"Revolutionizing Healthcare Spaces: Embracing Telemedicine in a Post-Pandemic World"

A Decade-Long Vision Realized

Over ten years ago, I envisioned the integration of telemedicine services into every medical facility. Instead of merely paying for internet, water, and power at $18 per square foot, why not pay $18.25 to include telemedicine? My belief was that building owners, being savvy businessmen, would recognize this added value. Regrettably, at that time, my optimism was misplaced.

My close friend, Julie Johnson , an esteemed medical realtor for Colliers in Arizona with connections to hospital owners, clinic operators, surgery centers, and senior housing facilities, presented my idea to numerous clients. To my dismay, no one showed interest.

Today, in the wake of the pandemic, we must reconsider how we retrofit existing medical spaces and, more importantly, how we design healthcare facilities for the future.

In the coming weeks, I will be speaking at a CREW meeting in Atlanta. The panel's central theme is reimagining hospital design for the post-pandemic world, which necessitates a reevaluation of how healthcare is delivered.

Below, I've outlined key points from my upcoming panel- you can also view a video :

1. Functionality Over Aesthetics

? ?- Traditionally, hospitals, clinics, and senior living facilities prioritized aesthetics in their designs. However, in the current climate of a tightening labor force, the focus must shift to functional requirements that allow for cost-effective patient care. Every hospital is understaffed, leading to bed and operating room closures. Telehealth can bridge this gap by enabling remote healthcare workers to supplement in-person care.

2. Beyond Drugs and Surgery

? ?- While healthcare often revolves around medications and surgical procedures, what patients and their families truly seek is reassurance. Telemedicine can empower family members, an untapped resource in our healthcare system, to actively participate in their loved ones' care. It also provides a platform for less experienced providers to receive real-time guidance from mentors, ultimately resulting in improved care at reduced costs.

3. Broadening the Scope of Telemedicine

? ?- Historically, telemedicine had a niche presence within hospitals, primarily deployed on medical carts, resembling mobile TVs. We must shift towards incorporating video communication into every healthcare space, necessitating a reevaluation of hospital bandwidth to support this transformation.

4. The Intelligent Room of the Future

? ?- Future healthcare spaces should not only feature video capabilities but also ambient intelligence. These rooms should provide real-time data to hospital administrators, allowing them to monitor the status of patients and spaces efficiently.

Embracing technology that accommodates people, rather than expecting people to adapt to technology, is paramount. For decades, medical technology has left gaps, relying on individuals to compensate for shortages. These technologies should enhance the working environment for healthcare providers.

My aspiration is to assist hospital administrators in redesigning existing spaces and, ideally, inspiring architects to reimagine future healthcare environments.

Stay tuned for the second part of this post, where I will delve into practical considerations for making ubiquitous telemedicine a reality in every healthcare setting.