Our Thinking: No hospital is the same

If every hospital is unique, so too must be the wayfinding solution. 

We encounter hospital designs around the world with a similar primary goal in mind: to facilitate healthcare processes. 

We also observe significant variations in these care processes from one hospital to another. This diversity in care processes is likely the reason why there is no universal concept of an ‘ideal hospital design’ – a design that would make it easy for patients to navigate any space and provide them with a consistent experience across all hospitals.

In reality, no hospital is the same. While this diversity may pose challenges for patients, it does present interesting opportunities for wayfinding strategists to address these complexities. 

Planning for difference

To create an effective wayfinding plan, we need to begin by ensuring the built environment matches the care process and the patient journey. This assists patients to have a positive experience, in addition to the hospital providing great care.

Here our challenge emerges: if every hospital is unique, so too must be the wayfinding solution. 

See the differences between six hospital layouts in the Benelux – not one is the same!

This challenge presents itself differently in two case studies in Belgium – AZ Groeninge and ZNA Cadix.