Medical practice signage is a critical part of communication. Clear, logical, attention-grabbing signage not only helps patients find your practice, but ensures that they can easily find their way around. Here’s why medical practice signage is important for your brand – and for the patient experience.
Be Seen in a High-Information World
Visibility is vital to practice success. When choosing a medical office space, ask about signage rights and learn what size and types of signage are allowed. Clear, visible signage not only helps your patients find your clinic but also improves brand awareness for those who might one day become patients. Be aware that signage options may be different in a retail medical space vs. an office-style medical space. Ask about whether it’s possible to add or expand signage and explore options such as billboards or sandwich boards to increase visibility.
Make a Strong First Impression
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Powerful, easy-to-read signage aligned with your brand helps paint a picture of what your patients can expect from their visit. Make sure yours is fresh, modern, and legible; if not, talk to your landlord or realtor about negotiating an upgrade. You may be able to update existing signs, or take steps to improve its visibility, such as by increasing the dimensions or where the signage is located.
Meet Legal Requirements
Signage regulations exist for physicians’ offices, with physicians being required to disclose education, licensing, and certification. The specific rules vary depending on location, so check local guidelines to ensure that you’re meeting requirements about what must be posted, where, and in what size or format. These guidelines are vital to keeping patients informed about your credentials, so getting them right matters.
Help With Wayfinding
Signage is invaluable for helping your patients navigate their way from the reception area to a specific consultation room or for locating key areas such as bathrooms or pathology. Signage can also help patients find their way back around to the reception area when they’ve been discharged – something that frees up your staff and allows them to get to work assisting the next patient. Wayfinding is especially helpful in large clinics, those that provide a variety of services, or pediatric clinics where patients may need extra visual assistance in finding their way.
Be More Inclusive
Accessibility matters. Signage is an opportunity to provide a more accessible practice experience, such as by offering high-contrast lettering, bilingual signage, or braille signs. Consider your audience and explore ways to make your practice more client-friendly.
Before you sign or renegotiate your lease, talk to Gittleson Zuppas Medical Realty about your lease – and how you can ensure that it is negotiated in a way that lets you put your best foot forward. As experts in the medical real estate space, we know the ins and outs of medical spaces and can ensure that signage helps put your practice on the map. For more information, get in touch today!