Inside Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s 2 Million Square Foot Smart Hospital with Jeremy Meller

In a recent episode of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, Chris Sosa interviewed Jeremy Meller, Chief Information Officer at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, who discussed the pivotal lessons learned since the opening of the new hospital in September 2024. Meller, who has been with the health system for nearly 14 years, shared insights from a decade-long planning and construction process that began amid the disruptions of the pandemic.

One significant challenge was the necessity to streamline operations in a new, expansive 2 million square foot facility. Meller noted the importance of technology to ease communication across the larger space, particularly through innovations like tech badges for staff, which enable location tracking, enhance safety, and provide valuable data for patient care. Wall-mounted boards outside patient rooms display visual cues related to who is present in the room, facilitating better coordination among the care team.

Meller emphasized a strong focus on patient engagement, aiming to address the anxiety young patients often feel when visiting the hospital. To support this, the hospital has invested in various technologies, including cameras for real-time monitoring and communications, and a virtual nursing pilot to alleviate the workload on floor nurses. These innovations were designed to make processes more efficient and enhance the overall patient experience.

Among the technological advancements introduced at the hospital are autonomous robots, of which the facility operates one of the largest fleets in healthcare. These robots deliver medications, supplies, and meals, which has helped reduce the burden on clinical staff. Meller reported that kids enjoy interacting with these robots, which are designed to be friendly and approachable.

Reflecting on the past year and a half, Meller offered advice for other healthcare systems considering similar technological implementations. He urged an iterative approach to technology development and the importance of ground principles such as improving patient experience and supporting clinical decision-making. He acknowledged that some initiatives might not yield the expected results and stressed the need for continuous assessment and adaptation.

Looking ahead, Meller expressed optimism about the evolving role of AI in healthcare, while also recognizing the challenges of integrating new technology into existing workflows and the potential human impacts. He remains hopeful that a human-centered approach to technology will lead to significant improvements in patient care and operational efficiency in the coming years.

In this episode, Jeremy Meller, CIO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, shares lessons learned from opening a 2 million square foot hospital designed with AI, robotics, and real-time location systems at its core. He discusses how simulation-driven planning, “Cardboard City,” and integrated technologies like autonomous robots and virtual nursing are transforming patient experience, clinician workflows, and hospital operations.