Shaping the ward of tomorrow

This week, Health2B brought together more than 120 engaged participants from hospitals, municipalities, and suppliers to discuss the future of hospital wards. Across sectors and roles, the focus was on the patient journey from start to finish, taking a broad view of challenges and opportunities. The aim was to look ahead and envision solutions without being constrained by considerations such as budgets, supplier agreements, or infrastructure limitations.

Through inspiring presentations and productive discussions, one message was clear: technology alone cannot solve the challenges. The key lies in implementation, change management, and culture. How can we ensure that new technology is seamlessly integrated into everyday workflows in both hospitals and municipalities?

Interaction and flow

A recurring theme was how current solutions can already support staff in their demanding work environments. There is a strong desire to identify and implement quick wins while testing practical solutions across different levels of the healthcare system.

Discussions highlighted a shared understanding of the need for an integrated perspective. Hospital wards cannot be seen in isolation – every patient has a history before admission and a journey after discharge. To support this, smooth data sharing is essential, covering not only medical data but also operational information to ensure better flow and collaboration.

The importance of involving patients was also emphasised. With modern patient applications, patients can actively participate in their care before, during, and after their stay, enhancing both the quality and experience of healthcare services.

Breaking down silos

One significant challenge is integrating new technology into existing systems without creating new silos. Effective collaboration and interoperability between solutions and stakeholders are crucial for building efficient, user-friendly, and future-ready hospital wards.

Next steps

The work with Health2B o Shaping the ward of tomorrow continues. The next phase will focus on testing solutions in practice, with a clear emphasis on supporting the patient journey as a whole and implementing easily achievable improvements that benefit both staff and patients.

This gathering proved that when stakeholders across healthcare in Norway come together, meaningful discussions and ambitious visions emerge. The ward of the future is within reach – through collaboration, technology, and shared commitment.

Health2B is a public-private partnership and a physical collaboration arena in Oslo Science Park. The arena was founded by Norway Health Tech, Oslo Science Park and Oslo University Hospital.

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