Flexibility, a cornerstone of future hospital design: report

Flexibility is becoming a cornerstone of future hospital design, allowing healthcare organisations to adapt swiftly to evolving care models, digital technologies and changing patient profiles, according to the Australian Healthcare Week 2024 State of Industry Report.

There’s a growing push for evidence-based hospital design to ensure that investments in planning and constructing new healthcare facilities deliver value to patients and the community, the report found.

With digital health and healthcare facility developments impacting the professional journey of every health sector stakeholder, from top executives to frontline workers, the report delves into three key topics — the sector’s transformation priorities for the 2023–2024 calendar year concerning digital health and hospital developments; the technical and organisational challenges encountered while realising these transformation goals; and workforce and culture that supports the sector’s innovation agenda.

More than 150 leading health sector speakers will be discussing the topics and trends impacting the sector at the upcoming Australian Healthcare Week 2024 (AHW 2024) conference to be held from 20–21 March at the ICC Sydney, Darling Harbour.

Below are the other key findings from the report:

Virtual solutions

Increasing recognition of telehealth, remote patient monitoring and virtual care (36.51%) presents significant business opportunities for vendors. Providing telehealth platforms, remote monitoring devices and virtual care solutions tailored to the Australian health system’s needs is essential. Moreover, vendors can explore partnerships with healthcare organisations to deliver comprehensive telehealth services.

Analytics and AI

The emphasis on health analytics, clinical decision support and AI (30.16%) points to a growing need for data-driven healthcare solutions. Vendors can offer data analytics tools, AI-powered clinical decision support systems and predictive analytics for better patient care and operational efficiency. Collaborating with healthcare providers to develop tailored solutions can be mutually beneficial.

Preventative health

The report found high priority placed on preventative care and wellness solutions (50.79%), including wellness apps, wearable devices and remote monitoring solutions to support patients in maintaining their health and wellbeing. Such solutions can be marketed to health service executives as essential components of proactive health care.

Interoperability

Integration and interoperability continue to be the biggest bottlenecks to true digital innovation. It’s critical for providers to supply interoperable software and integration services to address the significant challenge of interoperability and data exchange. Developing solutions that seamlessly connect with existing healthcare systems and facilitate data sharing can differentiate vendors in the market.

The role of design

Design-driven healthcare software and solutions hold the key to scaling digital health investment and impact. Considering the resistance to change (14.52%), vendors should focus on offering user-friendly solutions and comprehensive training to ease the transition for healthcare professionals. A smooth user experience is important for ensuring successful adoption of new technologies.

Funding models

To address financial constraints (24.19%), vendors can explore innovative funding models, subscription-based services and collaborative financing strategies. These approaches can help healthcare organisations adopt new technologies while managing budget limitations.

Evidence-based design

Evidence-based hospital design is an emerging practice that can enhance care outcomes and measure the return on facility investments with data. The transformation brought about by new care models, digital health systems and workflows will significantly impact healthcare facilities. To ensure longevity, adopting a user-centred approach to architecture and design that invests and incorporates strong community and stakeholder engagement upfront is key.

Sustainability

Healthcare facilities have an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and waste while cutting operational costs. This requires an investment in data infrastructure for decision-making, a commitment to environmental sustainability and a deeper understanding of how electrification and alternative sources of materials and energy can be viably introduced, operated and maintained.

The report also underscores the significant impact of the digital revolution in health care, with the COVID-19 pandemic acting as a catalyst for innovation and experimentation with technology.

“Looking ahead to 2024, the healthcare sector is poised to transition from isolated digital initiatives to a comprehensive national digital health strategy, underpinned by policy, systems interoperability, and funding reform. This digital-first approach demands a new breed of healthcare leaders who can navigate both the intricacies of the sector and the potential of emerging technologies,” according to the report.

“New operating models are being developed, requiring skills such as software development, data analysis, and change management — skills that were not traditionally recruited for in healthcare. While challenges related to skills, system integration, cybersecurity, and change management must be addressed, the sector stands at the brink of a foundational transformation, one that will make healthcare services more mobile, patient-centred, and efficient.”

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