New tech upgrades to AdventHealth hospital rooms improve patient comfort and connected care

When a patient walks into AdventHealth’s new smart room experience, they are stepping into a more connected and personalized approach to care.

Smart rooms bring major enhancements to patient rooms through digitized whiteboards, digital door signage and secure, in-room video integrated with each patient’s medical record and care plan. Together in unison, these features improve communication and coordination among patients, families and care teams at the system’s more than 55 hospitals across nine states.

What patients and families will see and feel

The digital whiteboard displays a patient’s care team, medications and daily goals in real time, helping them see what’s ahead. The door sign outside the room shares vital updates, such as safety alerts and care instructions.

"The digital whiteboard gives me lots of information,” said Curtis, an AdventHealth patient. “I can keep up with my medication and when it's scheduled. I can also keep up with the care team when they change shifts.” Regarding the whiteboard’s ability to show the patient’s top priority, Curtis shared, “I like to see that the most important thing to do today is rest.”

“Smart rooms give patients greater clarity about their care and peace of mind knowing their team is always within reach,” said Michael Cacciatore, MD, AdventHealth’s system chief medical officer. “These tools give patients faster access to their care team and can make every interaction feel more personal.”

At the heart of the room is a secure video system that enables virtual consults with doctors, nurses, translation services and other members of the patient’s care team. The patient’s loved ones can also remotely join clinical visits so they don’t miss important care updates.

“Patients appreciate being able to see their care plan and communicate more easily with their team,” said Dr. Valerie McKinnis, VP of Clinical Innovation. “We’re hearing that it reduces uncertainty, helps people feel informed and makes their stay more comfortable.”

Supporting clinicians and the care experience

Smart rooms also help clinicians work more efficiently. Virtual nursing and two-way communication features let clinicians conduct admission checks, discharge information or specialist consults directly from the patient’s room. This can help reduce patients’ wait times for in-room care visits and greatly streamline their admission and discharge process.

Kimberly, an AdventHealth patient, described how virtual visits made her hospital admission process smoother. "I feel like it sped up the process because I didn't have to wait for them to come to the room. You could get all that administrative information out of the way pretty quickly. They just came on the TV and went over all my medications with me. It was basically like having them in the room with me, which was great."

Dr. Cacciatore said the system is designed to enhance, not replace, the personal connection between caregivers and patients. “By reducing administrative work and making information available in real time, our teams can focus more on people and less on process,” he said.

AdventHealth’s approach is privacy-forward: permission-based experiences, no recording in smart room interactions and Protected Health Information kept within tightly controlled systems designed to safeguard data and maintain patient confidentiality.

“Trust is at the center of our design,” Dr. Cacciatore said. “Patients are in control of when and how these tools are used, and every connection is made with their privacy and dignity in mind.”

The rollout and big picture

Smart rooms are being introduced in stages across AdventHealth’s diverse network of hospitals, from major urban centers to small community and rural locations, with smart rooms going live across the system throughout 2026. The rollout will create new ways for patients in communities across the country to access expertise across AdventHealth’s connected network of care.

In Colorado, where several smart rooms are now live, Dr. McKinnis said the response has been positive. “Team members tell us it’s like having an extra set of skilled hands supporting them. That makes care more consistent and responsive for patients.”

This work is part of AdventHealth’s larger strategy to responsibly apply the latest technologies that support whole-person care.

“Technology should help us deliver care that’s more personal, not less,” Dr. Cacciatore said. “When it works seamlessly in the background, it helps patients feel seen, safe and supported during their healing journey.”