Introduction to Digital Transformation in Hospitals
Digital transformation often looks better on paper than in practice. Even the most digitally advanced hospital department can still be a data silo unless it is fully integrated with operational systems. And if a hospital is running multiple digital systems that are not talking to each other, confusion rather than coordination will be the result – the opposite of most transformation goals.
The Command Centre Approach
The Dedalus Command Centre approach is to act as the central brain of the hospital’s operations. It brings together data from clinical, logistical and administrative systems to give administrators live, actionable insights, allowing them to address typical hospital pressure points and identify unexpected challenges before they can disrupt operations and patient care.
A Real-World Example
One hospital which has experienced the difference this approach can make is the Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid. CIO Raul Lopez says: “We detected over 400 surgeries which could have been carried out as minor outpatient surgeries. This means we save stay-related costs, and of course we improve the quality of care for patients, as they leave the hospital a day earlier.”
From Firefighting to Foresight
In more fragmented hospital system infrastructures, pressure points can flare up without warning. The hospital is constantly reacting to problems rather than anticipating them and resolving them proactively: emergency departments fill up, ICU beds run short, and staffing gaps appear with little warning.
The Role of the Command Centre
Femi Ladega, global chief digital officer at Dedalus, says: “For me, simply put, the Command Centre is a hub for quality improvement for any health system.” Building on real-time information, it generates insights and diagnostic analytics that highlight risk factors or operational constraints – and the actions required to avoid them or limit their impact. This real-time information is then orchestrated into clinical and operational workflows.
Predictive Analytics and Efficiency
Predictive algorithms in the AI-powered Command Centre enable hospitals to analyse patterns in real time, so they can see trouble coming – a spike in admissions or a delayed discharge downstream, for example – and act before it has a significant impact. As well as helping the hospital to convert real-time insights into improved operational processes, the system delivers efficiency benefits through a deeper understanding of the challenges, specific constraints and impeding risk factors that it faces.
Informed Decisions in Real Time
These benefits of real-time information could also be experienced at hospital department level. In many facilities, a department might work from its own set of figures. This fragmentation leads to repeated tasks, delayed responses and sometimes contradictory decisions. The Command Centre introduces a common operational picture: a single dashboard reflecting bed occupancy, patient status, staffing levels and more. With everyone aligned on the same data, it’s easier to coordinate and adapt, especially during high-pressure moments.
Improving Surgical Care
Surgical care is especially vulnerable to disjointed workflows. From pre-operative planning to recovery, even small breakdowns in communication can create challenges The Command Centre integrates the full surgical journey, helping teams coordinate handovers, anticipate bottlenecks, and manage the unexpected – whether it’s an emergency case arriving at the last minute or a recovery bed suddenly becoming unavailable. This means there should be fewer surprises, less stress, and better patient outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Dedalus Command Centre approach has the potential to revolutionize the way hospitals operate. By bringing together data from clinical, logistical and administrative systems, it provides live, actionable insights that can help address pressure points and identify unexpected challenges before they disrupt operations and patient care. With its predictive analytics and real-time information, the Command Centre can help hospitals move from firefighting to foresight, making informed decisions and improving patient outcomes.
FAQs
Q: What is the Dedalus Command Centre?
A: The Dedalus Command Centre is a central brain of the hospital’s operations that brings together data from clinical, logistical and administrative systems to give administrators live, actionable insights.
Q: How does the Command Centre improve patient care?
A: The Command Centre improves patient care by providing real-time information, predictive analytics, and a common operational picture, allowing hospitals to anticipate and address challenges before they disrupt operations and patient care.
Q: Can the Command Centre be used in hospital departments?
A: Yes, the Command Centre can be used in hospital departments to provide a single dashboard reflecting bed occupancy, patient status, staffing levels and more, helping teams coordinate and adapt, especially during high-pressure moments.
Q: Where can I learn more about the Dedalus Command Centre?
A: You can learn more about the Dedalus Command Centre at HIMSS25 Europe (10-12 June).
