Start by determining the specific goals you want to achieve with digital signage. Here are some common objectives of setting up signages in hospital settings:

• Provide information to patients, visitors, and staff.
  Use digital signage displays to provide important information like waiting times, visiting hours, emergency alerts, and general hospital announcements. It helps to keep people informed and reduce confusion.
• Assist in wayfinding.
  Hospitals can utilize digital signage to assist patients and visitors in navigating complex buildings. Interactive maps and directions can be displayed to guide individuals to specific departments, making it easier for them to find their way around the facility.

• Educate patients.
  Digital signage can educate patients about various health topics, medical procedures, and healthy lifestyle choices. It can display informative videos, slideshows, or animations to promote health awareness and informed decision-making.
• Enhanced staff communication.
  Digital signage can be a valuable tool for internal communication within the hospital. It can display essential announcements, employee recognition, training schedules, and other relevant information for staff members.
• Promote services and events.
  Hospitals can use digital signage to communicate or generate awareness about their services, health campaigns, and upcoming events. It can help raise awareness among patients and the local community about available medical expertise, screenings, workshops, or support groups.

Now that you have assessed your goals and objectives, it’s time to select a digital signage software that aligns with them. Here are some steps you can follow to make an informed decision:

• Evaluate specific requirements of your healthcare setting.
  Consider factors such as the size and layout of your facility, the number of screens you need, content management capabilities, integration with existing systems (EMR, scheduling, etc.), and any compliance regulations (HIPAA, ADA) you must adhere to.
• Research available options.
  Conduct thorough research to identify digital signage software providers specializing in the healthcare industry. Look for companies with experience in healthcare and understand the unique needs and challenges of the sector. Explore their websites, read customer reviews, and compare different solutions’ features, functionality, and pricing. For instance, healthcare providers love how Intelisa helps them push important educational content for patients to different locations from the head office. With the digital signage solution live in over 2000 locations, digital communication becomes more effortless.
• Prioritize content management capabilities.
  A robust content management system (CMS) is essential for creating, scheduling, and managing content on your digital signage screens. Ensure that the software allows easy content creation and editing, supports various media formats (images, videos, live feeds), and enables you to schedule content based on different criteria (time, location, audience).
• Look for seamless integration.
  The software must seamlessly integrate with your existing electronic medical records (EMR) system, scheduling software, data feeds, or third-party applications. Integration can streamline workflows and enable dynamic content delivery based on real-time data.
• Security and compliance.
  Healthcare environments handle sensitive patient information, so security and compliance are crucial. Ensure that the digital signage software adheres to industry-standard security protocols and can protect data privacy.

Once you have shortlisted a few digital signage software options, request demos or trials from the vendors. This will allow you to test the software firsthand and evaluate its ease of use, interface, performance, and overall user experience. Pay attention to how well it aligns with your specific requirements and objectives.

Understanding your audience is crucial to plan your content strategy effectively. Consider the demographics and characteristics of the people viewing the digital signage. Patients, visitors, and staff may have different information needs and preferences. Conduct surveys to gather insights on what content they find valuable and engaging.

Remember that creating a content calendar is an integral part of your strategy. Develop a schedule for content updates, taking into account the frequency and timing that works best for your audience. Plan for daily, weekly, and monthly content rotations, and consider any special events or campaigns you want to promote.

Bonus tip: Engage with various stakeholders, including hospital departments, doctors, nurses, marketing teams, and patient representatives, to gather relevant content and ensure accuracy.

When determining the best locations for digital signage displays, it’s crucial to consider strategic placements that can effectively reach a large audience. One of the key areas to focus on is the waiting rooms. These spaces are often filled with patients and visitors looking for information or entertainment while waiting.

Reception areas are another prime location for digital signage displays. The reception area is usually the first point of contact for patients and visitors entering a facility. Highlight important announcements, showcase services or products, or display welcome messages.

Lastly, focus on hallways and patient rooms, as they are often high-traffic areas within a facility, making them an ideal spot for digital signage displays.  This can be particularly effective for sharing important information, such as directions, upcoming events, or health and safety reminders.

Note: Consider the height and orientation of the displays to ensure optimal visibility and readability as people walk by.

Use the digital signage software to design and schedule your content. Consider creating different content playlists for different times of the day or specific areas within the healthcare facility. Update content regularly to keep it fresh and relevant.

For instance, during the morning hours, when the facility is typically busy with patients, display content related to healthy living, preventive care, and reminders for regular check-ups. In the afternoon, when the waiting rooms are less crowded,  showcase information about upcoming health education seminars, wellness programs, and testimonials from satisfied patients.

And the best part? Digital signage solutions like Intelisa have a scheduling feature that automatically switches between playlists based on the time of the day. This ensures that the displayed content remains relevant and captures the target audience’s attention at specific times.

Segment your content to cater to different patient demographics and healthcare needs. For example, you might display information about preventive care for older adults in geriatric wards or promote pediatric health initiatives in children’s areas.

In conclusion, digital signage software has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing patient communication within healthcare settings. By incorporating dynamic and visually appealing displays, healthcare facilities can deliver vital information effectively, improve patient experiences, and streamline operations.

But remember that investing in a user-friendly digital signage solution is crucial to make the process hassle-free. For instance, Intelisa comes with many different features, like live streaming and social media integration, which effectively help reuse marketing content used across various channels. To know more about how to fully utilize digital signage in your hospital or clinic setup, book a free trial today