Digital twinning for smart hospital operations: Framework and proof of concept

Analyzable data capturing physical entity activities is a prerequisite for complex hospital operational decision-makings. However, there is a lack of effective strategies to integrate real-time data from multiple sources for efficient clinical and non-clinical operations in healthcare settings. Drawing on previous explorations of digital twins that facilitate real-time feedback of physical entities, we propose a conceptual framework of digital twinning for smart hospitals, with identified information needs and enabling technologies. A pilot platform is developed and tested in a Shanghai municipal hospital. The results indicate that the digital twinning method enables continuous real-time control of related operational tasks, and further promotes the development of digitization, automation, and intelligence in hospital operations.