How Will AI Shape the Future of Healthcare?

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0:35What if the most powerful force in healthcare's future isn't a breakthrough drug, but instead the spaces we live, work, and heal in? Welcome to Design Nerds Anonymous, the podcast that sparks curiosity at the intersection of business and design. I'm your host, Amanda Schneider, founder and president at ThinkLab, and speaker now featured on TED.com. Today, we're exploring the idea that the most powerful shift in healthcare isn't about medicine at all, but about mindset. We're living in a time when AI can detect disease before we even feel symptoms. When digital health tools sit in our pockets. And when entire generations trust TikTok more than traditional healthcare systems.

1:27And yet, our environments, our homes, clinics, schools, workplaces, often remain rooted in an outdated model of care. Reactive, rigid, and siloed. So what if we flip that script? What if our built environments, the spaces we already spend our lives in, could become active participants in our well-being? What if homes became responsive help hubs? Clinics became welcoming community anchors. What if wellness was no longer something we chased, but something seamlessly embedded into our everyday life? In this episode, we explore exactly that. You'll learn why millennials and Gen Z are opting out of traditional healthcare systems and how that's pushing us to redesign everything from clinics to communication.

2:18We'll talk about the growing digital divide across generations, the decentralization of care, and how AI might soon turn the way we move, speak, and even sleep into early health signals. And we'll unpack why, in a time of constant change, designing for flexibility may be the most urgent challenge of all. Our guest today is Costanza Sessioni, Medical Affairs Lead for Italy at Vietras, a global healthcare company that reaches nearly 1 billion lives annually. She brings both scientific rigor and a deeply human perspective to what healthcare and care itself could look like in the future. In part two of the episode, we go a step deeper.

3:06I'll be catching up with my friend Kaylin Reed from Kimball International. She's rolling out a new research report that examines the future of healthcare. I think my favorite takeaway is this new term, Uber for nursing. So to begin, I asked Costanza to introduce herself and to capture the future that she sees in just one word. My name is Costanza Ciccone. If I had to pick a word to describe the future, but please consider that is my opinion and not a reflection implication of the entrance, it would be reframed. Because the way we think about health, how we care for people and how health care is organized need to be rethought, especially as new generations bring fresh perspectives and expectations.

3:58I work in Beatrice, a global health care company with the mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life. We provide access, scale-currently supplying high-quality medicine to approximately 1 billion around the world annually and touching all life's moments, from birth to end-of-life, acute condition and chronic diseases. In my role in medical affairs, I work every day to address unmet needs promptly and to improve their health and well-being. I work with all stakeholders in healthcare system like institution, association, scientific societies and individual. We're just getting started.

4:38A quick pause for the short break and we'll be right back. You cannot separate the human experience from all of the lived experiences that take place inside spaces. You simply can't. When the planet thrives, we thrive. And when we're making informed and smart choices that are future focused and human centric, we're doing good things for humanity and for the planet. it. I love supporting the DNA podcast because it is literally right on the leading edge of understanding the future and being curious about where this industry is headed, but also where humanity is headed. That's a driving thought process for Mannington as well.

5:26Mannington Commercial is a curious organization. We seek to understand. This is Cindy Kaufman. I'm Vice president of marketing with Mannington Commercial, and we are a very proud sponsor of the DNA podcast. We would love to connect with you. And if you don't know who your rep is, we hope you'll come find that person on ManningtonCommercial.com.

5:50Now, back to the conversation. Can you talk a little bit more about your research? Where in your work do you see data pointing to opportunities? We have done lots of research, along with my colleagues, Joris Wood and Tinik and Vandenberg. We came across quite a few unexpected stats during our work of research, but the one that personally struck me the most are, first of all, it was surprising to see that millennials, despite being the most health-caution generation, use traditional healthcare system infrequently, with 51 % visiting a primary health physician less than one per year. They have also low utilization for inpatient and outpatient services.

6:36Instead, they're much more likely to embrace telemedicine and other online components of healthcare. Plus, they place importance on the opinion of their peers and patient testimony while choosing a healthcare provider. Another interesting point is about Gen Z. As you expect, social media is an important source of healthcare information for them. But what is really surprising is that they're more likely to trust healthcare information from the internet than from healthcare professionals. With 32 % relying on social media for health information versus 20 % for non-Gen Z generation. And they only account for 3.3 % of total healthcare spending.

7:22But that's partially because they're younger and healthier the most. They also are getting the kind of healthcare offering they want, they need and will seek out it offered. Last, but definitely not less important, is that only 34 % of people aged 65 to 74 have basic digital skills, compared to 69 % of those aged 25 to 34. This highlights a significant digital divide that impacts the adoption of digital health technologies among older generations. As we look towards the future of medicine, we must keep this in mind. Generational gap in digital health literacy should be addressed to target education, a holistic approach is needed, one that tailor information to each generation needs, preferred sources, and literacy level.

