Healthcare environments and services are complex and diverse, and this affects wayfinding and management. Healthcare environments are composed of multiple buildings, floors, rooms, corridors, and entrances, each with different functions, layouts, and designs. Healthcare services are composed of multiple departments, units, specialties, and procedures, each with different workflows, protocols, and schedules. Moreover, healthcare environments and services are dynamic and interactive, as they involve the movement and interaction of various users, such as staff, patients, visitors, and equipment.
The complexity and diversity of healthcare environments and services pose several challenges for wayfinding and management. For wayfinding, users need to have accurate and updated information about the location, availability, and status of the services they need, and they need to be able to navigate through the complex and unfamiliar environment without getting lost or confused. For management, users need to have a comprehensive and integrated overview of the operations and facilities, and they need to be able to monitor and optimize the workflows, resources, and performance of the services.
For example, a patient who needs to undergo a surgery may need to find and access several services, such as the admission office, the pre-operative unit, the operating room, the post-operative unit, and the discharge office. The patient may also need to know the status and schedule of each service, such as the waiting time, the duration, and the sequence. Similarly, a staff member who works in the surgery department may need to coordinate and communicate with several other services, such as the pharmacy, the laboratory, the radiology, and the anesthesia. The staff member may also need to know the status and performance of each service, such as the availability, the capacity, and the quality.
According to a study by the World Health Organization, the complexity and diversity of healthcare environments and services can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and risks, such as wasted time, missed appointments, wrong diagnoses, adverse events, and patient dissatisfaction. Another study by the American Hospital Association found that the complexity and diversity of healthcare environments and services can also increase the costs and reduce the revenues of healthcare facilities, such as increased operational expenses, decreased productivity, and lost reimbursements.
Hospital Wayfinder can help address this challenge by providing a comprehensive overview of the operations and facilities in 3D, and allowing users to easily locate and access the services they need. Hospital Wayfinder is a web-based software service that provides floor-plan visualization in 3D with universal API for collecting different real-time data and showing it in 3D floor-plans. Collected data includes: patient status, task lists with nominated time estimations, different sensor inputs from devices and nurses/operators for detecting work-time, configuration and downtime, positioning of moving objects etc.
With Hospital Wayfinder, users can:
- Collect and display real-time data from various sources in 3D floor plans. The data collected includes: patient status, to-do lists with predefined time forecasts, inputs from various sensors from devices and nurses to determine working time and condition, positioning of moving objects, etc. This allows users to monitor and optimize their workflows, resources, and performance.
- Provide indoor positioning and navigation for mobile devices using Bluetooth beacons and QR codes. Positioning can be used by visitors, patients, and staff alike. Along with positioning, the software allows users to find the optimal path to the destination they are looking for (such as a radiology office or a specific ward).
For example, using Hospital Wayfinder, a patient who needs to undergo a surgery can see the 3D floor plan of the hospital on their mobile device, and can find and access the services they need by following the directions and guidance provided by the software. The patient can also see the real-time status and schedule of each service, such as the waiting time, the duration, and the sequence, and can adjust their plans accordingly. Similarly, using Hospital Wayfinder, a staff member who works in the surgery department can see the 3D floor plan of the hospital on their computer screen, and can coordinate and communicate with other services by accessing the real-time data and information provided by the software. The staff member can also see the real-time status and performance of each service, such as the availability, the capacity, and the quality, and can optimize their workflows and resources accordingly.
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 https://hospitalwayfinder.com/en/ or contact us at https://3dwayfinder.com/contact-us/.
