As healthcare evolves, the lines between physical and digital care are quickly blurring, introducing a new era of “Phygital” healthcare. The blending of the two is transforming not just the delivery of care but also the way healthcare facilities are designed, built, and managed.
By weaving cutting-edge technology into healthcare environments, a Phygital approach ensures that both providers and patients benefit from streamlined, efficient, and personalized experiences – no matter where they receive their care.
The Advantages of a Phygital Approach in Healthcare Construction
Channeling a Phygital mindset during the planning and construction of healthcare facilities is about more than just blending digital technologies with physical spaces—it’s about creating future-ready healthcare environments, improving efficiency, and elevating patient care. Here’s a closer look at some of the key advantages:
1. Boosting Efficiency and Flexibility
The healthcare industry faces challenges like rising costs, labor shortages, and constantly changing technology that’s difficult to anticipate. Phygital design helps tackle these issues by using digital tools to streamline both the construction process and facility operations with adaptable technical solutions. For example, systems can be integrated to reduce wait times, improve workflows, and make care delivery more flexible in an ever-changing healthcare landscape. Also, by leveraging technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) during the planning phase, construction teams can better plan projects, reducing waste, speeding up timelines, and keeping costs down. These tools improve overall efficiency, which, in turn, improves the patient experience.
2. Keeping on Schedule
Advanced digital tools also help address labor and scheduling challenges that frequently impact healthcare and many large, capital-construction projects, ultimately making it easier to deliver complex facilities efficiently and cost-effectively. Technologies like prefabrication and modular construction reduce the need for on-site labor and speed up completion times. Additionally, integrated technology solutions enhance collaboration among teams, ensuring projects stay on track and within budget, despite common constraints.
3. Lowering Costs Through Automation and Predictive Maintenance
Cost control is a significant concern in healthcare, both during construction and in long-term operations. To achieve operational efficiency and ease financial strain, next-generation care environments should adopt a “phygital” mindset during the design process. This includes incorporating automation and predictive maintenance systems into the building program and operational plan.
Smart technologies like VueOps, which uses intelligent 3D models for facility management, help lower ongoing maintenance expenses and boost operational efficiency. This data-driven approach allows healthcare organizations to make proactive decisions, minimizing disruptions and ensuring smooth operations for the long term.
4. Elevating the Patient and Provider Experience
Beyond operational improvements, the Phygital approach enhances the experiences of both patients and healthcare staff. From the design phase to the delivery of care, integrating digital tools with physical spaces creates a more personalized and seamless environment. Patients can engage with their care providers across multiple platforms—whether through telehealth, patient portals and apps, or in-person visits—while receiving a consistent level of care across all channels. These Phygital environments are designed to act and react with the patient in similar ways, thereby reducing patient stress, optimize workflows, and create a more cohesive healthcare journey.
The Power of Data in Phygital Healthcare
In Phygital healthcare, data is central to improving patient care by enabling personalization, predictive analytics, and smarter decision-making. It plays a critical role in several key areas:
- Remote Patient Monitoring: Continuous collection of real-time health data allows for timely interventions and more proactive care.
- Predictive Analytics: By analyzing data, healthcare providers can forecast patient outcomes and allocate resources more effectively.
- Personalized Care Plans: Patient data is used to customize treatments and care plans, ensuring that each individual receives care tailored to their unique needs.
By leveraging data in these ways, Phygital healthcare enhances both the quality of care and the patient experience.
The Future of Healthcare Construction is Phygital
As the healthcare landscape evolves, the shift toward Phygital experiences will continue to shape how facilities are built and how care is delivered. This transformation requires thoughtful investments in both the physical and digital realms, balancing innovation with core patient care values. Leaders that embrace this new age of innovation will drive long-term organizational growth with increased efficiency and enhanced experiences for patients, providers, and visitors for years to come.
Image: ID 283046469 © Wutthichai Luemuang | Dreamstime.com
Carl Fleming
Carl Fleming is a healthcare strategist withDPRConstruction, a forward-thinking, self-performing general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects.
