Reimagining Patient Rooms in Smart Hospitals of the Future

The healthcare industry is undergoing dramatic changes thanks to rapid digitization and the adoption of AI. Nowhere are these changes more evident than in hospitals, where increased connectivity, data analysis at the edge, and patient monitoring are helping staff rethink patient care. In this episode of “Health and Life Sciences at the Edge,” host Daniel Litman talks with Karen Perry, Intel’s Chief Healthcare IoT Solution Architect, and Lisbeth Votruba, Chief Clinical Innovation Officer at AvaSure, about how smart technologies can improve care, particularly when implemented in patient rooms.

Karen Perry, whose job is to look at all parts of the Smart Hospital puzzle, says “We have to work closely with clinicians to make sure that when we introduce a technology it’s something they can leverage.” Lisbeth Votruba agrees saying, “I believe we’ve reached an inflection point we’ve been heading towards for years. More and more nurses are considering leaving and more than 28% of new nurses will leave the profession within the first year.”

The good news, according to Votruba, is that there’s a new urgency and willingness to invest in smart solutions that support the workforce. “One of the big barriers to implementing forward thinking technology in hospitals is competing priorities,” says Votruba. “I’m seeing more and more leaders prioritizing technologies that help educate, retain, and make the work of new staff easier.”

Perry and Votruba are excited about the benefits of adding smart technologies to patient rooms, particularly computer vision and audio. However, Perry is quick to point out that the three metrics of success – positive outcomes for patients, the workforce, and the hospital – must be met. “As we introduce capabilities into hospitals, we have to create measurable goals,” she says. “Those three metrics are like the three legs of a tripod. We have to hit every one of them for hospitals to invest.”

Looking to the future, Perry and Votruba see the use of smart technologies as a journey. “What can happen next,” says Perry, “is we follow patients on their journeys through the system. That will allow us to create a more connected, cohesive, and effective healthcare system.”

I’m very hopeful,” says Votruba. “I’m not afraid of technology. I’ve seen the benefits and believe that the investment we’re making in technology will improve both the care patients receive and the humanity of how it’s delivered. Hopefully smart tech will let caregivers get back to the joy of why they chose this profession.”

Connect with Karen Perry and Lisbeth Votruba on LinkedIn or visit:

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