AdventHealth to Roll Out Smart Hospital Rooms Across Network

AdventHealth has announced plans to roll out smart hospital rooms across its entire network following a successful pilot program in Colorado. The initiative will introduce virtual care and digital communication tools in more than 55 hospitals across nine U.S. states throughout 2026.

The smart room initiative aims to improve patient communication, care coordination, and clinical workflow efficiency by integrating digital tools directly into patient rooms.

Smart Room Features and Capabilities

The new smart rooms will include several digital features designed to enhance both patient experience and clinical efficiency. These include digitized whiteboards, digital door signage, and electronic health record (EHR)-linked in-room video systems that allow two-way communication between patients and care teams.

Digital whiteboards will display real-time information such as the patient’s care team, medications, treatment plans, and daily health goals. Digital door signs outside patient rooms will show safety alerts, care instructions, and other important updates that staff can modify remotely.

The in-room video system will also enable virtual consultations, allowing specialists to interact with patients without needing to be physically present in the hospital. This is particularly beneficial for smaller or rural hospitals where specialist availability may be limited.

Benefits for Staff and Patients

According to AdventHealth, the smart room technology is expected to reduce administrative tasks for nurses by enabling virtual admissions checks, discharge procedures, and routine patient communication. The technology may also reduce patient wait times by enabling faster access to specialists through virtual consultations.

Valerie McKinnis stated that patients feel more informed and comfortable when they can clearly see their care plans and communicate easily with their healthcare team.

The system also allows family members to join consultations remotely, improving communication and patient support during hospital stays.

Privacy and Patient Control

While the introduction of in-room cameras raised privacy concerns among some patients, AdventHealth clarified that the cameras are not capable of recording and are protected by strict security and firewall measures. Patients will also have the option to decline the use of cameras in their rooms.

Michael Cacciatore emphasized that patient trust and privacy are central to the design of the smart room system, and patients remain in control of how and when the technology is used.

Growing Trend in Smart Hospital Technology

Smart hospital room technology is becoming more common across healthcare systems as organizations look for ways to improve efficiency, reduce staff workload, and enhance patient experience. Virtual care tools allow specialists to consult with patients remotely, improve workflow efficiency, and provide additional support for nurses and clinical staff.

Healthcare systems that have already implemented smart room technology report improvements in clinical workflows, patient satisfaction, and staff retention, particularly among newly hired nurses who benefit from virtual support and collaboration tools.

Looking Ahead

AdventHealth plans to complete the smart room rollout across its network during 2026. The health system believes the technology will improve communication, reduce administrative burden, and provide faster, more coordinated care for patients across both large hospitals and smaller rural facilities.

The rollout reflects a broader trend in healthcare toward digitally connected hospital environments where virtual care, real-time data, and patient engagement tools are integrated directly into the care setting.