TECHNOLOGY
Patient recovery: healing by design
Hany Saleeb, global head (vice president) of healthcare markets at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, discusses how human-centric architecture and autonomous tech are revolutionising patient recovery.
Healthcare is in my DNA. While I have not worn scrubs or led a clinical team, my career in healthcare technology has allowed me to support the environments where healing happens. Technology is often seen as something that makes healthcare more impersonal, but I have seen the opposite. When thoughtfully integrated, it becomes an essential part of how a space feels and functions and is the hidden heartbeat of a hospital’s healing architecture.
The power of healing architecture When I talk about healing architecture, I think of spaces that instinctively put people at ease – sunlight pouring into a room, waiting areas that feel like living rooms, quiet corners with greenery. These simple choices – but intentional ones – actively support recovery. However, in my world, healing architecture goes beyond aesthetics – it is about pairing these details with smart systems working behind the scenes, so patients feel grounded, comfortable, and in control. When it all works together, the environment becomes a true partner in care, not just a backdrop.
The case for digital integration Given my many years of experience working within the healthcare sector, the more I have realised that healing architecture is not only about what we see – it is about how people move, navigate, and interact with the space around them. And when people feel lost or disorientated, no amount of beautiful design can ease that stress. It is remarkable to think that healthcare staff waste
around 4,500 hours each year helping patients who are lost. Digital wayfinding addresses this directly, with nearly 77 per cent of hospital patients and visitors reporting that such systems lower stress levels and enhance their overall experience.1 Beyond navigation, IoT sensors and smart tags help
staff quickly locate critical assets like beds and wheelchairs, while automated guided vehicles (AGVs) handle routine tasks such as delivering medication, meals, and linen. Combined, these technologies can save up to 23 per cent of staff’s daily working time2
– and
that is what truly enhances patient experience and satisfaction. These solutions directly address healthcare’s most pressing challenge – staff burnout. While sustainability and operational efficiency matter, they rarely break the top three priorities for most hospitals. Patient care, infection control and
Above and below: Different views of the Kantonsspital Baden in Switzerland.
It is remarkable to think that healthcare staff waste around 4,500 hours each year helping patients who are lost.
November 2026 Health Estate Journal 59
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