OhioHealth’s smart hospital rooms transform patient care in U.S. Midwest
OHIO, UNITED STATES — OhioHealth, a 15-hospital not-for-profit healthcare system in Central Ohio, has introduced 84 smart hospital rooms at its new $178 million Pickerington Methodist Hospital.
Opened in December, the facility is already seeing promising results from this innovative technology, which aims to enhance both patient care and staff satisfaction.
The smart rooms, costing $13,000 to $15,000 each, were developed in partnership with eVideon and Caregility. They feature advanced tools like smart TVs, virtual nursing capabilities, and digital door signs to improve communication and streamline care delivery.
“Our experience has been very positive,” said Duane Perry, Chief Nursing Officer at OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist. “It’s patient experience. It’s a staff satisfier.”
Key features of OhioHealth’s smart rooms
The hospital’s 72 med-surg rooms and 12 labor and delivery rooms are equipped with technologies designed to transform healthcare delivery:
- Virtual nursing: Virtual nurses saved 650 bedside hours in six months by coordinating care, documenting over 12,000 notes, and conducting more than 6,000 video sessions with patients. These nurses work remotely but remain fully integrated into care teams.
- Digital door signs: Color-coded signs display patient statuses such as fall risks, improving safety and communication for staff.
- Smart TVs and tablets: Patients can access streaming services, video conference with family members, and view educational materials during their stay.
- Future enhancements: Planned upgrades include digital food ordering systems and virtual neurology consults for remote specialist evaluations.
OhioHealth views these smart rooms as a scalable model for future hospital builds and renovations. “It allows us to test workflows, completely understand how to utilize it and how to optimize it before we lateralize it,” Perry explained.
Operational outsourcing supports innovation
In addition to investing in advanced technology, OhioHealth has made significant moves to outsource several key operational areas of its healthcare system.
In September 2024, OhioHealth partnered with Compassus to manage its home health and hospice services under the initiative “OhioHealth at Home in partnership with Compassus.” This agreement included:
- The transfer of three hospice locations and four home health locations to Compassus
- The transition of approximately 500 OhioHealth employees to Compassus
- Coverage expansion across Ohio locations such as Marion, central Ohio, Lexington, and Athens
The hospital system has also started outsourcing its IT and RCM operations in 2022. This resulted in:
- The elimination of 637 positions across these departments
- A shift in focus toward core patient care services
OhioHealth stated that these outsourcing initiatives align with its mission to prioritize patient care in hospitals, physician practices, surgery centers, and outpatient settings. This strategy mirrors industry trends seen in other healthcare systems, such as Ascension Saint Thomas Home Health and Bon Secours Mercy Health.
A vision for the future of healthcare
By combining innovative smart room technology with strategic outsourcing initiatives, OhioHealth is setting a new standard for modern healthcare delivery.
The success of its Pickerington Methodist Hospital serves as a blueprint for expanding these technologies across its network while maintaining operational efficiency.
