Technology touches every corner of modern life, our homes, our cars, even the way we order coffee. But in healthcare, technology has the potential to do more than make life convenient. It can save lives, streamline operations, and transform the patient and staff experience.
On The Architecture of Healing podcast, I sat down with Corey Gaarde, Healthcare Technology Advisory Services Leader at IMEG and a nationally recognized expert in aligning healthcare technology strategy with operations and facility design. Corey’s mission is clear: make technology a seamless partner in the delivery of care.
Our conversation ranged from the role of virtual care to the importance of early infrastructure planning, all the way to why “future-proofing” might actually be the wrong goal. Here are some of the key takeaways.
From Biomedical Engineering to Healthcare Technology
Corey’s career began with a deep personal connection to healthcare, his mother was a pediatric nurse, and he jokes that he’s been in healthcare “since birth.” Initially aiming to become a doctor, Corey earned a degree in biomedical engineering but found himself drawn to the emerging world of healthcare IT.
His first major foray came through a role at Cerner, followed by work with Northwestern Medicine on projects like the Prentice Women’s Hospital, a one-million-square-foot facility in Chicago. That experience cemented his philosophy: technology must work flawlessly on day one because in healthcare, downtime can directly impact patient care.
“If every toilet has to be flushed before a hospital opens, why wouldn’t we test every computer, every code blue, every device the same way?” Corey asks.
Why Technology Can’t Be an Afterthought
Despite its ubiquity in daily life, technology often comes late in healthcare planning. Corey emphasizes that this is a missed opportunity. When considered early, digital tools can improve safety, speed, and satisfaction for both patients and staff.
For example, a smooth digital check-in process, mirroring the airline industry, reduces wait times, eases anxiety, and frees up clinical staff. But for that to happen, the tech must be planned alongside architecture and operations, not bolted on afterward.
Balancing Digital and Human Experiences
Corey points out that while technology can greatly enhance healthcare, people remain the biggest variable. Not every patient is comfortable with digital tools, and not every staff member embraces new systems.
That’s why design must accommodate both ends of the spectrum, self-check-in kiosks and traditional reception desks, mobile apps and printed directions. This dual approach adds complexity and cost, but it’s essential for equitable access and smooth operations.
He likens it to airports: while mobile boarding passes are common, there will always be passengers who prefer printed tickets and face-to-face interactions.
The Promise and Challenges of Virtual Care
The pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth, proving that many visits could happen virtually without sacrificing quality. Corey sees virtual care as not just a convenience, but also a way to optimize resources and reduce stress for both patients and clinicians.
He describes the potential of virtual nursing, where experienced nurses can remotely support bedside teams, handle documentation, or monitor patients allowing on-site staff to focus more on direct care. This approach can ease burnout, improve efficiency, and extend the reach of skilled professionals.
Smart Technology for Safer Environments
Corey also highlights emerging uses of AI-enabled cameras and sensors to improve patient safety and reduce noise in clinical spaces.
Instead of infusion pumps alarming loudly in patient rooms, for example, cameras could detect issues and send silent alerts directly to a nurse’s device. AI could monitor for fall risks, hand hygiene compliance, or equipment malfunctions—acting as an extra set of eyes and ears without disrupting rest or recovery.
Designing for the Future Without “Future-Proofing”
One of Corey’s strongest points is that “future-proofing” is a flawed concept.
“If waterproofing keeps water out, future-proofing keeps the future out,” he says.
Instead, healthcare spaces should be future-ready, future-resilient, and future-scalable. That means building flexible infrastructure, ample conduit space, robust wireless networks, adaptable room layouts; so organizations can adopt new technologies as they emerge without major renovations.
This mindset also applies to budgeting. Not every innovation needs to be implemented on day one. A crawl-walk-run approach lets organizations invest in foundational systems now, then layer on advanced capabilities when the timing and ROI are right.
Staff Experience Matters Too
Technology isn’t just about patients, it also shapes recruitment, retention, and job satisfaction for staff.
Corey notes that clinicians often compare their current tools to what they had at previous employers. If a hospital lags in tech adoption, it can lose talent to competitors who offer more modern, efficient systems.
However, introducing new tools requires thoughtful change management: training tailored to multiple generations in the workforce, identifying champions who can advocate for adoption, and ensuring backup procedures are in place when systems inevitably go down.
Choosing the Right Technology in a Crowded Market
With vendors constantly pitching “the next big thing,” decision-makers can feel overwhelmed. Corey’s advice is to start with use cases and workflows, not gadgets.
- Identify the problem or opportunity.
- Define how technology should solve it.
- Look for solutions that can scale beyond one narrow function.
A pointed tool that solves a single issue may be tempting, but a flexible platform that supports multiple applications will deliver better long-term value.
The Bottom Line
Corey’s insights reinforce a central truth: in healthcare, technology isn’t just hardware and software, it’s a strategic enabler of care, safety, and satisfaction. But to realize its potential, it must be planned with the same care as the physical building and operational workflows.
Whether it’s virtual nursing, smart cameras, or seamless patient check-in, the goal is the same: give both patients and staff the tools they need for better experiences and outcomes. And while the future of healthcare will undoubtedly be more digital, the human element will always guide its success.
