The smart hospital of the future

Hospitals are considered the largest players in the healthcare system in terms of costs. According to a ZHAW research project, data-based forecasting models for predicting, planning and forecasting staff scheduling could help reduce cost pressures in hospitals while creating more resources to pay more attention to patients.

Strengthening prevention and early detection

These could include sensors and apps that allow more data for patient monitoring, or sensors in the buildings to simplify waiting times or temperature measurement. According to the ZHAW, data-based predictive models can help predict, plan and optimize staff scheduling, but also promote physical activity after a procedure to determine treatment goals during care. In general, digitization should make it possible to detect or even prevent illnesses earlier, according to a release on the ZHAW's "Shift" research project.

Various research institutions involved

For three and a half years, a consortium led by the university is researching how the transformation of the hospital could be implemented in the future. The flagship project is being led by the Winterthur Institute of Health Economics at the ZHAW School of Management and Law, together with an interdisciplinary ZHAW team from IT, health, data analysis, and process design. In addition to the University Hospital Basel, the Universities of Basel and Zurich, the FHNW and the hospitals, 24 industry partners are involved.

The research project will pursue three goals. The first objective would be to find out how inpatient treatment in the hospital and outpatient follow-up care for patients at home could be seamlessly linked with the help of digital technologies. The second point is all about developing solutions to further strengthen the ability of staff and patients to act in everyday hospital life. The third area concerns the development of effective and efficient hospital management processes.

Source: ZHAW