Digital transformation in healthcare goes beyond gadgets when it prioritises people, supports staff and empowers hospitals to deliver smarter, more compassionate care.
As healthcare systems across Europe struggle to meet the increasing demands of ageing populations, staff shortages and rising costs, digitalisation has emerged as a necessity rather than a luxury. When driven by collaboration, digital transformation can be tailored to each hospital’s unique operational needs, creating solutions that genuinely improve efficiency and care quality.
At Deerns, we start with listening.
We believe that successful digitalisation must be rooted in the daily experience of hospital users. This includes clinical managers, medical staff and those responsible for assets, security, facilities, energy, IT, and Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) through to technical operations.
Designing for People
By working closely with healthcare clients, we help the users articulate their operational challenges and identify areas where digital solutions can make the greatest impact.
Whether the project involves a new hospital build or the refurbishment of an existing one, our ‘listening’ methodology to ensure we design for people is consistent:
- Understand the context
- Define the needs
- Design solutions that are scalable, flexible and rooted in actual use cases.
In many projects where digital systems are introduced as add-ons from product suppliers the result can be suboptimal. This sometimes only comes to light after the installation of expensive equipment when it becomes evident that the equipment and design is poorly aligned with user capabilities, is poorly integrated with real use/needs or simply goes unused.
Prioritising the Experience of Medical Staff
While digitalisation focused on improving patient experience remains important, there is now a growing recognition that staff satisfaction and operational efficiency are equally critical, and they are directly linked to patient wellbeing. If doctors, nurses and technicians work in environments that support their needs, patient care naturally improves.
5 Ways in which digitalisation improves staff well-being
Digital tools can drastically reduce staff stress by addressing everyday frustrations and improving staff wellbeing:
- Smart devices allow instant access to patient information during ward rounds, eliminating the need to return to terminals.
- Indoor tracking systems reduce time wasted searching for equipment or colleagues.
- Alarm systems can be configured to notify the nearest appropriate staff member, cutting down noise and response times.
- Digital wayfinding reduces disorientation in large or complex hospitals, saving valuable time.
- Room booking and scheduling tools optimise patient flow and outpatient services.
Each of these technologies contributes to a healthier, more supportive working environment.
Balancing CapEx and OpEx
A common barrier to digitalisation is the perceived high cost. Hospitals, particularly public institutions, operate under constrained budgets and must prioritise core infrastructure.
3 steps to bridging the CapEx/OpEx Gap
Deerns helps clients bridge this gap by:
- Developing phased digitalisation strategies that distribute investment over time.
- Designing infrastructure with built-in flexibility for “plug-and-play” future upgrades.
- Assisting clients in evaluating the ROI of digital systems through operational metrics, such as staff hours saved or energy efficiency improvements.
In practice, hospitals that implement robust digital strategies can achieve measurable reductions in energy usage, equipment downtime and administrative overheads. While comprehensive, standardised data is still emerging in this young field, early evidence suggests that the return on investment is tangible and long term.
Digitalisation is not a one-off project. It is an evolving process that requires ongoing dialogue, adaptation and support. Deerns offers end-to-end consultancy services that follow the client through the full lifecycle of the building and ensure that digital systems remain aligned with real world operations, technological advancements and evolving user expectations.
Customised Solutions
Every healthcare facility is different, and so are its digital needs. That is why Deerns offers a tailored combination of approaches designed to meet actual needs and expectations:
- Personal devices (such as staff tablets or smartphones).
- Shared systems (such as interactive totems, QR-enabled signage).
- Application-based interfaces for asset tracking, patient engagement or wayfinding.
What sets Deerns apart is both our technical expertise and our dedication to the healthcare sector. We understand that hospitals are not simply buildings. They are spaces of recovery, urgency and human vulnerability. Working in this sector demands more than engineering proficiency. It requires empathy, flexibility and a deep respect for the people whose lives unfold within these walls.
" Our approach ensures that every solution is matched not only to budget and infrastructure, but to the digital literacy of staff and the specific requirements of each hospital department.
Many of our engineers and consultants choose to work in healthcare because they believe in its purpose. This commitment shows in every conversation we have with our clients. It is what drives us to ensure that digitalisation serves people, not the other way around.
Building Resilience, Enhancing Humanity
In the coming decades, digitalisation will redefine how hospitals operate. But the technologies themselves are not the answer.
" The real transformation happens when technologies are shaped by insight, humility and an unwavering focus on the human experience.
At Deerns, we help hospitals navigate this complex terrain with clarity, confidence and compassion. Together, we are creating environments where care can thrive.
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