Universal symbols are an important new innovative tool for health facility wayfinding systems. Universal symbols help create dynamic systems where patients and visitors feel more comfortable and confident while navigating in a health care facility. If you are ready to use health care symbols in your wayfinding system you are in the right place.
Please complete this short survey to help us learn how these symbols will be used. Your comments will help us develop this website and prepare us to meet your needs in the future.
Twenty-eight health care symbols are available. These symbols are in the public domain, and free to anyone who wishes to use them, thanks to generosity of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Simply down load what you need from this site – there are no fees associated and written permission is not needed.
Copyright protected - © 2005 The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
All symbols are copyright registered to protect the image. The symbols may not be altered or changed. To learn how these symbols were developed and tested click here or click About Symbols on the side bar.
Symbols are now available for the following referents commonly found in health care wayfinding systems.
Health Care Symbols |
| Ambulance Entrance |
Infectious Diseases |
Outpatient |
| Billing Department |
Intensive Care |
Pediatrics |
| Cardiology |
Internal Medicine |
Pharmacy |
| Care Staff Area |
Interpreter Services |
Physical Therapy |
| Chapel |
Laboratory |
Radiology |
| Diabetes |
Mammography |
Registration |
| Emergency |
Medical Records |
Social Services |
| Family Practice |
OB Clinic |
Surgery |
| Immunizations |
OB/GYN |
Waiting Areas |
| |
Oncology |
|
These universal health care symbols can be downloaded from this website in PDF format. This means they can be opened and read in Adobe Acrobat Reader, as well as most vector-based software programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, AUTOCAD, etc. Vector-based software will allow the symbols to be accessed as artwork and used for other applications such as signs.
Kit of Parts refers to a set of key documents developed to help with implementation of health care symbols. All the documents listed here can be downloaded at no cost – just click on the title. These documents can also be ordered all together on a CD. The Kit of Parts includes:
POSTER (11x17)
Poster with the full set of twenty eight symbols, their referents and definitions in English and Spanish. Click here to download the poster. Requires large 11x17 inch paper to print. Click here for a smaller version Poster (8x11).
SYMBOLS
Provides symbols in multiple formats.
Symbols in EPS format (28 symbols in .zip file; 11.2 MB)
Symbols in PDF format (28 symbols in .zip file; 11.2 MB)
BEST PRACTICE WORKBOOK TOP
Universal Symbols in Health Care Workbook. This is a 30 page document developed for health and hospital administrators, facilities managers, architects and designers of wayfinding systems. The workbook covers the importance of universal symbols, the benefits they provide to hospitals and healthcare facilities and offers practical suggestions for implementation taken from best practices in other fields that effectively use symbols as part of their wayfinding systems.
To download the report click here.
To order a printed version of the workbook click here.
REPORTS
Symbol Usage in Health Care Settings for People with Limited English Proficiency
Three reports were prepared by JRC Design in collaboration with Hablamos Juntos and SEGD at various stages of the project. All reports in the kit of parts are meant to be viewed on Adobe Acrobat version 6.
Part 1: Evaluation of Use of Symbol Graphics in Medical Settings – provides a history of symbols use as well as an overview of how symbols are being used in health care settings.
Part 2: Implementation Recommendations – provides suggestions for developing and testing symbols for health care.
Part 3: Symbols Technical Report – summarizes the symbol development and testing process resulting in 28 health care symbols.
KIT OF PARTS CD
All documents listed here can be ordered all together on a CD. To order a Kit of Parts click here.
Universal Symbols in Health Care Workbook
Best Practices for Sign Systems
Universal Symbols are an effective key design tool to help visitors navigate health facilities because:
- Universal symbols are proven more effective and efficient than other wayfinding methods.
- Patients find symbols are easier to see and understand.
- Universal symbols can be flexible and simple to implement, yet they can be integrated into complex and far reaching sign, print and internet programs.
This workbook was designed for health and hospital administrators, facilities managers, architects and designers of wayfinding systems interested in using health care symbols. It covers the importance of universal symbols, the benefits they provide to hospitals and healthcare facilities and offers practical suggestions for implementation taken from best practices in other fields that effectively use symbols as part of their wayfinding systems.
Advantages of Health Care Symbols
Universal symbols have a variety of advantages that make them very attractive in health care settings:
- Universal symbols are easy to implement and maintain. Unlike multilingual signs, symbols do not require extensive foreign language translations and can be updated and changed with less chance for error.
- Universal symbols are more easily noticed and comprehended compared to word signs, especially when signs contain multiple languages.
- Universal symbols are user-friendly to the visually impaired because they are consistent in size and clarity of configuration making it easier to meet American with Disabilities Act Guidelines.
- Universal symbols can be used successfully in simple identification signs and in complex wayfinding systems.
- Universal symbols can also be used in combination with numbers and letters to make those systems more effective.
To download the report click here.
Symbols based signage systems can also be enhanced with several Department of Transportation symbols that are appropriate for use in health care settings. Click here to see these symbols.
Accessibility |
Hearing Assistance |
Restrooms |
Coffee Shop |
Hospital |
Smoking |
Drinking Fountain |
Information/US |
Stairs |
Elevators |
No Smoking |
Telephone |
Fire Extinguisher |
Nursery |
Volume Control |
Gift Shop |
Restaurant |
First Aid |
The Federal Highway Administration also has a symbol set (available on www.aiga.org) designed for airports and train stations with symbols that are commonly used in hospitals and other public buildings.
- Why would I use symbols in my sign system?
- Where can I get the symbols for use on signs?
- How much does it cost to use the symbols?
- Can I change the symbols?
- Can I make small changes to these symbols?
- What does wayfinding mean?
- I don’t see some symbols that I need. Why not?
- Why were these referents chosen to develop symbols?
- How were the symbols designed?
- What is the significance of ≤87 and >87 to the testing?
- Did all the symbols in this set receive scores >87?
- Will there be additional symbols developed?
- Can I use these symbols as a logo for my medical business?
- Our facility could use the symbols, but some of the referents differ from our terminology. Can we still use the symbols?
