Long wait times are among the most unpopular aspects of a doctor’s visit for patients. A professional information screen in the waiting room is the perfect way to drastically reduce perceived wait times, provide information about out-of-pocket services (IGeL), and convey important practice information in an engaging way.
However, many commercial full-service providers for practice TV have one major drawback: They’re expensive or display third-party ads over which you have no control. Pharmaceutical ads, promotions for the pharmacy around the corner, or even inappropriate B2C ads disrupt the professional atmosphere of your practice.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up your own ad-free waiting room TV step by step—affordably, flexibly, and completely independently.
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Your Own Waiting Room TV
Setting up an information screen for your medical practice yourself is neither complicated nor expensive these days. You don’t need an advertising agency or expensive specialized hardware to do it.
Step 1: Choose the Right Hardware
For an ad-free waiting room TV, all you need is:
- A standard TV or monitor: A standard HD or 4K screen is perfectly sufficient.
- A compatible media player: Use either a modern smart TV (Android TV, Fire TV, etc.) or upgrade any TV with an affordable Amazon Fire TV Stick or a Google Chromecast.
Step 2: Plan the Right Content
Think ahead about what information will be truly useful to your patients:
- Practice Information: Hours of operation, vacation and substitute doctor policies, team profiles.
- Patient Information: Prescription orders, blood draw procedures, hygiene guidelines.
- Range of Services: Preventive care options, IGeL services, acupuncture, vaccination counseling.
- Infotainment: Health tips, seasonal advice (e.g., pollen count, flu prevention).
Step 3: Choose the Right Software for Content Management
To avoid the hassle of updating videos, graphics, and notices via a USB drive, you’ll need simple digital signage cloud software. There, you can create all your content and organize it into a playlist. You’ll then receive a code or link. This is exactly where SignageNow comes in.
