At the 2024 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, Cox Business gathered hospital executives to discuss the social and technological factors impacting hospitals today. The discussion centered around these leaders’ top considerations as they evolve their facilities into smart hospitals that are future-proofed to meet any challenges posed by social and technological shifts.

What is a smart hospital?

A smart hospital leverages technology, digitization and data to deliver superior outcomes, enhanced patient and staff experiences and class-leading operational efficiency. 

Eight characteristics are integral to a smart hospital strategy:

1. Integrated: Smart hospitals comprise a collection of core platforms that talk to each other in real time. 
2. Data-driven: They heavily use data analytics, involving multiple data sources to support real-time decision-making.
3. Innovative: They are early adopters and test sites for innovations such as computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) and can easily scale these technologies to larger clinical teams.
4. Connected: They have a reliable broadband network, wireless capabilities and a foundation to connect systems, devices and people. 
5. Automated: They drive efficiency by automating manual processes, administrative tasks and job workflows while reducing waste and errors.
6. Experience-centric: They optimize processes and services for patients and families.
7. Virtualized: Smart hospitals extend care delivery to the home through multi-channel virtual care models.
8. Safe & Secure: They provide physical security for patients, staff and visitors, as well as digital security for patient and operational data. 

Leaders’ recommendations

A true smart hospital strategy is about much more than technology. It requires everyone involved in delivering patient outcomes to adopt the same goals.

Here are three mindset shifts that healthcare leaders recommend hospitals consider on the path to becoming “smarter.”

Mindset Shift 1: Automate workflows to improve the experience for patient and provider

Smart hospitals are tasked with the challenge of equipping their key resources — physicians, nurses and support staff — with technology that solves problems rather than creates new ones. This is especially important considering staffing shortages and the ever-present need to do more with less.

Smart hospitals must also keep patients at the center of their strategy, which includes enhancing the patient experience through mobile apps and AI-driven services like appointment scheduling. They must also accommodate diverse patient demographics, including those who may not be digitally savvy. By focusing on the right technology for the right application, hospitals can enable clinicians to provide better, more personalized care.

Mindset Shift 2: Invest in infrastructure for the long haul

The focus group highlighted the universal concern of infrastructure, both as it relates to technology and governance. These leaders are actively investing in operational technologies that integrate the entire hospital ecosystem and provide a foundation for advanced technology. One executive noted that their hospital has invested in “hundreds of miles” of fiber, while another stressed the importance of long-term partnerships with future-focused vendors. 

They’re also future-proofing their organizations by bringing front-line clinicians and staff into the strategy and focusing on being, or becoming, data-driven. The rise of the chief digital officer is a top indicator that an organization is focusing on data to create better experiences, better engagement and better interaction with all stakeholders.

Mindset Shift 3: Foster a culture of innovation and care

Transitioning to a digital mindset and fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability are essential for the success of smart hospitals. This includes assessing organizational risk aversion, measuring progress and promoting flexibility and creativity in addressing challenges.

As one leader notes, “Becoming a smart hospital is as much about mindset as it is tech. We all must be willing to learn, to think of creative solutions for the problems we face today while assessing with as much accuracy as possible what those problems might look like in the future.”

From high-speed internet to cloud-based tech, Smart Hospital solutions within the Cox healthcare portfolio can relieve pressure by realizing the tremendous benefits of new digital technology. These benefits have needle-moving impact for staff, prospective patients and payer networks.

Connect with the Cox team to learn more today!