“Excuse me. Could you help me find the_______?”

Every day, health care workers hear countless ways to fill in that blank from people who are lost in their facility.

Picture…

… a 75-year old man arriving on your campus to visit his brother in intensive care.

Ask yourself… How easy is it for this visitor to choose the right

• Parking structure?

• Building?

• Entrance?

• Elevator?

• What if his eyesight is poor?

• If he has difficulty reading for other reasons?

• If English is not his first language?
• If he chooses incorrectly, how far might he wander before discovering he has made a mistake?
• Is your staff prepared to assist him if he asks for directions?
• What if he is extremely disoriented?
• Does your staff provide verbal directions when telephone callers request patient room numbers?
• If so, do these directions match experience?

Return to Frustration & Inefficiency

Example #2
Many times, wayfinding defaults to facility employees.