Is this how healthcare will be optimized in the future?

The hospital sector is in growth mode. In 2022, it represented around 40% of the global healthcare market - over $3.9 trillion. By 2029, its share will grow to 44%, with a market value of $5.19 trillion. Already a titan of healthcare, hospitals are set to play an even greater role as their market share expands to meet society’s growing demands.

But what is growth when the very foundations of care are stretched to their limits? The World Health Organization (WHO) projects a shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030. In the same year, chronic disease – set to cause 84% of all deaths – will drive higher admissions, longer stays and overcapacity in hospitals. That’s a stark gap between patient demand and the system’s ability to service it. More than just growth, transformation is needed. And fast.

My vision for the hospital of the future is one built on greater specialization, digital integration and more patient-centred care. Realizing this vision of care provision requires the widespread adoption of cutting-edge technologies and innovative care models. These five transformations will be key:

Today, the gap between average hospital stays across OECD countries is far too wide, from as short as 4.3 days in the Netherlands to over 16.5 days in Japan. In Europe, the average hospital stay remains stubbornly high at just over seven days, despite some progress over two decades. This matters because delays inflate costs, limit capacity and compromise outcomes. It will only get worse as the population ages and care demands grow. The status quo is unsustainable.

The hospital of the future will address these challenges by moving more care outside of hospital walls. Rather than being a standalone facility, it’ll be a central hub in a digitally integrated healthcare network. Pharmacies, family doctors, outpatient clinics and home care providers will connect seamlessly through secure cloud-based platforms.

Telemedicine will empower family doctors to handle more patients through virtual home consultations, reducing referrals and easing pressure on hospitals. Routine surgeries will increasingly shift to outpatient clinics. Thanks to remote monitoring, virtual check-ins and wearable health devices, patients will recover at home. Hospitals can, therefore, reserve their bed space for patients with more acute care needs.

Hospital clusters will be a vital part of this integrated system. Centred around a hub, they’ll employ advanced triage to assess patients and direct them to the right facility. Only the most urgent cases will be directed to the hospital. Furthermore, data from digital twin technologies will create dynamic virtual models of facilities, equipment and patient flows. Medical staff will have access to precise insights that optimize treatments. Supported by real-time data, capacity pressures will be eased, resource planning will be enhanced and care will be personalized.

Secure digital health solutions will transform the patient journey. Since 2019, the digital health market has been growing at a rate of almost 25% per year. By 2025, the market will be worth a staggering $660 billion – up from $175 billion in 2019.

Through these digital solutions, patients will be able to access their medical records in real-time via an easy-to-use app. With streamlined access to care providers for efficient appointment and treatment management, patients will enjoy a seamless care experience. Digitally enabled patient pathways and integrated workflows across departments will ensure smoother operations and shorter waiting times. Diagnostic tests, consultations and treatments will be optimized, significantly reducing time spent in the hospital. Fewer hospital visits, better outcomes and reduced side effects will ensure a more effective, patient-focused approach to care.

With AI in healthcare projected to grow over 48% annually through to 2029, AI and automation will increasingly streamline and automate routine hospital tasks. Doctors and nurses will be freed from administrative burdens. This will allow them to refocus on what truly matters: human-to-human patient care.

AI-powered ambient listening, for example, is already being used in clinics to automatically transcribe doctor-patient interviews. Large language models are generating discharge letters, cutting a time-intensive task to mere minutes. With the gift of more time, doctors will be able to engage in more meaningful, eye-level interactions with patients. The result: increased trust.

Beyond routine tasks, AI is also offering critical decision support in emergency rooms, helping to accelerate diagnoses and treatments. In colon cancer screening, it’s already enhancing imaging accuracy and diagnostic precision. In surgery, AI-powered robotics, like the Da Vinci system, help surgical teams to perform with greater accuracy and control.

Hospitals are a treasure trove of data. But, around 97% of hospital data remains unused. That’s a tremendous opportunity missed. By transforming this raw data into actionable insights, hospitals of the future will be able to predict disease trends, drive efficiencies in therapy and deliver more personalized treatments. Data is also the key to bridging clinical practice and research, creating synergies that result in better patient outcomes. This unlocks a powerful feedback loop, where care informs innovation and innovation enhances care.

According to the WHO, across the globe there is a 1 in 300 chance of a patient being accidentally harmed while receiving care. This figure varies greatly between developing and developed countries. But nonetheless, it’s a strong case for improvement. Delivering high-quality care is essential to safeguarding societal wellbeing.

In future, quality of care will become more transparent and measurable. Standardized metrics and benchmarks will track outcomes and performance. Public reporting systems will compare hospital performance across the sector, while payment systems will link directly to patient outcomes, rather than service volume. Reimbursement will align with clear quality benchmarks, ensuring that advancements in technology, processes or patient care deliver real benefits. This shift to value-based care will drive continuous improvement and foster accountability across healthcare systems.

Considering all these factors, the hospital of tomorrow isn’t just about keeping pace with rising demands. The ambition goes much further. It’s about setting new standards in patient-centred care. The tools to achieve this are already within reach. Yet, adoption across the sector remains inconsistent at best. It behoves healthcare leaders in government, policy and industry to create an environment where innovation thrives and its adoption is seamless. Together, we have the chance to shape modern healthcare. We need collaboration for the 'Intelligent Age.'