‘Digitalization isn’t just about technology; it touches every aspect of the hospital and is about optimizing work processes and improving staff and patient comfort’
Smart hospitals for tomorrow’s healthcare challenges
‘Demographic patterns worldwide clearly illustrate that the global population isn’t just growing in number, it’s also aging. As healthier lifestyles are enhanced by significant improvements in healthcare, we’re living longer. While this is a welcome development, it does bring challenges.
Research indicates that the number of people aged 60 or over is expected to double between 2015 and 20501. This inevitably puts a strain on healthcare services, while healthcare expenses remain fairly constant up until ages 60–65, at which point they grow exponentially. Governments worldwide are looking for ways to keep healthcare costs under control and are making hospitals more responsible for improving their efficiency and reducing costs.
Applications where patients are supported through every step in the process – starting at home, during their stay in the hospital, and following their return home – still aren’t common. One of the major changes that’s already starting to be adopted in hospitals is the implementation of systems that optimize patient flows and the flow of medical assets, reduce work-related stress, and improve patient satisfaction. Ambitious goals require new ways of working where staff, patients, and visitors are supported throughout their journey. This requires the recognition of the vital role that the building, especially its digital systems, can play in the process. This new approach – where the building itself continuously learns and adapts to the constantly changing needs of its users – is heralding a new age of the smart hospital.’
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