By: Jessica Preston

Over the last few months, we’ve received questions from both facility firms and provider facility planners wondering about the seeming explosion of technology in acute care spaces. We are monitoring this trend, and wanted to provide you with a few insights from our recent conversations.

There are a lot of computers – providers consider alternatives

If your client is overwhelmed by the number of computers they are anticipating including in a new acute care space, they are not alone. One member shared with us that a recently completed acute care project included around 5.3 computers per patient.

Why so many computers? Part of this high number can be attributed to multiple technology touchpoints used for tasks like clinical documentation. Providers often place computers in patient rooms and in staff workstations to allow clinical staff to complete documentation requirements in multiple settings. However, this has led to seemingly redundant technology that must be maintained and updated. To combat this, there is some interest among providers and architecture firms in shifting from traditional computers to handheld devices like tablets to facilitate clinical documentation. One architect is seeing tablets that can connect to screens in different locations. For example, a nurse could project information from his or her tablet onto the TV in a patient’s room, and that same tablet could also be connected to monitors in nurse workstations to facilitate documentation and collaboration with the larger care team.

However, some providers are wary of shifting to primarily handheld tech. There are additional connectivity and security concerns when working with handheld tech, particularly a need for reliable, secure wireless internet connection in all areas of a hospital. Enabling this sort of connectivity alone can be a significant investment for a hospital to make.

But some providers want more technology, not less

In contrast, there is also interest in including even more technology in acute care spaces by making “smart” patient rooms. Some envision intelligent walls or panels that could monitor patient vital signs, alert patients to which care team member is entering their room, and/or allow for remote specialists to consult with patients and on-site physicians. Smart patient rooms could also include technologies to streamline clinical documentation.

For example, Robin Healthcare uses an ambient listening device that drafts clinical documentation that the provider can then review and embed in the EMR. They estimate this saves at least one hour of daily work per physician.

Have a question? Want to share your technology strategy from a recent project? Reach out to your dedicated advisor – our research team would love to hear from you.