How digital signs in medical offices can improve the patient experience

Digital Signage Applications |
How digital signs in medical offices can improve the patient experience

One of the most unpleasant parts of healthcare is the waiting room experience. Believe it or not, it can be as miserable to physicians as it is to patients. When patients face a series of delays, they become difficult to speak with and frustrated. However, these delays are sometimes unavoidable, regardless of how much work goes into creating the perfect schedule.

For example, a medical assistant may call in sick. In this scenario, each appointment will then take longer than usual, as there is one less person on the metaphorical production line. Similarly, doctors may have to tend to an emergency, and this emergency can cause the entire day’s schedule to get shifted by thirty minutes or even an hour. During these delays, patients are stuck in the practice’s waiting room, and the practice’s staff must do all they can to make the waiting room as enjoyable as possible.

One way to improve the waiting room experience is with digital signage. Of course, installing a digital sign does not suddenly change a medical office’s waiting room into an environment that people come to for fun. However, digital signs can make the waiting room experience much more bearable.

Using digital signs in medical office waiting rooms

Below we list a few ways in which digital signage for doctors can improve the waiting room experience.

1. Educate your patients

You have patients in your waiting room, and they are looking for a place to direct their attention. Educate them! Patients often forget the details regarding their diagnoses and treatments. You can use a medical office digital sign to display graphics and videos that educate patients on what will happen in each procedure. You can also display educational content what the patient can expect afterward. In addition to reducing perceived wait times, this education-based expectation management can increase overall patient satisfaction.

2. Remind your patients

The healthcare industry is full of ever-changing regulations. It can be challenging to stay on top of these many regulations and implement these changes into your workflows. Has a patient’s insurance company changed its covered procedures? Does the patient need further documentation or diagnostic tests? Keep your patients informed of any changes, and remind them of any actions they need to take via your medical office digital sign.

3. Show off your team

Patients need to trust the doctor and the doctor’s staff. You can help build this trust by introducing your patients to your team via your digital sign. Show profiles of each team member, and keep it fun! Share some details on what each team member enjoys doing in their time off, and share information on their background and education. This use of your digital sign will help establish a more personal rapport between your staff and your patients.

4. Share patient success stories

Sometimes patients are nervous when they need a new treatment. You can help combat this anxiety with digital signs by displaying patient success stories. These stories can be a video testimonial or a simple image with text that describes the diagnosis, treatment, and treatment outcome. These stories provide valuable social proof for your practice, and they can help patients feel more relaxed and optimistic regarding their own treatment needs.

Getting started with medical office digital signs

As described, digital signs can improve the waiting room experience in a medical facility by providing attention-grabbing content for your patients. Remember to be authentic with your content and show your patients content that is targeted and relevant for their particular situation. To get started with digital signage in your practice, you will need a digital signage player and digital signage software. You can learn more about these particular components and how to get started on our features page.

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Daniel Mountcastle View Profile
Daniel runs content marketing at Screenly.

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