The connected hospital and how it impacts patient care

The evolution of technology has led to some amazing developments in healthcare delivery. Gone are the days of one-way communication between clinicians and patients. The era of the ‘empowered patient’ is most certainly upon us. But in a landscape that is constantly changing, how can healthcare providers continue to strive for excellence, while succeeding to satisfy increasing patient demands?Is there a key to providing patient value, without sacrificing efficiency? 

The connected hospital is a vision of the future where hospitals concentrate on delivering the best quality of care to their patients, while simultaneously providing an efficient workplace for healthcare providers and hospital staff. Integration of the hospital network allows patients and staff to access the system from anywhere, at any time - customizing access for the individual user, supporting connectivity and accelerating productivity. 

Uninformed patients cost hospitals 8-21% more than informed patients¹ 

The importance of fostering health literacy in hospitals could not be more apparent. Patients want to know more and do more in the planning and development of their healthcare journey. Easy access to relevant healthcare information and educational materials is key to making patients feel empowered and involved in their treatment process. Information about health conditions, care plans, and pre- and post-discharge instructions can support a smoother recovery. Materials can further be tailored to provide patients with a personalized experience. 

About 1 in 4 people talk about their experiences on social media 

With a rising shift towards more value-based systems, patient engagement is now a major indicator of hospital success. Bedside entertainment is becoming the norm rather than the exception, and service differentiation is becoming increasingly vital. New channels for patient entertainment must be continually sought after and updated. Access to TV, video-on-demand, games, music, radio, the internet and apps, can make all the difference in keeping patients satisfied during their hospital stay. 

Bring your own device (BYOD) users in the US are estimated to grow to 108 million by 2016² 

From the early days of simple phone calls, text messages and internet access, electronic devices have expanded to include so much more. For patients, features including apps, images and files, enhance their own devices with a personalized touch. The connected hospital allows devices and services to be installed in the cloud - allowing patients to access the information and resources that matter to them - on whatever device they have. 

Barco’s solution 

PXP is Barco’s Patient Experience Platform, an all-in-one solution for interactive patient care. It is designed to inform, educate, entertain, engage and connect with patients – from any device in the patient room or from a BYOD interface. The system completely integrates hardware, software, apps, and ergonomics, to create the best possible patient experience. 

¹ How patient education impacts healthcare costs – University of Oregon Study
² The financial impact of BYOD – Cisco IBSG study