Hospital of the Future
In this article
Before the pandemic and long after the endemic, digital transformation will positively impact the future of healthcare. In the face of continuing cost increases and longer life spans, patients and clinicians alike are demanding more frictionless experiences, redefined care models and greater use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
What an exciting time to be in healthcare
Hospital systems are evolving to meet current and future patient needs and demands, from transforming legacy delivery and operational processes to more digitally focused models inclusive of data, patient and clinician experiences, and redefined care. At WWT, we leverage pragmatic, actionable and successful methodologies to deliver on our healthcare customers' goals.
Simplifying the complex
Hospitals and healthcare organizations are complex systems that rely strongly on technology to drive clinical and operational outcomes across the enterprise.
In addition to the typical complexities of healthcare settings and surroundings, hospital infrastructure continues to depreciate, patients are living longer, advances in medicine are being rolled out and hospitals are acquiring or merging with other systems. Administrators and leaders need to prioritize, implement and integrate digital technologies to deliver frictionless experiences to stay competitive and relevant while retaining and attracting talent.
Based on feedback from customers and our healthcare roundtables, executive briefings, advisory committees and conferences, here are the four most essential categories concerning Hospital of the Future outcomes and strategies that health systems would be smart to invest in.
1. Care models
- Expanded telemedicine services
- Remote patient monitoring programs
- Retail-like or retail-based clinics
- Pop-up clinics for uncomplicated healthcare
- Value-based care
2. Patient experience
- Mobile, self-service tools
- Digital front doors and marketplaces
- Integrating care across the continuum
- Intelligent in-room technology
3. Clinician experience
- Integrating automation to reduce redundant tasks
- Holistic data privacy to ensure patient privacy
- Integrated disparate IT systems to create more seamless experiences
- Moving staff to 'top of license' work
- Three Rs: 'the right data to the right clinician at the right time'
4. AI, ML and NLP
- Clinical decision support
- Workflow automation
- Operational insights
- Patient engagement
Conclusion
The demand for health systems to deliver on a Hospital of the Future strategy is rapidly growing. Patient-centered care, improved clinician experiences, new care models, smart building and facility controls, intelligent patient room capabilities, and data-driven innovation to improve health outcomes all represent strategic digital transformation initiatives that span the healthcare enterprise. All of this transformation underlies efforts to drive long-term patient satisfaction while reducing costs via automation, removing friction and eliminating redundant tasks.
To address this, WWT is helping executives and leaders establish a competitive advantage through our healthcare workshops. These workshops are designed to assist healthcare leaders in meeting the growing demands for more agile, clinician- and patient-centric services by building out hospital of the future capabilities that will maximize outcomes, insights and innovation.