Navigating healthcare facilities can be daunting, especially for those dealing with the stress and emotional turmoil often associated with medical visits. Christian Grouleff, Sales Director/Partner of the commercial team at the Modulex office in Denmark, highlights the important role of clear and effective signage in alleviating these challenges.
Challenges in Healthcare Navigation
“One of the key challenges in navigating healthcare facilities is ensuring the signage is legible and visible,” says Christian. “Signage must be easy to understand, have good contrast, and avoid excessive information,” Grouleff emphasizes the importance of keeping signage simple and straightforward to help patients and visitors find their way in an often overwhelming environment.
Effective signage significantly enhances the patient experience. “People arrive at hospitals for various reasons, often emotionally affected. They may be uncertain about what they’ll hear from their doctor or where they need to go,” explains Christian. “We need to use a clear hierarchy in signage from the entrance to the specific location within the facility, as seen in our project at the Aarhus University Hospital.”
Essential Elements of Clear Healthcare Signage
Grouleff outlines the critical elements for effective healthcare signage: proper size for legibility, appropriate font with upper and lower case letters, and high contrast between text and background. “Signage must be legible from at least 10 meters away, considering many visitors may have impaired vision. Repeating signage along the way helps reassure them that they are on the right path,” he adds.
Addressing patients’ diverse needs is imperative. “In an ideal world, signage would be large enough for everyone to read, tactile for the visually impaired, and include tactile guidelines on the floor,” says Grouleff. This inclusive approach ensures that all patients, regardless of their physical abilities, can easily navigate healthcare facilities.
Interior wayfinding, Aarhus University Hospital
Technological Advancements in Signage
Digital signage is transforming patient empowerment in healthcare settings. “Digital signage offers greater flexibility and allows patients to interact with information in a way that instils confidence,” notes Christian. While older generations might prefer personal interaction at a reception desk, younger patients are more comfortable using digital screens to find their way.” This technological shift allows hospitals to easily update information and offer immediate, relevant guidance.
Effective healthcare signage is vital in helping patients navigate facilities efficiently and with less stress. By focusing on clear communication, inclusive design, and technological advancements, Modulex is dedicated to creating signage solutions that prioritize patient empowerment and enhance the healthcare experience.
About Christian Grouleff
Christian Grouleff is the Sales Director for Modulex at the Billund office in Denmark. He began his journey with Modulex in May 2010 as a Key Account Manager with Signbrand, focusing on sales in Jutland’s Middle and Northern regions. Following the transition from Signbrand to Modulex Denmark, Christian’s role expanded to include project sales across Denmark in 2016, serving as Sales Manager while maintaining his original district. In 2023, Christian was promoted to Sales Director, where he now oversees project sales across Denmark and global account sales throughout Scandinavia, continuing to drive success and growth for Modulex.
