Large hospital networks in the United States often have many campuses, outpatient centers, research places, and specialty clinics spread over large areas. For example, Ochsner Health, a not-for-profit academic healthcare system, runs 40 hospitals and more than 200 health centers mainly in the Gulf South. Their main hospital, Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, recently started using a digital wayfinding system made by Purple to help people find their way easier on big campuses.
Hospitals are often like mazes with many departments moving and signs changing. Studies show that problems finding places cause patients to miss or be late to appointments, costing the U.S. healthcare system about $150 billion every year. Old-fashioned signs are not enough to solve these problems. Patients and visitors need clear, timely, and personal directions to get around large healthcare campuses.
Digital wayfinding systems give real-time help through mobile apps, kiosks, digital wall signs, and desktop platforms. These tools improve the experience and make operations smoother. They guide users from parking lots or transit stops to the exact floor, department, or doctor’s office in an easy-to-understand way.
Many digital wayfinding systems use cloud-based content management. This lets staff update maps, routes, and messages from anywhere. It keeps information current for all hospital locations, even off-campus sites.
One big challenge for hospital managers and IT teams is setting up wayfinding systems that work smoothly across many campuses. Navigation must be accurate at each location but also feel consistent for people moving between sites, no matter how different the buildings look.
Platforms like LogicJunction’s web-based system offer scalable and adaptable wayfinding services for health systems of different sizes. These solutions help standardize signs, map styles, and directions. This reduces confusion from different signs at separate campuses belonging to one health system.
Ochsner Health wants to add Purple’s digital wayfinding to more of its campuses. This shows a wider trend where hospitals adopt navigation tools covering all their sites. Linking wayfinding with hospital communication systems can also help respond to emergencies or safety alerts, like during a pandemic.
It is very important that digital navigation systems work well for all patients, including those with different needs. Modern wayfinding tools offer features such as:
Hospitals that use these features help patients feel more confident and less stressed about finding their way in unfamiliar places. Data from wayfinding tools also lets hospital managers study visitor movement, predict busy times, and place signs better.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to change how wayfinding works by adding new ways to interact, giving personal help, and improving operations:
The U.S. healthcare AI market is growing fast, from $20.9 billion in 2024 to $148.4 billion by 2029. AI wayfinding tools are becoming useful tools to improve patient flow and facility management.
Even though digital wayfinding has many benefits, hospitals face some challenges when adopting these systems:
The digital wayfinding market in North America, mainly the U.S., made 34% of global sales in 2024, about $0.3 billion. It is expected to grow steadily at about 7.4% each year from 2025, led by more focus on patient care and technology.
Hardware like kiosks, signs, beacons, and sensors make up over 57% of the market. Cloud-based systems hold over 61% of market share because they are flexible and easy to update. This is important for hospitals with many campuses that need real-time info changes.
Big tech companies like Purple, Gozio Health, Signagelive, and Visix Digital Signage push this field forward with new platforms that use AI, AR, and mobile syncing. They often work with design firms like Exit Design to match hospital branding and style.
Hospital managers dealing with many locations find that good wayfinding systems help make getting around easier, improve safety, and support patient care.
Healthcare leaders managing many campuses need to think about how digital wayfinding meets patient needs and helps operations. Best choices include systems with:
Plans should include solving integration problems, managing content, teaching users, and ensuring accessibility for all.
As hospitals grow and modernize in the U.S., spending on smart wayfinding tech can improve patient experience, reduce missed visits, and make operations better. These tools help guide patients and visitors while also supporting hospital care systems.
This information helps hospital managers and IT teams understand how digital wayfinding fits into modern healthcare and supports good decisions as this technology becomes more common.
The main purpose of the Purple Digital Wayfinding Solution is to improve the overall navigation experience for patients, visitors, and staff at Ochsner Medical Center by providing turn-by-turn directions and highlighting key points of interest in real-time.
The solution integrates with the MyOchsner App, allowing users to receive on-site walking directions and updated information about their surroundings within the hospital.
The system highlights key points of interest in real-time, including area information, special activities, and events happening in nearby areas throughout the hospital.
Ochsner Health is the Gulf South region’s leading, not-for-profit academic, multi-specialty healthcare delivery system, comprising 40 hospitals and over 200 health centers and urgent care facilities.
The digital wayfinding solution aims to deliver safer, more efficient, and modern experiences to users, making it easier to navigate the large campus and locate destinations.
Gavin Wheeldon is the CEO at Purple, and he expressed honor in collaborating with Ochsner Health, highlighting the partnership’s potential to drive impact and improve patient experience.
Purple has been providing digital wayfinding solutions and indoor location services to trusted hospitals and brands for over a decade, adding considerable value to operational and patient experiences.
Purple has recently partnered with Exit Design, a leading experiential graphic firm, to create more effective wayfinding and signage systems in healthcare settings.
Purple has been recognized as a Niche Player in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant report for indoor location services, reflecting its substantial presence in the market.
Ochsner Health plans to potentially extend the Purple Digital Wayfinding Solution to additional campuses, enhancing the navigation experience for a broader audience in their network.
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