Dr. Jordan Dale, chief medical information officer and chief health AI officer added, “We’re excited to leverage new technologies at Cypress, but tools like Epic mobile and the integrated directory within Vocera Edge, for example, have already been tested and used across our system, helping to facilitate a more seamless launch. Shared clinical iPhones are another example, that were available to HMCY nurses from day one, and we recently completed deployment across all our hospital sites. These tools are allowing our providers and nurses to complete simple tasks between patients, using a mobile device, instead of having to find and log in to a workstation.”

It Started with a Strong Foundation

To ensure that HMCY’s technologies function seamlessly, the first step was developing a strong infrastructure. By prioritizing scalable technology frameworks, HMCY can accommodate evolving technological advancements and health care needs.

“I look at it through the lens of a developer building a neighborhood,” said Jim Francis, HM vice president and chief technology officer. “Just like building a neighborhood requires the proper installation of pipes, electrical systems and utilities to ensure everything functions smoothly, establishing a strong, technological infrastructure is essential for operating our advanced technologies.”

Some of these key implementations include a 5G network, allowing for a super-fast, secure internet connection and Wi-Fi 6 — the latest Wi-Fi version that’s faster and can handle more devices at once, compared to older versions. We also implemented a distributed antenna system (DAS) or network of antennas that improves wireless coverage inside buildings, to help ensure a strong signal is available throughout the campus, as well as virtual IoT (internet of things), which connects different smart devices virtually, allowing them to communicate and work together over the internet.

“Thanks to the incredible effort from our IT teams, our Cypress campus is equipped to power our innovation, giving our patients and clinicians a seamless, secure and cutting-edge environment for exceptional care and also makes our campus a hub for quickly testing new technologies and solutions,” said Dr. Nicholas Desai, vice president and chief operating officer and chief medical and quality officer for HMCY.

Enhancing Patient Care, Safety and Comfort

Walking into HMCY is like stepping into the future of health care. Patients can check-in at one of the welcome kiosks and use digital wayfinding to guide them through the campus. Interactive touchscreens and mobile apps provide real-time directions, whether it’s a specific department, room or service area. These systems can also alert staff if a patient needs assistance.

One of the areas that brings together multiple innovations is HMCY’s smart hospital rooms, combining advanced technology with a patient-centered approach. From “infotainment” systems to voice-activated assistants that allow patients to control their environment, these rooms are designed to maximize comfort and patient care. Some of the key innovations incorporated into patient smart rooms include:

Digital Door Signs
Outside the room, digital door signs (iPads) include important patient information that clinicians can see prior to entering the room, such as patient contact precautions, allergies or if the patient is a fall risk. By displaying critical information at the door, clinicians can quickly understand the patient’s needs before entering the room, enhancing patient care and safety.

Infotainment Hubs
Inside the room, “infotainment” systems provide entertainment and educational content and display real-time patient information. Using the portal button on the pillow speaker, patients can watch their favorite TV shows or quickly access important information about their hospital stay and care, like the names and roles of everyone on their care team and their care calendar. The care calendar tells patients what’s happening soon, such as physical therapy, how to prepare for the next event, what to expect and who will be handling their care.

Patients can also review educational content about their health condition, access room controls, such as lighting and temperature, order meals and check their MyChart accounts. There’s even a feature that allows them to adjust the monitor to a text size that works best for them. Important, real-time patient information, such as vital signs, glucose levels and any allergies or risks is also displayed, so clinicians can quickly see those items. This ensures that both patients and staff have up-to-date information at their fingertips.

Telehealth and Remote Monitoring
Above the patient room TVs are cameras that enable remote consultations with specialists, virtual family visits and even remote monitoring by clinicians. It ensures that patients receive timely care without the need for physical presence, such as telesitting, telestroke and telepsych, v-ICU, epilepsy monitoring, clinical observation, fall prevention, pressure injury prevention and more.

Voice-Activated Assistants, Powered by AI
Imagine a smart home where you can dim the lights, adjust the air conditioning or play music, simply by speaking. These innovative features are now available in HMCY hospital rooms and allow patients to control various aspects of their environment hands-free. For example, patients can adjust the lighting, call for a nurse or change their room temperature through a voice command.

Wearable Devices
BioButtons — wearable devices that continuously monitor patient health metrics, such as temperature, respiratory and heart rate, body position, sleep performance and more — provide real-time data collection and analysis. This data is seamlessly integrated into the patient’s chart in Epic, providing clinicians with a real-time, comprehensive view, also visible on infotainment systems.

Paving the Way for the Future of Health Care

The launch of HMCY and all of its innovative technology marks a significant step forward in our mission to provide our patients with exceptional health care experiences and our clinicians with the best tools to care for patients.

Trent Fulin, senior vice president and chief executive officer for HMCY stated, “With the launch of Houston Methodist Cypress, we’re setting a new standard in health care. Our commitment to leveraging the latest technologies ensures that our patients receive the safest, highest quality of care possible. Cypress embodies our vision for the future, where innovation and compassion go hand in hand to deliver exceptional health care experiences.”