Wayfinding in Complex Medical Facilities: The Indexicality of Directional Arrows.

Objectives, Purpose, Or Aim: The aim of this article is to contribute to the better design of wayfinding systems by explicating the indexical properties of directional arrows and their consequences for wayfinding behavior.

Background: The challenges associated with designing for the wayfinding needs of the different groups of users continue to be documented with the poor design of built environments being largely to blame for the wayfinders' inability to navigate complex settings. Directional arrows have been found to be especially problematic in such settings.

Redefining healthcare infrastructure: moving toward integrated solutions.

Currently in the United Kingdom there is a trend to broaden the scope of service provision in the healthcare sector. Not only are new healthcare-related services being provided to the community, but also there is increasing concern for providing services to extend the life cycle of built facilities. This trend is similar to what has been observed in manufacturing, where different approaches are used to combine products and services, generating high-value integrated solutions.