The sprawling multi-building campuses of today’s modern hospitals easily overwhelm anxious patients and family members trying to locate critical departments for care while under duress. The unintuitive layouts prove incredibly frustrating to navigate quickly, especially for those unfamiliar with the region. Trying unsuccessfully to find emergency, imaging, laboratory, therapy and administrative areas scattered across disjointed wings tacked on haphazardly during periodic expansion projects greatly compounds existing anxieties for visitors. Clear signage provides a simple lifeline easing these navigation frustrations.
That’s why intuitive wayfinding signage systems customized for healthcare facilities play such vital roles enhancing the visitor experience. SignWorks Inc leverages hospital signage expertise to fabricate clear readable signs that logically direct foot traffic. We simplify layouts and routes so visitors reach their destinations rapidly without unnecessary detours.
Signage objectives for hospitals focus on visibility, intuitiveness, cohesion, accessibility and durability:
Visibility: Signs positioned at decision junctions, properly mounted within sight lines and incorporating microprismatic reflective vinyls for improved low-light visibility all enhance wayfinding drastically.
Intuitiveness: The multitude of hospital departments contain ambiguous names to visitors. Incorporating universal icons and imagery to identify services boosts clarity immensely. Admissions, Imaging, Laboratory, Cardiology become easily discernible.
Cohesion: Connecting architecturally disjointed wings built during expansion projects both aesthetically and thematically via coordinated design elements unites facilities logically for visitors. Uniform sign families maintain brand integration.
Accessibility: Serving mobility-challenged populations well requires implementing Grade II braille, ADA-compliant tactile letters with proper depth and height positioning according to recommended reach minimums.
Durability: Hospital signage endures extremely heavy daily use and abuse. Utilizing durable vandal-resistant sign materials and shields that are able to withstand continual cleaning ensures extended service life and safety. Sign longevity indicates care for the environment.
A custom sign family unified visually makes navigation intuitive compared to piecemealed wayfinding. SignWorks handles every phase from initial site surveys evaluating foot traffic, current signage and problem areas to fabrication, permitting and layered introductions spanning months for minimal disruption. Architectural consistency maintains branding as facilities expand.
The benefits also extend beyond visitor convenience to improving hospital staff efficiency. Nurses spend less cumulative hours providing personal escort. Admissions clerks field fewer misrouted patients.
SignWorks Inc understands healthcare wayfinding complexities. Our Hayward team serving San Lorenzo has manufactured sign systems guiding patients, personnel and contractors through major Northern California medical facilities for years. Past clients confirm our sign families measurably improved interior navigation. Visitors compliment the clarity while administrators appreciate projecting professionalism and compassion through design.
Now supporting family members through illnesses later in life, healthcare consumers expect dependable guidance. SignWorks’ wayfinding sign systems directly ease uncertainties that compound stress during hospital visits. We aim to set the example for what signage should provide healthcare clients and communities when needed.
To learn more about improving your healthcare signage, contact SignWorks Inc at (510) 357-2000 for a free consultation and quote. Discover how impactful signage when thoughtfully designed can guide visitors while showcasing your brand more proudly.
