In this guide
- Identify the next decision Ask what a person standing at that point needs to know. Is the sign identifying a place, directing a route or explaining a required step? Do not combine several conflicting instructions simply because there is empty space on the page.
- Check the destination and audience Use the current approved source for place names, hours and routing. Avoid an old department nickname or a staff-only shortcut. A person who has never visited the facility should be able to understand the intended action without insider knowledge.
- Treat language and accessibility as substantive Do not paste an unreviewed machine translation onto a sign containing important instructions. Use the authorized language-services process. HHS's language-access guidance supplies general context; the organization must determine its actual arrangements.
- Give the sign an owner A temporary sign needs a removal or review condition. Otherwise a short-term closure notice can become a permanent source of confusion. Ask who maintains it and what triggers an update. Do not cover official safety or access information with an improvised notice.
- Sources and scope
A sign can be attractive and still leave a visitor unsure what to do. It may name a department without an action, use an abbreviation only staff understand or point toward a route that has changed. Reviewing the instruction is more useful than beginning with color and font preferences.
Identify the next decision Ask what a person standing at that point needs to know. Is the sign identifying a place, directing a route or explaining a required step? Do not combine several conflicting instructions simply because there is empty space on the page.
AHRQ's plain-language resource can help identify complex wording. Preserve the authorized meaning and have the responsible owner review any proposed change. A staff-created sign should not quietly become a new policy or access instruction.
Check the destination and audience Use the current approved source for place names, hours and routing. Avoid an old department nickname or a staff-only shortcut. A person who has never visited the facility should be able to understand the intended action without insider knowledge.
Northwell's historical hospitality account provides context for attention to the visitor experience. It does not establish a current sign standard. Follow the facility's actual wayfinding and approval process.
Treat language and accessibility as substantive Do not paste an unreviewed machine translation onto a sign containing important instructions. Use the authorized language-services process. HHS's language-access guidance supplies general context; the organization must determine its actual arrangements.
Consider whether the sign can be read and understood in the physical setting, including viewing distance and competing information. A visual design review is not a substitute for accessibility expertise or the appropriate user testing.
Give the sign an owner A temporary sign needs a removal or review condition. Otherwise a short-term closure notice can become a permanent source of confusion. Ask who maintains it and what triggers an update. Do not cover official safety or access information with an improvised notice.
An original example: a desk receives repeated questions at the same corridor junction. A useful proposal describes the decision visitors cannot make and asks the wayfinding owner to review it. The proposal does not install a new route by informal agreement.
The strongest sign review connects language, place and responsibility. It treats the sign as a small service instruction that must remain accurate over time.
Sources and scope
Public sources checked October 5, 2026. Dated accounts remain historical; examples and planning methods in this article are original editorial constructions.
- AHRQ: Plain Language Words
Public examples of understandable vocabulary; local approved meanings and instructions must be preserved.
- HHS: Limited English Proficiency
General language-access guidance reviewed July 2025; actual service arrangements and legal questions belong to the responsible organization.
- Northwell: A 2019 hospitality-in-healthcare internship account
Historical context for service communication; the original article is not an operational standard.