Infrastructure research helps to engineer a better future

2017 Trends: Infrastructure

Next: High-touch technology

Like the bones, tendons and circulatory system of the human body, the infrastructure of the modern health care organization stretches throughout the facility superstructure to provide support, flexibility and basic functions to patients, caregivers and operational staff.

Moreover, given the growth of remote and home-based care, this infrastructure is more frequently reaching beyond its traditional sphere.

The following vignettes look at current research and innovations addressing various aspects of health care infrastructure, from technology to medical and facilities equipment to engineered systems.

While these projects are impressive, they only scratch the surface of the important work underway as the nation’s health care organizations, professional societies, universities and manufacturing companies bring new ideas to the design of these key elements.