Forecasting the future of smart hospitals: findings from a real-time delphi study.

Autor: Jovy-Klein F; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Technology and Innovation Management, Kackerstr. 7, Aachen, 52072, Germany. jovy-klein@time.rwth-aachen.de., Stead S; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Technology and Innovation Management, Kackerstr. 7, Aachen, 52072, Germany., Salge TO; RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Technology and Innovation Management, Kackerstr. 7, Aachen, 52072, Germany., Sander J; University Medicine Essen, Digital Transformation Unit, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen, 45147, Germany., Diehl A; University Medicine Essen, Digital Transformation Unit, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen, 45147, Germany., Antons D; Institute for Entrepreneurship, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 174, 53115, Bonn, Germany.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC health services research [BMC Health Serv Res] 2024 Nov 18; Vol. 24 (1), pp. 1421. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 18.
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11895-z
Abstrakt: Background: In concert with other digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the vision of smart hospitals. The transformation into smart hospitals, however, is all but trivial due to the lack of financial and human resources, digital skills, and supporting policies. Thus, the extent to which the vision of smart hospitals will eventually become reality is uncertain. In this context, our study provides a multidimensional conceptualization of the immediate future of smart hospitals to 2042.
Methods: This study employs an iterative mixed-methods approach, including expert workshops and a Delphi study. We conducted a real-time Delphi study to forecast the evolution of smart hospitals in 5-year steps from 2027 to 2042. A total of 39 experts in healthcare, artificial intelligence, and management participated.
Results: Our understanding of a technology-enabled smart hospital in this study includes four dimensions: artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, ecosystems, and human-centeredness. Our findings underscore the critical need to address the shortage of hospital staff and general practitioners that models predict will peak by 2032. Additionally, our results show a significant shift to individualized medicine and home care. This shift indicates that smart hospitals are expected to leverage AI and digital technologies to tailor care to each patient. Furthermore, the roles and responsibilities of hospital staff will undergo significant changes. Healthcare personnel will have to adapt to new technologies that facilitate more efficient workflows and improve patient engagement in evolving healthcare environments. The results of our study suggest a shift in care to individualized medicine and home care, with corresponding changes in the roles and responsibilities of hospital staff who will employ new technologies.
Conclusions: The findings from our real-time Delphi study suggest that the vision of smart hospitals is gradually becoming reality over the next 20 years. Advancements in artificial intelligence should enhance operational efficiency and patient-centric care, while facilitating the integration of sustainability practices and fostering collaborative ecosystems. However, addressing challenges such as staff shortages, ethical considerations, and the need for robust digital skills will be essential. A deep pool of expert healthcare practitioners, clear ethical guidelines, and robust digital skills are essential to fully realize this vision and ensure that smart hospitals can meet the evolving needs of healthcare delivery.
Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Each participant provided consent within the real-time Delphi platform before the study began. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests Dr. Anke Diehl is Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Dr. Jäschke AG and a member of the Interop Council and has received lecture/consulting fees from ValueBasedManagedCare GmbH, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Getinge Deutschland GmbH, EIT Health Germany GmbH, Face-to-face GmbH, Siemens AG, gematik GmbH, MCE – Medical Congresses & Events e.K. für Medizinische Gesellschaft Ost-Brandenburg, Pfizer GmbH and BKK Landesverband Bayern.No other conflicts of interest declared.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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