5 Tips for Navigating Flu Season in Healthcare Facilities
During last year’s flu season, the Center for Disease Control estimated that the flu was associated with four million medical visits and 10,000 hospitalizations. From October to November of 2022 alone, there were an estimated 4,400,000 – 9,800,000 flu illnesses.
To create a more efficient, organized, and sanitary space, digital signage for visual communications is an often overlooked tool during flu season. In this article, the healthcare communications software experts at 22Miles list the top five tips for keeping your staff and patients healthy with the help of digital signage.
1) Take Advantage of Touchless Displays
Studies show that there are two to 10 million bacteria between our fingers and elbows at any given time. Minimizing the spread of these germs is crucial to mitigating the spread of flu in healthcare facilities.
Through visually-stunning touchless displays, healthcare facilities can limit the spread of germs and bacteria without compromising the reach of helpful information. Upon entering a healthcare facility, visitors and patients can access what they need, from room numbers to directions, efficiently and without making any physical contact with a digital display. The healthcare communications software running each display provides a safer and more hygienic interactive experience.
2) Implement Carry2Mobile™ Technology
Another useful Touchless Touch option allows users to simply scan a QR code or NFC and interact with any of the facility’s screens on their own mobile device. 22Miles’ Carry2Mobile™ technology enables users to carry current screen content to their phone and rewind or forward to a previous slide on the screen.
This is especially useful for those looking to check-in for appointments via their mobile devices, find contact information for doctors, or locate offices within a larger facility. Not only does Carry2Mobile™ technology further limit the spread of germs, but it also allows for more efficiency and an elevated visitor experience.
3) Safeguard Staff With Virtual Receptionist
During flu season and all year long, safeguarding staff and keeping them healthy is a top priority at any healthcare facility. With flu season in full swing, it is often necessary to get creative to determine how to best limit the spread of germs.
With 22Miles’ Touchless Touch voice control option, users can speak directly to a “Virtual Receptionist” upon entering the building. This aspect of your healthcare communications software provides a safer and more hygienic interactive experience.
While the Virtual Receptionist offering reduces face-to-face communications during check in, it simultaneously maintains a level of human interaction needed at any healthcare facility. Upon entering the healthcare facility, patients can be greeted by a Virtual Receptionist who welcomes them, streamlines operational security with check-in instructions, and reads guest badges.
Not only does this help protect your staff by limiting face-to-face interaction with ill patients during check in, but also helps add efficiency and convenience to the patient experience.
4) Leverage the Mobile Experience
While wayfinding for healthcare is an important tool year round, it is even more vital to the visitor experience during the months of October – May. Healthcare facilities both large and small are significantly more populated during flu season, and wayfinding helps reduce congestion, confusion, and frustration.
The Carry2Mobile experience from 22Miles takes this a step further.
Carry2Mobile from 22Miles allows users to interact with digital signage via their own mobile device with no app download necessary. This leads to higher usability, added convenience, and a limited spread of germs from touching digital displays. With a simple QR or NFC, users can rewind or forward to a previous screen on the digital display, utilize pop up directions on their own mobile device for easy navigation, and stay up to date with the latest information from the healthcare facility.
The mobile experience allows push notifications to provide real-time alerts on any trace tracking, emergency notifications, appointment updates, and more. Not only will this create a more thorough patient experience, but it will also help the healthcare facility and its staff remain organized. Support of mobile devices is another component of the healthcare communications software implemented at the facility.
5) Implement Huddle Boards for Added Organization
While patient health and visitor experience are top priorities at any healthcare facility, it is also vital to continue providing medical staff with the resources they need to operate efficiently during periods of heightened traffic.
One way to provide value for medical staff is via informative huddle boards. These digital boards provide nurses and doctors with real-time information about patients, eliminating the need for conventional methods like white boards or paper notes. In turn, this reduces the opportunity for miscommunications and confusions.
While easily updated without the need for complicated IT processes, huddle boards are effectively used to keep all members of the team on the same page, up to date with their patients, and organized during an otherwise overwhelming time.
Prioritize Health for All With Digital Signage for Healthcare
While flu season can seem daunting for medical staff, healthcare facilities of all kinds from emergency rooms to clinics can stay organized, prioritize the patient experience, and limit the spread of illness all with digital signage for healthcare.
