The Smart Hospital

A ‘smart hospital’ is a healthcare institution that uses advanced technologies and integrated systems to enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency and streamline healthcare processes. The concept of smart hospitals represents a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery, driven by the integration of advanced technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, data-driven solutions, and more patient-centric care. We explore how these technologies could enhance patient care delivery, smooth operations, and promote data fuelled decision-making around many aspects of healthcare. This chapter also highlights the challenges that smart hospitals face, including the high implementation costs, interoperability issues, and the staff training and capability requirements. It emphasises the importance of regulatory compliance and the need for scalability to accommodate future growth. We underscore the transformative potential of smart hospitals in improving health outcomes, patient engagement, and addressing the evolving healthcare landscape. It explores real-world examples of successful smart hospital implementations and offers insights into the path forwards as healthcare institutions worldwide embark on the journey toward smarter, more efficient, and user-friendly care delivery.