If it’s not planned, it won’t happen. Making digital central to healthcare design

Healthcare systems around the world are at a digital crossroads. The stakes are high, and the urgency is real. Globally, we are ageing at an unprecedented pace. The World Economic Forum reports that by 2030, the number of people aged 60 and over will reach 1.4 billion, with 80% living in low- and middle-income countries. This demographic shift is already placing immense pressure on acute care systems.

What healthcare workers are telling us

Clinicians are more pressured than ever. A recent global survey by Elsevier found that 69% are seeing more patients, and 28% believe they don’t have enough time to provide a good standard of care. Of those, 74% cite reduced time per visit, and 73% point to excessive administration.

It’s no surprise that healthcare workers report experiencing emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment as found in the Journal of Occupational Health.

The digital disconnect

Across healthcare systems, the promise of digital transformation is being held back by persistent infrastructure challenges. In Canada, a national task force has highlighted the usual culprits: outdated electronic medical records (EMRs), poor interoperability, and legacy systems that are no longer fit for purpose. These issues are not just technical; they’re clinical, contributing to inefficiencies and clinician burnout.

The UK faces similar hurdles. As outlined in Lord Darzi’s report, many parts of the NHS remain in the “foothills of digital transformation.” Clinicians are burdened by fragmented IT systems that add to their workload rather than streamline it, and capital investment has lagged behind peer nations, leaving hospitals with ageing infrastructure and low digital maturity.

Globally, these challenges are echoed across OECD health systems, where clinician shortages, fragmented data, and rising service demand persist. As confirmed by the Black Book Rankings 2025, true interoperability leads to better care coordination, but in lower-ranked countries, digital tools often fail to connect, scale, or support modern models of care, resulting in poor continuity, increased duplication, and reduced patient safety.

The inpatient room as a digital ecosystem

But here’s the good news: we know what needs to change. The inpatient room is no longer just a space; it’s a strategic asset. It must be designed as a digitally enabled environment that drives transformation across the entire healthcare system. These rooms are not passive treatment spaces, but intelligent, connected ecosystems that support proactive, personalised care.

Understanding the ‘why’ is just the beginning. Here’s how we turn vision into reality.

At Archus, our deep domain expertise enables us to recognise the importance of placing digital at the core of our strategies and discussions to drive meaningful transformation toward a more sustainable health system. We prioritise integrating digital from the outset, uniting both digital and physical environments to deliver cohesive solutions. By challenging conventional approaches and embracing innovation, we promote seamless integration and instil confidence in our readiness to meet future demands. Our methodology is firmly grounded in benefits realisation and a strong commitment to enhancing patient outcomes.

Our three-step approach

Step 1: Prioritise functional aspects

We begin by referring to the Clinical Service Plan (CSP), Functional Brief (FB), and Design Brief (DB) to understand the hospital’s operational and spatial requirements. But we a a crucial piece to the puzzle: digital functionality.

Step 2: Assess technology’s operational impact

Next, we develop case studies for selected technologies, analysing their impact on space, workforce, processes, and design. We undertake a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that feasibility, value and outcomes are balanced.

Step 3: Integrate technologies into design

Finally, we prioritise the evaluated technologies for inclusion in the hospital’s business case. These technologies will be embedded in commissioning processes early on, ensuring that digital is not an afterthought but a core component of the hospital’s DNA.

The bottom line

Digital transformation in healthcare doesn’t happen by accident; it happens by design. By embedding digital thinking from the outset, we can create smarter, more responsive environments that support better care, improved outcomes, and long-term system sustainability.

We believe that digital isn’t a bolt-on. It’s a foundation. And if it’s not planned, it won’t happen.

If you’re ready to embed digital from the outset and transform your healthcare infrastructure, get in touch today.