Healthcare users and providers may experience anxiety and stress due to their health or that of their loved ones, and this affects wayfinding and management. Healthcare users and providers may experience anxiety and stress due to various factors, such as the uncertainty, severity, or urgency of their health condition, the complexity, diversity, or unfamiliarity of the healthcare environment or service, the lack of control, information, or support, or the high expectations, demands, or responsibilities.
The anxiety and stress of healthcare users and providers pose several challenges for wayfinding and management. For wayfinding, anxiety and stress may impair the perception, cognition, and mobility of healthcare users and providers, and may affect their ability to orient themselves and navigate within the complex environment, and to find and access the services they need. For management, anxiety and stress may impair the communication, coordination, and collaboration of healthcare users and providers, and may affect their ability to monitor and optimize the workflows, resources, and performance of the services.
For example, a visitor who is looking for their relative who is hospitalized may experience anxiety and stress due to the worry, fear, or sadness they feel for their relative, and the confusion, frustration, or anger they feel for the healthcare system. The visitor may also experience anxiety and stress due to the complexity, diversity, or unfamiliarity of the hospital environment, and the lack of information, guidance, or support. Similarly, a nurse who works in a busy ward may experience anxiety and stress due to the high workload, pressure, or expectations they face, and the empathy, compassion, or guilt they feel for their patients. The nurse may also experience anxiety and stress due to the frequent changes, disruptions, or conflicts that occur in the hospital environment, and the lack of resources, feedback, or recognition.
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, the anxiety and stress of healthcare users and providers can lead to negative outcomes, such as reduced attention, memory, or decision-making, increased errors, delays, or complaints, and decreased satisfaction, loyalty, or well-being. Another study by the American Nurses Association found that the anxiety and stress of healthcare users and providers can also increase the risk of burnout, turnover, or absenteeism, and decrease the quality, safety, or efficiency of healthcare services.
Hospital Wayfinder can help address this challenge by enhancing communication and convenience for patients and visitors, and by providing a pleasant and user-friendly interface. Hospital Wayfinder is a web-based software service that enables patients and visitors to communicate faster and more conveniently with the healthcare organization (hospitals in particular). Including a possibility for self-check-in, getting operative information based on location (e.g., meal times, etc.). It also provides a pleasant and user-friendly interface, using colors, lighting, architectural details, artwork, landscaping, and signage.
With Hospital Wayfinder, users can:
- Enhance communication and convenience for patients and visitors, by offering self-check-in, location-based information, and feedback options. This allows users to have more control, information, and support, and to reduce their waiting times and errors.
- Provide a pleasant and user-friendly interface, using colours, lighting, architectural details, artwork, landscaping, and signage. This allows users to have a more positive, comfortable, and engaging experience, and to reduce their anxiety and stress.
For example, using Hospital Wayfinder, a visitor who is looking for their relative who is hospitalized can enhance their communication and convenience by using the self-check-in option, which allows them to register their arrival, confirm their identity, and receive a QR code that grants them access to the hospital. The visitor can also access the location-based information option, which allows them to see the real-time status and location of their relative, such as the ward, the room, or the service they are in, and the estimated time they will be there. The visitor can also use the feedback option, which allows them to rate and review their experience, and to suggest any improvements or complaints. Similarly, using Hospital Wayfinder, a nurse who works in a busy ward can provide a pleasant and user-friendly interface by using the colours, lighting, architectural details, artwork, landscaping, and signage that are displayed in the 3D floor plans. The nurse can also customize the interface according to their preferences, such as the brightness, contrast, or zoom level, and the type, style, or theme of the elements.
Hospital Wayfinder can help improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of healthcare services by reducing the time, errors, and costs associated with wayfinding and management, and by increasing the satisfaction and well-being of healthcare users and providers.
The Hospital Wayfinder project is a collaborative work between 3D Technologies R &D, Estonia and Easy Touch & Led, Norway. The project is funded by EAS and Norway grants.
Pilot projects in works with Pärnu Hospital and Tartu University Clinic in Estonia and University Clinical Center GUMed in Poland
If you are interested in learning more about Hospital Wayfinder, please visit our website, hospitalwayfinder.com, or contact us at 3dwayfinder.com/contact-us.
