MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 14, 2020) — Finding your way around a big hospital like Abbott Northwestern can be a daunting task, but it just became a lot easier thanks to the upgraded Allina Health app, which offers step-by-step directions inside the 2.7 million square foot hospital campus for patients, visitors and family members. The updated Allina Health app includes the wayfinding tool and is available for free from the Apple App Store for Apple devices or Google Play for Android devices.
This new indoor wayfinding functionality is the latest in a series of digital experience innovations Allina Health has implemented to help patients, visitors and family members more easily access and navigate our network of hospital services.
“Finding your way to a destination on the Abbott Northwestern campus can sometimes be a confusing experience, even for staff sometimes,” said Abbott Northwestern Hospital vice president for operations Tony LaCroix-Dalluhn. “We have signs posted in the hospital to let folks know about the wayfinding tool, so even if they don’t already have the Allina Health app when they get to the hospital, they can download it in just a few moments and be on their way.”
The updated Allina Health app includes the new wayfinding designed to guide people via digital maps and routes that can be viewed with their Smartphone, including:
• Providing turn-by-turn directions: Blue dot guidance showing your exact location within five feet on an interactive map;
• Providing search functionality by department/service, rooms, elevators, restrooms, food and dining, and more in patient care areas only;
• Offering automatic re-routing if you go off track or if an elevator is closed for maintenance; and
• Estimated walking time and distance.
Individuals do not need to have an Allina Health account to use the wayfinding functionality. Wayfinding is available without having to sign into the app.
“The Abbott Northwestern wayfinding tool is just the latest of the digital tools Allina Health has developed that help simplify the healthcare experience allowing patients to focus on getting well,” said Chris DuFresne, Allina Health, Director Consumer Experience. “Other recent innovations include Patient Wisdom, an addition to the Allina Health account experience that enables patients to tell providers their story and desires before an appointment, and Allina Health Everyday Online which provides patients the ability to login to their Allina Health account and launch a video visit on demand.”
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 10 hospitals / 13 campuses, 15 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services.