It’s time to get smart about smart rooms in hospitals because the financial and clinical ROI they offer can be significant.
A smart room is an innovative concept – a healthcare environment that enhances patient care and streamlines clinical workflows. The idea evolved from basic manual tools, such as whiteboards and sticky notes, to a more connected system with digital tools that support patient care.
In a smart room, digital whiteboards, interactive displays and door signs deliver real-time data to patients, families and clinical teams. These tools connect with the hospital’s electronic health records and other patient-focused systems, so the right data reaches the right people at the right moment. 
Patients view details about their care plans, which facilitates their ability to take an active role in their health journey. This approach boosts satisfaction and supports better health management after discharge, which can result in reduced readmissions and improved long-term results.
The technology can improve clinical efficiency by automating routine tasks and reducing administrative demands on nurses. Integration with EHRs can enable care teams to focus on patient care rather than paperwork. Digital whiteboards and digital door signs provide access to real-time health information and alerts that can improve care coordination among patients, families and providers.
Jeff Fallon is chairman and CEO of Vibe Health by eVideon, a smart room hospital technology company. His expertise in smart rooms runs deep – especially with pediatric and VA hospitals. We spoke with Fallon to get his insights on supporting the VA and enhancing pediatric care through smart room technology.
Q. How does smart room technology empower specific patient populations, such as veterans and pediatric patients?
A. Smart room technology is adaptable and highly configurable to meet the specific needs of various patient populations. Smart hospital rooms use advanced technology to deliver highly personalized communications, restore autonomy and independence, and humanize the inpatient experience. In veterans’ facilities, smart room technology enables veterans to control various aspects of their stay.
For example, they can digitally order meals, use assistive devices to control the TV, watch tailored educational content and access VA-specific communications. In the pediatric care setting, we have deployed smart room systems with a user interface that is specifically designed to engage children and their families.
Pediatric smart TVs and digital whiteboards can include interactive features such as augmented reality games, music and pediatric education to create a calming and healing environment for pediatric patients and their loved ones.
Q. What improvements have been seen in patient satisfaction when using smart room technology?
A. An environment where patients feel informed, empowered and in control of their care leads to higher satisfaction and better outcomes.
For example, the educational video completion rate. A TV system helps hospitals achieve completion rates for educational videos that exceed industry standards.
Another example is increased engagement in the care plan. When patients are given the autonomy to control their environment, and tools to encourage their participation in the care plan, they thrive. One hospital reported that patients’ daily mobility improved from 51% to 73% due to an interactive gamification element on a digital whiteboard.
Also, there is improved patient communication. Patients who have real-time access to their health information via tools, such as the digital whiteboard, experience increased comfort and satisfaction. In the emergency department, one client hospital reported 70% of patients said the digital whiteboard positively improved their understanding of what was happening during their stay.
Another client hospital reported increases in their Press Ganey hospital rating, specifically a 9% increase for “explain new meds side effects” and 18% for “explain purpose of new meds.”
Q. How does this technology reduce the workload for nursing staff?
A. Smart room technology reduces the administrative load for nurses, which frees them to focus on direct patient care.
Smart rooms eliminate repetitive and redundant tasks for nurses, such as updating dry-erase boards or searching for magnets to place outside a patient room. One client hospital reported that EHR-integrated digital whiteboards saved nurses an average of 30 minutes per shift. This extra time makes it possible for nurses to foster more meaningful connections with patients, focus more on direct patient care and work at the top of their clinical license.
When patients are provided the opportunity to manage their own non-clinical needs – such as adjusting the room temperature or ordering their own meal – nurses can remain focused on clinical care. Many of our hospital clients leverage “Service Request” features on TVs and tablets that allow patients and/or their families to request items or services from departments such as dining and nutrition, environmental services, case management, the chaplain, the gift shop and more.
Eliminating these non-clinical functions for nurses streamlines clinical workflow and reduces the burden on nurses.
Smart room technology addresses critical workforce challenges in healthcare. As many nurses leave the workforce, it has become pivotal for hospitals to embrace technology that modernizes the care environment and offers a more enriching workplace for clinicians and staff.
Automating non-clinical responsibilities is one way staff can focus more on patient care, which increases job satisfaction and reduces burnout. EHR-integrated systems also improve real-time communication, which enables efficient collaboration among care teams and promotes a culture of safety and high reliability. These benefits support staff morale and retention of nursing talent.
Q. How do RTLS and AI-enabled systems work with smart room technology to enhance both patient and clinician experiences?
A. Smart rooms are highly adaptable and can be integrated with RTLS and AI-enabled systems to further enhance both patient and clinician experiences.
Many hospitals already use RTLS to track the location of staff and equipment. When integrated with smart room technology, this system automatically identifies staff members as they enter or exit the patient’s room.
For example, when a nurse enters a room, the smart display can show the nurse’s name, photo and role. This provides greater transparency and peace of mind for patients and helps build trust between the patient and their care team.
Digital whiteboards display up-to-date patient information and track the entry and exit of care team members. This feature provides memory support for families, which is particularly beneficial for patients with memory challenges such as dementia or Alzheimer’s; it keeps a detailed log of visitors and the times they entered and exited the room.
The feature also provides recognition for nurses and doctors. The system automatically logs when nurses and doctors enter the room. This function ensures clinicians receive recognition for the rounds they make, and supports accurate, real-time documentation for both clinical and operational purposes.
Overall, the integration of RTLS and AI systems with smart room technology fosters better communication, improves workflow, and enhances the experience for patients and families.
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