AdventHealth Manchester launches Smart Room technology to enhance patient experience and expand whole-person care

AdventHealth Manchester celebrated the implementation of its Smart Room technology rollout, marking a significant step forward in bringing cutting-edge, advanced clinical care to southeastern Kentucky. As one of the first hospitals in Kentucky to introduce this level of Smart Room technology, this milestone is a meaningful step forward for rural health innovation and patient experience.

AdventHealth Manchester is expanding access to advanced, whole-person care in a rural community where innovation can make a meaningful difference. The experience is available across the hospital’s 49 patient rooms, with additional features continuing to roll out over time. Designed to strengthen connection and improve access, Smart Rooms help care teams focus more fully on patients, connect families during hospital stays and support personalized, whole-person care.

“These enhancements reflect our commitment to caring for the whole person,” said Nick Bejarano, President and CEO of AdventHealth Manchester. “In a rural community like ours, access matters. Smart Room technology helps connect our patients to specialists who may not be onsite, while also allowing our nurses and physicians to spend more time focused on care at the bedside. That means world-class care is even more available right here in Manchester.”

Digitized whiteboards automatically display updated care plans, goals and care team information, helping patients and families stay engaged throughout their stay. In rural southeastern Kentucky, patients often travel hours to access specialty care. Smart Room technology allows specialists from across the AdventHealth network to consult virtually, helping patients receive advanced expertise without leaving the community.

“High-quality care shouldn’t be limited by ZIP code,” said Bejarano. “Introducing this technology is one way we’re ensuring our community can access the same advanced tools and specialists found in larger cities.”

For many families in southeastern Kentucky, being at the bedside is not always possible due to travel distance, transportation barriers, or work schedules. Secure virtual access allows loved ones to participate in real-time conversations with physicians and nurses, ask questions, and help make informed decisions, strengthening the patient’s support system even when they cannot be physically present.

By streamlining documentation and communication processes, Smart Rooms are designed to reduce repetitive tasks for clinicians while enhancing clarity for patients and families. The result is a more seamless hospital experience centered on compassion, collaboration, and healing.

For rural communities like Manchester, Kentucky, this technology helps close gaps in health care access by tapping into AdventHealth’s national network of experts while preserving the personal connection of local care teams. By combining advanced digital tools with bedside expertise, AdventHealth Manchester is strengthening its ability to deliver the high-quality, whole-person care AdventHealth is known across the country.

As a faith-based, not-for-profit health system, AdventHealth is committed to Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ through innovation that strengthens human connection. The introduction of Smart Room technology reflects that commitment — bringing advanced tools into the care environment while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the patient.

For more information about AdventHealth Manchester and its services, visit AdventHealthManchester.com.