Hospital launches app to assist visitors in finding their way

The MyKaleida app eases patient navigation around the campus and surrounding area.

Photo courtesy of Kaleida Health

Navigating any large hospital campus can be a challenge for patients that may prevent them from getting to appointments on time.

Kaleida Health, a Buffalo, N.Y.-area system, took its patients’ frustrations to heart and, with the help of outside vendors, built a digital wayfinding tool into its free MyKaleida mobile app, according to Hospitals & Health Networks. Once an app user crosses the building threshold, the tool shows them an internal map with the route to the user's destination. A blue dot moves along the route to indicate the patient’s location, explains Cletis Earle, vice president and chief information officer. It even notifies visitors of coupons at the coffee shop and other on-site vendors.

Kaleida is a winner of a 2017 Most Wired Innovator Award from the American Hospital Association and Hospitals & Health Networks.

The wayfinding app, first launched in spring 2017 at Kaleida’s new Oishei Children’s Outpatient Center, is being rolled out in phases at other locations, including the system’s four hospitals. Canadian firm Jibestream created the indoor mapping system.