Designers create symbols to show way in hospitals

CINCINNATI (AP) — Students at four colleges have designed navigation symbols to help immigrants who speak little or no English find their way around hospitals and other health facilities.

Symbols such as a tooth in a gum for dental services resemble universal ones such as the geometric designs representing handicapped services and men’s and women’s bathrooms. They are part of an effort to create standardized signs for all health care settings.

The design students attend the University of Cincinnati and Kent State University in Ohio, California Polytechnic State University and Iowa State University. About 15 student symbols will be selected after surveys of language groups. They will be added to 28 symbols created by professional designers.

The entire set of symbols will be tested at health facilities to determine their effectiveness.