stress, and potential compromises to patient well-being. A well-designed wayfinding system can reduce the cognitive burden on patients, leading to smoother interactions and enhanced overall quality of care.
• The transformation of healthcare navigation is not a luxury but a necessity. The application of human factors principles is crucial in achieving this transformation.
Harper, C., Avera, A., Crosser, A., Jefferies, S., & Duke, T. (2017). An Exploration of Interactive Wayfinding Displays in Hospitals: Lessons Learned for Improving Design. Https://Doi.Org/10.1177/1541931213601884, 2017-October, 1119–1123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931213601884
Maqbool, T., Raju, S., & In North York General Hospital, E. (2016). Importance of patient-centred signage and navigation guide in an orthopaedic and plastics clinic. BMJ Open Quality, 5(1), u209473.w3887. https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJQUALITY.U209473.W3887
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 254:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
LocationSalon C
Digital Health
Simulation and Education
Hospital Environments
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices
Patient Safety Research and Initiatives