Requirements for Smart Cancer Hospitals, Overview
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Abstract
Background: The increasing complexity of cancer care and rapid advancements indigital technologies have led to the emergence of smart cancer hospitals as innovativesolutions to contemporary healthcare challenges.Objective: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the essentialarchitectural, technological, and operational requirements for designing and operatingsmart cancer hospitals.Methods: A synthesis of recent literature and global case studies was conducted toidentify core elements defining smart cancer hospitals, focusing on technology integration,adaptable architectural design, environmental considerations, IT infrastructure,and multidisciplinary care.Results: Smart cancer hospitals incorporate advanced technologies such as artificialintelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and telemedicineto enhance diagnostic accuracy, treatment efficiency, and patient experience. Modularand adaptable designs enable rapid technological updates and spatial flexibility.Sustainable architectural elements contribute to improved patient outcomes andstaff well-being. Robust IT infrastructure ensures secure, interoperable clinical dataexchange. Integration of multidisciplinary collaboration areas, palliative care, andpsychosocial support fosters holistic, patient-centered care.Conclusion: This review outlines critical components necessary for creating future-ready smart cancer hospitals that combine technological advancement withhuman-centered care. These insights aim to assist architects, healthcare providers,and policymakers in developing oncology facilities responsive to evolving cancer careneeds.
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33. Abdel-Wahab, M. and C. Varghese, Setting Up a Cancer Centre: A WHO-IAEA Framework. 2022: International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna.
34. Ebaid, M.A., A Framework for implementing biophilic design in cancer healthcare spaces to enhance patients’ experience. International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development, 2023. 14(2): p. 229-246.
35. Yadegari, F. and A. Asosheh, A unified IoT architectural model for smart hospitals: enhancing interoperability, security, and efficiency through clinical information systems (CIS). Journal of Big Data, 2025. 12(1): p. 1-26.
36. McLaughlan, R., et al., Designing palliative care facilities to better support patient and family care: a staff perspective. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 2022. 15(2): p. 149-162.
37. Niu, M., On planning and designing general hospitals in smart technology contexts. International Healthcare Review (online), 2022.
38. Aghapour, A.H., et al., Capacity planning and reconfiguration for disaster-resilient health infrastructure. Journal of Building Engineering, 2019. 26: p. 100853.
39. Elhefnawy, M.H., A proposed methodology for integrated architectural design of smart hospitals. EAI Endorsed Transactions on Smart Cities, 2020. 4(12): p. 1-13.
40. McLaughlan, R. and E. Kirby, Palliative care environments for patient, family and staff well-being: an ethnographic study of non-standard design. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2021. 14(e1): p. e600-e607.
41. Jiang, S. and S. Verderber, On the planning and design of hospital circulation zones: A review of the evidence-based literature. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 2017. 10(2): p. 124-146.
42. Jaušovec, M. and B. Gabrovec, Architectural Evaluation of Healthcare Facilities: A Comprehensive Review and Implications for Building Design. Buildings, 2023. 13(12): p. 2926.
2. Kwon, H., et al., Review of smart hospital services in real healthcare environments. Healthcare informatics research, 2022. 28(1): p. 3-15.
3. Al-Rawashdeh, M., et al., IoT adoption and application for smart healthcare: a systematic review. Sensors, 2022. 22(14): p. 5377.
4. Woll, A. and J. Tørresen, What is a Smart Hospital? A Review of the Literature. Human-Automation Interaction: Manufacturing, Services and User Experience, 2022: p. 145-165.
5. Pradeep, M., et al., Smart Hospital in Smart Cities. Digital Twin and Blockchain for Smart Cities, 2024: p. 579-603.
6. Yu, L., Y. Lu, and X. Zhu, Smart hospital based on internet of things. Journal of networks, 2012. 7(10): p. 1654.
7. Onasanya, A. and M. Elshakankiri, Smart integrated IoT healthcare system for cancer care. Wireless Networks, 2021. 27(6): p. 4297-4312.
8. Heshmat, M. and A.-R.S. Shehata. A framework about using internet of things for smart cancer treatment process. in Proceedings of the international conference on industrial engineering and operations management. 2018.
9. Frisch, P., What is an intelligent hospital?: a place where technology and design converge to enhance patient care. IEEE pulse, 2014. 5(6): p. 10-15.
10. Julio, M., Smart hospitals security and resilience for smart health service and infrastructures. European Union Agency for Network and Information Security, 2016.
11. Frost and Sullivan, Smart hospitals to invest over€ 9.61 billion in cloud computing and data analytics, says Frost & Sullivan [Internet]. 2017, Frost & Sullivan San Antonio (TX).
12. Taylor, K., Smart hospitals: how technology is redefining future healthcare [Internet]. London, UK: Deloitte UK Centre for Health Solutions; 2017 [cited at 2022 Feb 3].
13. Yoon, Y., Smart hospital-related technology status and prospects. KESSIA Issue Rep, 2018. 2: p. 1-9.
14. Mohammadzadeh, Z., et al., Smart city healthcare delivery innovations: a systematic review of essential technologies and indicators for developing nations. BMC health services research, 2023. 23(1): p. 1180.
