“Hospital of the Future” Report Urges Major Changes

A report released today from The Joint Commission offers guiding principles and actions for the hospital of the future to meet the daunting challenges of older and sicker patients, patient safety and quality of care, economics and the work force. As these challenges escalate, hospitals can lead the effort to meet these demands.

“Healthcare at the Crossroads: Guiding Principles for the Development of the Hospital of the Future” contends that hospitals must respond in new ways as escalating healthcare costs are hitting record highs and the conditions and care needs of hospitalized patients are growing more complex. The report is the work of an expert panel comprising hospital executives and clinical leaders, as well as experts in technology, healthcare economics, hospital design and patient safety. The roundtable analyzed how socio-economic trends, technology, the physical environment of care, patient-centered care values and ongoing staffing challenges will impact the hospital of the future.

 “The importance of hospital-based care will not diminish in the future, but hospitals will have to meet the high expectations of the public and all stakeholders in an increasingly challenging environment,” says Mark R. Chassin, MD, MPP, MPH., president of The Joint Commission. “As they have been in the past, hospitals must be equally transformative as the future unfolds. The Joint Commission urges hospitals and public policymakers to use the principles in this report to achieve that aim.”

 “The Joint Commission has brought together broad expertise in healthcare to point to directions for optimizing healthcare in hospitals. Hospitals have an enduring role in the delivery of healthcare and have provided major contributions to enhancing the treatment of disease,” says Herbert Pardes, MD, president and CEO of New York Presbyterian Hospital and New York Presbyterian Healthcare System and roundtable chair. “Looking forward, this white paper describes issues ranging from technology to personnel, patient relationships, and fiscal and architectural design among many other ways hospitals can enhance healthcare for all patients.”

The report recommends action in five core areas: