QR codes for clinics, hospitals and healthcare
Clinics print a lot of paper that goes out of date: aftercare leaflets, visiting hours, vaccination campaign posters, signs to departments that have moved. QR codes on these let staff update the information in one place, and let patients read it later at home, in a larger font or another language.
Healthcare also has a rule the other industries don't: a QR code should never contain or collect patient data unless it runs through your clinical systems. Use QRdx codes for public information, such as leaflets, booking pages, directions and Wi-Fi, and keep medical records where they belong.
QR code ideas for healthcare
Aftercare and patient leaflets
A code on the discharge sheet opens the leaflet as a PDF the patient can zoom, save or forward to a carer, and you can replace it when guidance changes.
Book or change an appointment
Reminder cards and posters that open your booking system cut phone queues at 8 am.
Wayfinding in large sites
Codes at entrances and lift lobbies open a map or directions to each department, updated when wards move.
Waiting-room Wi-Fi and feedback
A guest Wi-Fi code in the waiting room, and an anonymous feedback form on the way out.
Which QR code to use
Static codes are free and need no account, but can't be changed after printing. Dynamic codes and hosted pages can be edited at any time, count every scan, and keep working on every plan, even if you cancel.
PDF page
An uploaded PDF people can read in the browser or download.
Patient information leaflets that can be replaced with a new version while the printed discharge sheets stay the same.
See live templatesDynamic link to your booking system
Points at whichever booking provider you use; if you switch, change the destination and keep every poster and card.
Create a dynamic codeWi-Fi QR code
Guest Wi-Fi for the waiting room, on a network separate from clinical systems.
Open the Wi-Fi generatorFeedback and forms page
Star ratings, NPS and questions, with responses collected in your dashboard.
Anonymous experience feedback with star ratings. Ask about the visit, not the patient's condition.
See live templatesHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge sheet or leaflet | 35 cm (14 in) | 4.1 cm (1.6 in) |
| Waiting-room poster, seated | 2 m (7 ft) | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) |
| Corridor sign | 3 m (10 ft) | 34.8 cm (13.7 in) |
For a dynamic short link such as https://qrdx.dev/q/aB3dE5f at error correction Q, without the blank margin. Static Wi-Fi, vCard or long URL codes hold more data and need to be larger. Check yours with the print size calculator and the scan checker.
Placement tips
- Many patients have reduced vision or are anxious. Print the code large, with a plain instruction next to it, and keep a phone number for people who can't scan.
- Waiting-room posters are read from a seat; put them at seated eye level, not above the reception desk.
- Use a custom domain on Pro so patients see your organisation's name in the link preview, which helps them trust it.
- Laminate codes in clinical areas so they can be wiped with disinfectant.
Call-to-action copy
A code with a reason to scan beside it gets more scans than a bare code. Lines to print next to yours:
- Scan for your aftercare instructions
- Book or change your appointment
- Find your department
- Free Wi-Fi for patients and visitors
QR codes for healthcare: FAQ
Can I put patient information in a QR code?
Don't. A static code stores its content in plain text that anyone with a camera can read, and a dynamic link can be forwarded. Use QR codes for public information and send patients to your secure portal for anything personal.
Can I use QRdx forms to collect health information?
No. QRdx forms are for general feedback and enquiries, not protected health information. Use your clinical or patient-portal systems for anything covered by health privacy law.
How do I update a leaflet that is already printed?
If the printed code opens a hosted PDF page, upload the new version and every printed sheet shows it. If it's a static link to a file, the code breaks or shows the old file when that file changes.