15. Rajaei, O., S.R. Khayami, and M.S. Rezaei, Smart hospital definition: Academic and industrial perspective. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 2024. 182: p. 105304.
16. Anthopoulos, L., M. Karakidi, and D. Tselios. Defining the “Smart Hospital”: A Literature Review. in World Conference on Information Systems and Technologies. 2024. Springer.
17. Kucan, G., et al., Sustainable future-proof healthcare facilities: Modular and adaptable design approach. Journal of Management in Engineering, 2024. 40(6): p. 04024053.
18. Abbasi, A., et al., Views from construction professionals on hospital project construction management using modular prefabricated materials and building information modeling support. Architecture, Structures and Construction, 2024. 4(1): p. 55-69.
19. Baqer, N.S., et al., Development of the Internet of Things sensory technology for ensuring proper indoor air quality in hospital facilities: Taxonomy analysis, challenges, motivations, open issues and recommended solution. Measurement, 2022. 192: p. 110920.
20. Chen, J.K. and H.-H. Ho, Asset Resource Optimization Solution for Smart Hospital Facilities and Energy Management through an Interpretive Structural Model. Buildings, 2023. 13(12): p. 3064.
21. Levina, A., et al., Towards a smart hospital: Smart infrastructure integration. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 2024. 10(3): p. 100339.
22. Silva, B.V., et al., Sustainable, green, or smart? Pathways for energy-efficient healthcare buildings. Sustainable Cities and Society, 2024. 100: p. 105013.
23. Fawcett, W., The Sustainable Schedule of Hospital Spaces: Investigating the ‘Duffle Coat’Theory. Sustainable Environmental Design in Architecture: Impacts on Health, 2012: p. 193-209.
24. Newsweek. World's Best Smart Hospitals 2025. 2025 [cited 2025 July]; Available from: https://rankings.newsweek.com/worlds-best-smart-hospitals-2025.
25. Alowais, S.A., et al., Revolutionizing healthcare: the role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. BMC medical education, 2023. 23(1): p. 689.
26. Maleki Varnosfaderani, S. and M. Forouzanfar, The role of AI in hospitals and clinics: transforming healthcare in the 21st century. Bioengineering, 2024. 11(4): p. 337.
27. Uslu, B.Ç., E. Okay, and E. Dursun, Analysis of factors affecting IoT-based smart hospital design. Journal of Cloud Computing, 2020. 9(1): p. 67.
28. Wang, B., et al., The digital transformation of nursing practice: an analysis of advanced IoT technologies and smart nursing systems. Frontiers in Medicine, 2024. 11: p. 1471527.
29. Al Kuwaiti, A., et al., A review of the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Journal of personalized medicine, 2023. 13(6): p. 951.
30. Kyrarini, M., et al., A survey of robots in healthcare. Technologies, 2021. 9(1): p. 8.
31. Silvera-Tawil, D., Robotics in healthcare: a survey. SN Computer Science, 2024. 5(1): p. 189.
32. Amjad, A., P. Kordel, and G. Fernandes, A review on innovation in healthcare sector (telehealth) through artificial intelligence. Sustainability, 2023. 15(8): p. 6655.
33. Abdel-Wahab, M. and C. Varghese, Setting Up a Cancer Centre: A WHO-IAEA Framework. 2022: International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna.
34. Ebaid, M.A., A Framework for implementing biophilic design in cancer healthcare spaces to enhance patients’ experience. International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development, 2023. 14(2): p. 229-246.
35. Yadegari, F. and A. Asosheh, A unified IoT architectural model for smart hospitals: enhancing interoperability, security, and efficiency through clinical information systems (CIS). Journal of Big Data, 2025. 12(1): p. 1-26.
36. McLaughlan, R., et al., Designing palliative care facilities to better support patient and family care: a staff perspective. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 2022. 15(2): p. 149-162.
37. Niu, M., On planning and designing general hospitals in smart technology contexts. International Healthcare Review (online), 2022.
38. Aghapour, A.H., et al., Capacity planning and reconfiguration for disaster-resilient health infrastructure. Journal of Building Engineering, 2019. 26: p. 100853.
39. Elhefnawy, M.H., A proposed methodology for integrated architectural design of smart hospitals. EAI Endorsed Transactions on Smart Cities, 2020. 4(12): p. 1-13.
40. McLaughlan, R. and E. Kirby, Palliative care environments for patient, family and staff well-being: an ethnographic study of non-standard design. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2021. 14(e1): p. e600-e607.
41. Jiang, S. and S. Verderber, On the planning and design of hospital circulation zones: A review of the evidence-based literature. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 2017. 10(2): p. 124-146.
42. Jaušovec, M. and B. Gabrovec, Architectural Evaluation of Healthcare Facilities: A Comprehensive Review and Implications for Building Design. Buildings, 2023. 13(12): p. 2926.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 17 No 1 (2025) | |
| Section | Reviews | |
| Keywords | ||
| Smart Hospital Cancer IOT Architecture | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Nahvijou A, Jariri T. Requirements for Smart Cancer Hospitals, Overview. Basic Clin Cancer Res. 2026;17(1):241-251.
