Command centers in hospitals provide a centralized, data-driven approach to patient care and operational efficiency. Often seen as a missing puzzle to enabling a seamless patient journey, their implementation requires unique data management intelligence. We examine the benefits, use cases, and challenges of command centers.
A big picture of hospital operations
A team of healthcare professionals and engineers watches the changing parameters on the screens located on the wall – inspired by control rooms in aviation and space exploration, hospital command centers (HCCs) are centralized data hubs that accumulate real-time data across various systems within the hospital.
In one place, hospital staff can coordinate patient journeys by tracking patient flow, bed availability, resource allocation, and alerts from electronic health records—data that is usually dispersed among different parts of the hospital. By centralizing these activities, command centers promise to enhance decision-making processes and streamline hospital management.
The evidence shows clear benefits from Hospital Command Centers (HCC). For example, according to GE HealthCare – the world’s leader in developing and implementing command centers – HCC in Tampa General Hospital saved $40 million by reducing system-wide inefficiencies and lowered the length of stay by 12 hours; AdventHealth reduced the number of patients turned away by 750%; and Humber River Health's Command Centre allowed for the creation of 35-bed equivalents. However, the road to the first positive outcomes might be long and bumpy.
Orchestrating patient care in the hospital
Although electronic health records, hospital information systems, and – recently – AI algorithms have improved the data flow within healthcare organizations, they still often work in silos. Healthcare professionals might have access to EHR but don’t see other critical points in the patient journey. There is nobody to navigate the patient through the hospitalization to make this process as seamless as possible to improve patient outcomes and organizational efficiency.
This is what HCCs are addressing. One of the critical benefits of HCC is improved patient flow. In emergency departments, where care must be delivered timely, command centers help manage patient intake and prioritize treatment more effectively. This capability not only reduces wait times but also improves patient satisfaction and outcomes. For instance, the GE HealthCare command center at Bradford Royal Infirmary in the UK has been instrumental in optimizing the use of its 800 beds, reducing unnecessary hospital stays, and ensuring that patients are treated in the most appropriate wards.
Navigation to have every patient on the eye
In hospitals with command centers, staff have real-time visibility into patient needs, which helps coordinate care more efficiently and reduces bottlenecks. Moreover, by integrating remote solutions like virtual nursing programs, command centers can alleviate clinician burnout by allowing experienced staff to support their less experienced colleagues remotely.
With the rising complexity of hospital workflows and digital maturity, command centers will soon become necessary. Without a central hub, it’s almost impossible to analyze the massive amount of real-time data, now also delivered by AI algorithms. So often, the data that could contribute to better patient outcomes and satisfaction will get lost.
Implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in hospitals will snowball, further amplifying the benefits of command centers. For example, AI tools like the Radiology Operations Module (ROM) developed by GE HealthCare and Mass General Brigham help optimize scheduling, predict missed care opportunities, and streamline administrative tasks. Preliminary tests of the ROM algorithm have demonstrated its effectiveness, with accuracy rates of up to 96% in predicting missed care opportunities.
Wall of analytics
HCCs are most popular in the U.S. According to GE HealthCare, their Command Center solutions are used worldwide by over 300 hospitals. In Europe, they are still in the early stages of adoption.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK) was the first hospital in Europe to decide to create a highly advanced HCC. The facility is designed to handle the increasing patient volume at Bradford Royal Infirmary, which annually serves over 125,000 emergency department attendees. The command center utilizes advanced AI algorithms to provide a real-time overview of hospital operations. This helps staff manage patient care more effectively and reduces discharge and bed allocation delays.
The HCC is equipped with a “wall of analytics” that integrates data from multiple hospital systems. This setup enables staff to anticipate and resolve potential bottlenecks before they impact patient care. For example, the center helps ensure patients are admitted, transferred, or discharged within the recommended time frames, improving overall hospital efficiency and patient outcomes.
HCC reshuffles how the hospital work
Implementing a command center requires careful planning and a strategic approach. It begins with establishing a clear vision and strategy for the center’s role within the hospital. Hospitals with HCCs advise starting with a pilot program to test the command center’s functionalities, identify potential challenges, and demonstrate early successes before scaling up. All stakeholders from various departments, including clinicians and administrative staff, must be engaged from the beginning. This will ensure that the command center meets their needs and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows.
Since command centers must deal with a lot of real-time data, they can only use AI algorithms and machine learning. AI provides actionable insights and predictive analytics that drive operational improvements.
The third element is a robust governance model. Clear guidelines and standardized processes help maintain data consistency and ensure effective collaboration among different hospital departments. As usual, one last foundation of a transformation is crucial: staff training and cultivating the culture of innovativeness.
