From games to movies, people are spending more time than ever immersed in the digital world. Hotels and resorts have led the way in terms of offering guests the option to choose from a wide range of digital entertainment at the touch of a button. But swap that resort suite out for a hospital bed, and suddenly the entertainment options tend to be much more limited.
But that doesn’t have to be the case—and it shouldn’t be. Tailored and customizable digital entertainment can improve the patient experience and position hospitals as leaders in patient-oriented care.
With the right technology and best practices in place, hospitals can implement modern patient entertainment systems that provide a truly personalized experience, rivaling the most cutting-edge resorts. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the critical steps for implementing patient entertainment systems that align with your hospital’s infrastructure and patient care goals.
Advantages of a Personalized Patient Entertainment System
An integral part of patient care, a patient entertainment system that can be tailored to the needs and preferences of the individual patient offers many advantages for patients and hospitals:
- An experience that “feels like home”: Patients can stream their favorite shows, movies, and music on demand from their own devices, making them feel more comfortable and in control during their stay.
- An all-in-one entertainment and operations platform: Alongside casting, platforms like Touchstone 1’s SmartRoom can take that experience further by offering a full in-room interface with live TV, on-demand content, and interactive features designed to keep patients informed and engaged.
- Enhanced reputation: With a better patient experience comes more positive reviews and improved patient retention.
- Cost efficiency: Casting from personal devices reduces the need for expensive cable packages and content licensing.
- Simplified maintenance: Compared to traditional entertainment systems, there’s a limited need for frequent updates and technical support. Plus, partnering with a managed service provider ensures 24/7 monitoring and support are handled automatically and remotely.
- Infection control: Streaming content directly from patients’ devices minimizes the need for shared remotes and touchpoints.
- Future-ready solution: By adapting to evolving consumer trends and securing a scalable Wi-Fi infrastructure, hospitals can ensure long-term value with fewer upgrades.
Patient Entertainment System Options: The Current Landscape
Hospitals have a range of entertainment options to offer their patients, from traditional — and somewhat limited — forms of entertainment to more modern and personalized approaches.
The most common patient entertainment options include:
- Traditional TV, usually with limited channels to keep costs low and simplify the entertainment experience for patients and staff alike
- Hospital-provided in-room streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+
- Comprehensive in-room platforms — like Touchstone 1 SmartRoom, which combines streaming, live TV, patient information, and communication tools into a single, easy-to-use system
- Pay-per-view or on-demand movie services, which allow patients to select from a catalogue of titles for a fee
Another option that is just beginning to enter the market is streaming from personal devices, which involves the patient “casting” content from their phone or computer onto the hospital’s TV screen. Patients can control the streamed material directly from their device, while continuing to browse the web or play games.
This approach aligns with modern consumer expectations, meeting the growing demand for personalized, on-demand entertainment options that patients are accustomed to in their daily lives at home.
Steps for Creating a Modern Patient Entertainment System
Having access to modern, personalized entertainment during their hospital stay can make a world of difference for patients. By “modern,” we mean a system that enables patients to stream or cast content from their own devices at their convenience, while also supporting a broader in-room experience that integrates entertainment with communication and operational tools in one place, such as with Touchstone 1’s SmartRoom.
We spoke to Rafael van den Berg, Chief Technology Officer at Touchstone 1, to find out what’s involved in creating a modern patient entertainment system that integrates with a hospital’s wireless infrastructure. Here are the key steps and best practices he shared:
1. Understand Network Setup Requirements
The first step in setting up a modern patient entertainment system is understanding the network requirements involved. “Every hospital’s network environment is unique, but they can all be configured for a patient entertainment system that casts from patients’ personal devices,” Rafael explains.
These same network considerations also support more robust in-room platforms like SmartRoom, which rely on strong WiFi for healthcare to deliver streaming, messaging, and real-time patient information seamlessly.
A key consideration in addressing concerns about network security — and gaining buy-in from stakeholders — is understanding the distinction between trusted and untrusted networks:
Trusted networks are responsible for handling critical hospital functions like patient data, hospital operations, and medical devices.
Untrusted networks, on the other hand, are separate and dedicated to non-critical services, such as visitor Wi-Fi and entertainment. To ensure they operate independently from hospital systems and never interact with sensitive data— thereby mitigating security risks—casting devices and inpatient entertainment systems are always placed on untrusted networks.
2. Gain Leadership Buy-In
Modern patient entertainment systems aren’t just on the cutting-edge but the bleeding edge of hospital technology, Rafael explains. “This is a solution for innovators, not followers,” he says. “As consumer experiences everywhere become more digital and personalized, there’s no doubt they will be part of the future of patient care. Hospitals that evolve to stay ahead of rising patient expectations are pioneering a new era in patient-centered care.”
Because this technology is so groundbreaking for the healthcare industry, it requires a strong organizational commitment bolstered by strong leadership to champion such a forward-thinking solution from vision to implementation.
3. Ensure the Right Wireless Infrastructure
Hospitals’ visitor networks aren’t typically set up to handle casting devices. In many cases, a new dedicated network is required for optimal performance.
As Rafael explains, for modern patient entertainment systems, the ideal wireless setup requires:
- A separate untrusted network for casting devices
- Sufficient bandwidth to support streaming
As previously discussed, a segregated network ensures security for patient data and hospital operations, and adequate bandwidth ensures reliable, lag-free patient entertainment.
4. Overcome IT Barriers
Many hospital IT teams are hesitant to add new networks. However, casting technology requires strong wireless infrastructure, and the presence of a dedicated entertainment network is an important piece of the equation.
Fortunately, any hospital that’s willing to be proactive will be able to implement this technology.
“As long as the IT team is committed to finding solutions, casting entertainment technology can be configured for any network environment,” says Rafael. “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but every hospital can make it work with the right adjustments.”
Working with an experienced managed services provider can help simplify the process, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance with ongoing support.
The most forward-thinking hospitals have recognized the value of patient entertainment and are already re-architecting their networks to support digital casting technology.
The Future of Hospital Patient Entertainment
For hospital patients, the ability to stream content from personal devices is becoming an expectation, not a luxury. Hospitals willing to invest the time and resources into a personalized patient entertainment system can ensure they stay competitive with industry leaders who are already embracing the trend.
Touchstone 1 has been a leading provider of high-speed internet access, next-generation communications, and in-room entertainment technology for more than 22 years. With solutions like TV Casting and SmartRoom, we offer cutting-edge modern patient entertainment systems that help healthcare facilities stay up to date with the latest revenue-boosting trends while improving communication and operational efficiency.
Talk to our networking experts for help with creating a custom network designed for an optimum patient entertainment experience.