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The Joint Commission - Does your hospital signage pass the inspection?

Posted by Gary Baron on Fri, Jul 27, 2012 @ 09:31 AM

Hospitals are the kind of businesses that don't have time to get boggedThe Joint Commission copy resized 600 down in minutia and updates. When it comes to getting accredited and registered with the right agencies, you need to get it right the first time and not have to worry about it again.

Getting accredited by The Joint Commission is a big part of that process and it's not something you want to risk. Becoming one of the 19,000 health care organizations accredited by The Joint Commission means a lot to your hospital, it's staff and it's patients. 

The Joint Commission's stated mission to "To continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value".

Why is Joint Commission accreditation so important to your hospital?

  • It gives your hospital a competitive edge in the marketplace over others that don't have it.
  • Helps to educate your staff on best practices and helps reduce the risks involved in the day-to-day operations.
  • Gives you and your staff professional advice and makes staff recruitment and development easier and more efficient.
  • Improves the quality and safety of the healthcare experience for your patients, their families and the hospital's staff.
  • Accreditation is recognized by insurers and certain states. It also can fulfill many of your requirements state-wide.

One major part of receiving accreditation from The Joint Commission is to have approved signage. That means making sure that your room signs, lab signs, evacuation signs and wayfinding systems are up to date and make sense for staff, patients and visitors alike. Easier said than done so you'll want to make sure that a credible sign company is helping you plan accordingly.

Let's walk through some of the most critical signage needs you'll want to take care of for The Joint Commission accreditation.

Wayfinding Systems

Wayfinding signage provides visual highlights to help customers or patients navigate all through your hospital. Wayfinding signs are usually designed to match up with your locale or style by including aesthetically-pleasing color schemes or themes that give your entire system and building a unified appearance.

A good wayfinding system is one specific style and theme of signs that is easy to update, upgrade, and maintain quickly even by your in-house staff. You don't want to be at the mercy of an outside agency every time your wayfinding system needs updating. You don't have that kind of time.

Room Signs

Hospital room signs might sound like the most basic and specific healthcare facility signs around but don't forget about them. They help to identify every room in the hospital and when you have a lot of visitors and first-time patients walking around, they need specific instructions at all times. Make your healthcare facility easy to get around and maintain an air of professionalism with a simple design.

Lab Signs

It is critical that signage on laboratory doors and walls is up to code and as clear as possible. There may be some extremely scientific and possibly dangerous activities going on behind those doors. The less chance than an unauthorized person will enter or mistakenly open a door to a lab, the better. Good signage is colorful, bright, clear and at a level easily-seen by anyone passing by. There should be no way of misinterpreting the sign, whether it is a picture or words, preferably both.

Evacuation Signs

Often times when an emergency happens, it is not the initial emergency that causes the problems, its the poor and complicated way that directs people on how to leave or escape that causes problems. Faulty signage, poor directions or confusing instructions could be the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. The need for absolutely perfect and clear evacuation signage is critical at any business, let alone a hospital. These signs should always assume the reader is not familiar with the building and take into account any ADA requirements or needs.

The Joint Commission signing off on your hospital is a huge boost as a business and as a health care provider. Don't let something like poor signage derail your plans and delay your progress. It's something that can be overlooked so easily but a professional signage company can help you plan for any problems, overcome any obstacles and put up dependable, affordable signs that will serve your patients, your staff and your visitors.

Topics: wayfinding systems, ada, ada signage, hospital signage

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