Technology, Innovation, and Investments in Healthcare Infrastructure (EP13)

Episode Overview: In episode 13 of Constructing With Care, we dive deep into the evolving role of technology and digital innovation in healthcare infrastructure. Host Leslie Tullio is joined by three leading experts: Laura Wilt, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Sutter Health; Clara Guixa, Vice President of Applications and Deputy CIO at Boston Children's Hospital; and Carl Fleming, Healthcare Strategy and Digital Transformation at DPR Construction. Together, they discuss how technology investments are reshaping patient care, improving outcomes for providers, and transforming healthcare systems through smarter capital projects and how builders and administers alike need to take into consideration geographic, cultural, and technical needs of a healthcare building project. 

Key Topics Covered:

1. (1:32) Technology's Impact on Patient Outcomes
   Laura Wilt highlights how critical investments in technology improve patient care. From high-reliability systems to digital front doors and virtual care solutions, technology integration is driving transformation in healthcare delivery, making care more accessible and efficient.
2. (8:35) Tailoring Technology for Pediatric vs. Adult Healthcare
   Clara Guixa shares insights on the unique technological needs of pediatric hospitals, emphasizing the need for specialized software, devices, and communication tools that cater to younger patients and their families. This often includes advocating for pediatric use in general medical technology and ensuring long-term support for families.
3. (5:04) The Digital and Physical Infrastructure Interplay
   Carl Fleming offers a dual perspective, exploring how healthcare systems are investing in both physical infrastructure upgrades—like new patient towers—and digital transformations, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and electronic health record (EHR) optimization. He underscores the importance of designing facilities that blend physical and digital care environments for future-ready hospitals.
4. (15:02) Challenges and Opportunities in Different Geographies
   Laura Wilt and Clara Guixa compare how geographic and demographic differences across the U.S. impact healthcare delivery. From the cultural norms influencing hospital design to the varied expectations patients have for technology, both leaders explain how healthcare systems adapt their strategies to better serve diverse populations.
5. (18:53) Improving Provider Experiences Through Technology
   Wilt also explores how technology not only benefits patients but providers as well. Generative AI and ambient documentation technologies coupled with smart design are enhancing physician workflows, reducing administrative burdens, and improving the quality of patient-provider interactions.

Featured Guests:

• Laura Wilt: Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Sutter Health
• Clara Guixa: Vice President of Applications and Deputy CIO at Boston Children’s Hospital
• Carl Fleming: Healthcare Strategy and Digital Transformation Specialist at DPR Construction

Laura Wilt 

"We're not just implementing tech; we're transforming the way we deliver care to meet the needs of diverse populations. 

Clara Guixa 

"It's crucial to align technology investments with strategic goals, ensuring we're solving key problems and driving real value." 

Carl Fleming 

"Building the future of healthcare infrastructure is about understanding the balance between the latest tech trends and what truly fits into patient care environments." 

 

Listen Now: Tune in to learn how healthcare leaders are navigating the intersection of digital innovation and capital investments, ensuring that new technologies improve outcomes for both patients and providers.

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