Dr. Erkan Hassan

Monthly Writings

Evaluations and reviews of the latest in the field.

The Future of Hospital Care in 2035

Hospital of the Future

SUMMARY:

  • The healthcare landscape is evolving at a rapid pace.

  • The shift from inpatient care to outpatient care has been evolving for decades and will continue on this trajectory

  • Digital transformation coupled with new innovative technologies will drive a patient centric approach to care within the hospital

  • In addition, we will see a rise in the “smart” infrastructure of the hospital facility itself.

REVIEW

  • The future of hospital care will fall into 5 major categories:

    • The People/Technology Interface

    • Artificial Intelligence

    • Robotics

    • Telehealth

    • Smart Infrastructure

People/Technology Interface

  • The people interacting with the system should be considered first.

  • SINGLE PATIENT DASHBOARD: Coalesce data from all systems into a single patient dashboard with all salient data to care for the individual patient.

  • PATIENT POPULATION: Better management and engagement tools for the entire population. Analyze real time data to improve outcomes.

  • REVISED PATIENT JOURNEY: To optimize patient flow through the hospital from the ED through discharge.

Artificial Intelligence

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)  services for the prediction, diagnosis and treatment of disease enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and costs.

  • Large Language Modules (LLM) with advanced digital tools through generative AI making care delivery more precise and efficient.

  • AI algorithms will identify the optimal location of service, the right clinician provider and predict transfer, care progression and discharge.

  • Minimize administrative tasks

  • Reduce wait times

  • Maximize time provider has with patient at point of care

  • Expand capacity

  • Improve efficiency & health outcomes

  • Profitability

  • DIGITAL TWINS: To simulate responses to various treatments.

Robotics

  • Perform actions on behalf of humans in a variety of settings (surgery, rehabilitation, nursing, logistics.

  • Delivery of:

    • Food

    • Medications

    • Supplies

  • Pick up trash

 Telehealth

  • Augment traditional bedside care

  • Shift from reactive to proactive care

  • Synchronous and asynchronous care delivery

  • eConsults

  • Enhance care coordination

  • Improve clinical outcomes

  • Enhance patient experience

  • Improve efficiency

  • Expand clinician access

  • Remote patient monitoring within the hospital

Smart Infrastructure

  • Increased digitation of the building

  • Redesign of the physical environment: As more services move into the outpatient arena, the hospital will consist of a population of patients with increased severity of illness.

  • ALL CARE, ANYWHERE:  Scalability of a room – ability to scale up or scale down the room based on patient needs

  • Total Room Automation by patient or family

    • Lighting

    • Temperature

    • Shading

  • Centralized tracking of supplies, assets and people

  • Support patient social needs (food security, utility access, housing).

CONCLUSIONS:

  • The next decade will offer new opportunities and technologies to dramatically improve the provision of patient care.

  • Integration of smart infrastructure with technology will increase efficiencies, patient comfort and outcomes.

  • The benefits of these advances will be groundbreaking, but only if we embrace and innovate these opportunities.

Erkan Hassan