Rarely have so many people paid so much attention to parking around healthcare facilities. But that’s the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has affected everything, and that includes parking lot signage and lighting.
The challenge of directing parking lot traffic and keeping patients and visitors safe has become increasingly important. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities now struggle with a multitude of parking lot challenges, according to Health Facilities Management. As traffic moves almost continuously transporting patients, staff, providers, visitors, vendor deliveries, emergency vehicles, security shuttles, passenger drop off and more, parking anxiety is at an all-time high. It is now becoming much more important as the parking space, signage, phone/app and car-side staff interaction might be the sum of a patient’s experience with an organization.
For example, with physicians, nurses, hospital staff, security personnel and patients coming and going every day, it is crucial to have proper parking signage displayed. Bent, damaged, missing or destroyed signposts are also a hazard and a risk to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Many hospitals also must have designated zones, directional signage and safety areas, which require signposts ranging from ultra-portable to semi-permanent. Appearance is also important in healthcare. Well-maintained facilities, consistent brand messages and clear direction and navigation for patients and visitors is critical.
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