What is a “smart” hospital, and what states have the most of them? Furthermore, what makes them smart?
Well, it is difficult to define exactly what a smart hospital is. A cynic might say the term is little more than a new slogan dreamed up by an enterprising marketing executive trying to figure out how to sell hospitals more information systems and gadgets. After all, people are more likely to fork over the cash if everyone else is doing it.
Some have defined the categories of technology that make up a smart hospital.
Although no one as of yet is evaluating hospitals based on how many doctors are being replaced by AI – no one wants to endure a doctor’s strike or work slowdown as jobs are threatened – but instead, AI use is focused on reading images or monitoring the dozens of signals that may be coming from a patient wired up with Internet-of-Things (IOTs) sensing devices. And there may be many patients who simply need someone to talk to, an AI programmed to care and remember things.
Robotics are being leveraged not only for surgery, but for handling certain things such as pulling pills from the stock and working in the laboratory. Many are looking at use of robots to help move patients around or perform other tasks in the hospital, such as serving meals, talking with patients, and perhaps keeping them clean.
The taking, storing, moving around, accessing, and analyzing of what can be seen inside the patient, including the use of virtual reality to help guide surgery and other invasive procedures, is becoming more widespread.
This refers to using computers to record and process more and more details of each transaction that occurs with the patient (and with everyone else also), including insurance providers, the government, and the deadening hands of its regulatory authorities. This also has grown to include suppliers, including pharmaceutical companies, and partner healthcare providers, even with families.
Then there is telemedicine, the technologically obvious application of information technology that somehow remained something that few insurance providers would pay for until after the COVID-19 disaster – and now the temporary has become widely accepted.
These categories are not evenly distributed in smart hospitals. For example, being a leader in electronic functionalities is twice as common of an indicator of a smart hospital as is AI. Digital imaging is in second place. Robotics and telemedicine are a little less common.
AI stands out at Mayo Clinic Rochester, the Cleveland Clinic, Mount Sinai in New York, the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, and Houston Methodist.
And where are the smart hospitals of the world?
It seems that the United States is the leader, with almost five times as many smart hospitals than Germany, in second place, along with the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, and Spain. Singapore has seven smart hospitals, which per capita may be the most in the world.
There is a bright future for the smart hospital. Of course, vendors will profit handsomely, selling their gadgets and complex systems development and integration services, but it is the patients who might benefit most.
The articles describe a significant 2026 dispute over the misuse of health information exchanged by asserting a treatment purpose through Carequality. (Raths) The core allegation
Hotly anticipated performance targets and payment amounts for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Gain clarity and confidence in OB‑GYN coding with this expert‑led webcast featuring Stacey Shillito, CDIP, CPMA, CCS, CCS‑P, CPEDC, COPC. You’ll learn how to apply global maternity package rules accurately, select the right CPT codes for procedures and visits, and identify documentation gaps that lead to denials. With practical guidance and real examples, this session helps you strengthen compliance, reduce audit risk, and ensure accurate reimbursement for women’s health services.
Uncover essential coding insights with nationally recognized coding authority Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS. Through ICD10monitor’s interactive, on‑demand webcast series, Kay walks you through the AHA’s 2026 ICD‑10‑CM/PCS Quarterly Coding Clinics, translating each update into practical, easy‑to‑apply guidance designed to sharpen precision, ensure compliance, and strengthen day‑to‑day decision‑making. Available shortly after each official release.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s third quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Federal auditors are intensifying their focus on inpatient psychiatric facilities, using advanced data analytics to spotlight outliers and pursue high‑dollar repayments. In this high‑impact webcast, Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, Compliance Officer and V.P., Hospital & Physician Compliance, breaks down what regulators are really targeting in IPF-PPS admissions, documentation, treatment and discharge planning. Attendees will learn practical steps to tighten processes, avoid common audit triggers and protect reimbursement and reduce the risk of multimillion-dollar repayment demands.
In this timely session, Stacey Shillito, CDIP, CPMA, CCS, CCS-P, CPEDC, COPC, breaks down the complexities of Medical Decision Making (MDM) documentation so providers can confidently capture the true complexity of their care. Attendees will learn practical, efficient strategies to ensure documentation aligns with current E/M guidelines, supports accurate coding, and reduces audit risk, all without adding to charting time.
Join Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM for The PEPPER Returns – Risk and Opportunity at Your Fingertips, a practical webcast that demystifies the PEPPER and shows you how to turn complex claims data into actionable insights. Dr. Hirsch will explain how to interpret key measures, identify compliance risks, uncover missed revenue opportunities, and understand new updates in the PEPPER, all to help your organization stay ahead of audits and use this powerful data proactively.
Stay ahead of the 2026-2027 audit surge with “Top 10 Audit Targets for 2026-2027 for Hospitals & Physicians: Protect Your Revenue,” a high-impact webcast led by Michael Calahan, PA, MBA. This concise session gives hospitals and physicians clear insight into the most likely federal audit targets, such as E/M services, split/shared and critical care, observation and admissions, device credits, and Two-Midnight Rule changes, and shows how to tighten documentation, coding, and internal processes to reduce denials, recoupments, and penalties. Attendees walk away with practical best practices to protect revenue, strengthen compliance, and better prepare their teams for inevitable audits.
Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →
BLOOM INTO SAVINGS! Get 25% OFF during our spring sale through March 27. Use code SPRING26 at checkout to claim this offer.
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 1 with code CYBER25
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
