Smart Hospitals: Better Patient Care and Interoperability

Smart hospitals need smart investments in smart technology

David Graham, chief medical information officer at LifeBridge Health, says investments in smart hospital technology mean that health IT leaders must think differently about budgeting to allow for the expanded use of these tools.

“IoT has really evolved to give us the opportunity to have more data on our patients, which we can then analyze using AI and machine learning tools,” he says.

He believes that technology such as 5G, IoT, and AI will continue to improve patient care, and will also improve outcomes for providers, reduce burnout rates, and make care delivery more effective.

“Many of the uses we’ve been waiting for for decades are here and in our hands,” Graham says. “But you have to be deliberate about where you’re putting your investments.”

From his perspective, health systems should adopt a more collaborative approach and share best practices to help other organizations make smart choices.

“More partnerships and a more collaborative approach will help systems that are not very far along at this point,” he says.

discover: Learn why healthcare organizations should take control of their data.

Importance of Interoperability in Smart Hospitals

Interoperability between health IT systems is critical for the smooth functioning of a smart hospital.

“The integration of different systems and tools often leads to a complex network of technologies,” explains Castro. “Without interoperability, data collected from different systems can remain isolated or isolated, leading to inefficiencies and hindering coordinated care.”

Recognizing this, healthcare industries around the world are making moves toward adopting standards that enhance interoperability, including Health Level Seven International, a set of standards, formats, and definitions for the exchange and development of electronic health records.

The emergence of the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard has also been revolutionary. The FHIR defines how healthcare information can be grouped and classified, making it easier to share, integrate, retrieve, and manage data across different systems.

“Seamless data and communication exchange between different healthcare systems and devices is critical to patient safety and clinical care,” says Myers. “You have to have integration between platforms internally within the organization, because it also enables better patient experience.”