Plain and simple, technology has changed the way healthcare organizations operate. The use of medical technology has taken primitive methods of patient care and has increased positive clinical outcomes across the board. Perhaps most importantly, modern-day technological advancements have changed the way patients view healthcare. Technology allows patients to interact with physicians and caregivers on an entirely new level, a level that encourages them to lift their voices and be proactive in their personal continuum of care.
One healthcare organization that is going above and beyond in patient care is Geisinger Medical Center, a healthcare system that recently invested in a $100 million dollar addition called the Hospital for Advanced Medicine. The new building occupies nine stories. The top two floors have 60 rooms that showcase breathtaking views of the mountains surrounding the Danville area—a view that is reserved for the sickest of patients who are admitted with heart and blood vessel problems (Press Enterprise). But it’s more than just a hospital; it’s been designed as a sanctuary, a place where patients can truly rest, recover, and rebound from their unfortunate medical circumstances.
In addition to aesthetics, the patient rooms in the Hospital for Advanced Medicine are equipped with state-of-the-art ceiling cameras, microphones, and big-screen televisions—all of which allow physicians, caregivers, and patients to interact through an electronic Intensive Care Unit. The design concept of the new addition allows various stages of care come to the patient rather than moving the patient from location to location. The use of innovative technology enables caregivers to provide excellent service from the bedside and beyond.
The ceiling cameras allow critical-care doctors and nurses to closely monitor a patient’s condition, ensuring high-quality, around-the-clock care. The high-tech ceiling-mounted cameras have the ability to zoom in on a patient with such profound clarity that physicians can actually detect color changes in a patient’s eye. The big-screen televisions have dual purpose as entertainment and a virtual liaison between physicians and patients, enabling both parties to interact and discuss medical information.
Geisinger’s recent investment has enhanced its model of patient care and serves as a benchmark for healthcare systems nationwide. It has gone from an established acute-care center to a state-of-the-art healthcare system that utilizes the endless possibilities of cutting-edge technology. While the new electronic Intensive Care Unit with all its “medical trimmings” is not meant to replace one-on-one patient care, it certainly enhances it.
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