8:17So interesting. And I think it's really interesting to look at that gap from these younger generations and what they expect from a digital standpoint and even how that trust is built with them compared to some of these older generations that maybe don't have that literacy, which is interesting as we look at having to bridge the gap of the times that we're in right now between maybe the digitally preferred and the digitally less literate. But I want to look at the built environment. We know that the world is shifting fast. AI is coming, gen alpha. We're looking at climate change, evolving expectations around work, health, education, communication, and all of this is evolving in real time.

8:57But the physical environments that we build can't pivot overnight. It's very long-term, very expensive to make changes to the physical environment, and yet it still has to keep pace with these changing demands. So Costanza, given everything that you're seeing in your work, how might this data that you're talking about show up in the built environment when we look at how we design, especially clinics and healthcare facilities? And what advice would you give to those trying to build these spaces today that can still serve tomorrow? We are moving towards an average future where care is decentralized, more integrated into daily life, both physically and digitally.

9:37The future of care won't just be about curing, but caring with architecture and technology, working hand in hand to create spaces that can cure before you even see a doctor. In this vision, home, for example, may evolve into personal health apps because they are the place where we feel safest, where we can truly prioritize our well-being, listen to our bodies, mistake-preventing actions. Home have to be equipped with tech for remote monitoring, for example, mental wellness tool, preventive care, or even virtual consultation. As health becomes more proactive and personalized, architecture will play a key role in supporting this transformation.

10:22I'm thinking about natural light to regulate sleep and mood, a smart ventilation system, and adaptable spaces that can host virtual consultation. Integrated tech like biometric sensor will help monitor our worldview in real time, turning homes into living responsive ecosystem. In this vision, home is no longer where we live. It becomes the first line of care, personal space that neutrals health long before we need a clinic. At the same time, I think the clinic needs to be transformed. They need to be smaller, modular, why not mobile, ready to reach communities designed to go to people rather than waiting for passion to come to them.

11:10Architecturally, these spaces should prioritize human comfort and dignity. The cold clinical aesthetic have to give way to warm, welcoming environment inspired by hospitality and biophilic design, reducing anxiety and promoting illings. Clinics need also to incorporate advanced technology to meet the expectations of younger generations. For example, virtual consultation rooms for their health, touch-and-less check-in systems and acoustic privacy. We need to change the paradigm beyond treating illness. These clinics will support prevention, education, ongoing wellness, becoming community anchor for digital health literacy, chronic disease management, and mental health support.

11:56I don't think in this vision a traditional hospital would disappear, but their role will change. They will become more specialized, focused on complex care, acute intervention, surgeries, emergency medicine. In a way, they will be the last stop, not the first. And even hospitals, they all will be reframed. They'll need to feel less overwhelming, more human. That means designing for emotional as well as for physical needs. In this ecosystem of care, school and workplaces will also have a pivotal role. They should evolve into one-less environment with the human-centered design that brings the outdoor in, encourage movement and physical comfort, include adaptable calming area for relaxation.

12:46This environment has to prioritize empathy over efficiency, recognizing that will be an anxious performance. School need to neutral emotional intelligence alongside academic growth. While workplaces adapt to individual rhythm and needs, health will be seamlessly embedded in daily routine, not something pursued separately. A new culture of care will shape how we learn, work, and live together. My advice is to build flexibility and adaptability in every space, prioritize interoperability between physical and digital touchpoints, incorporate technology infrastructure that can be easily updated. We have to include young people in the design process, but we need to consider the needs of diverse generations.

13:38We have to go from the sun in generation to gene alpha, ensuring accessibility and comfort for all. Which sounds a lot easier than it is, especially when their needs are sometimes so different and it's very difficult to meet the needs of everyone in one space. And I think this is what I really like about the way we at ThinkLab have studied generations is it's not about giving up one thing by one generation so that another generation can gain, it's really about looking at those commonalities across all. So, Costanza, as we look at applying this information, I love your vision for this more integrated ecosystem of spaces that, rather than fixing the sick, promote health.

14:23What would you say is one idea or insight that has recently changed the way that you personally think about the future? something that really shaped my perspective lately is the idea that uncertainty isn't something we react to it's actually a design principle in itself instead of building for single fixed future we must design for multiplicity for fluid identities hybrid physical and digital realities and evolving values. I think that this mindset required us to build and embrace flexibility and inclusivity across all fields. Just like in design, the future of healthcare must be adaptable and deeply rooted in both human and technological understanding.

15:14Which is a lovely idea. We still have some work to do to figure out exactly how to get there. That is where I'm excited to empower our listeners to really imagine this future and help us put the building blocks in place to get there. So let's fast forward to 2040. What is one radical possibility that you can imagine for the future? Maybe something that feels wild now, but could actually happen. In my opinion, by 2014, AI power personalized healthcare will have become the norm. With AI tool, not only assisting in diagnosis and treatment just like now, but also predicting health issues before they arise, providing tailored health plans and offering real-time mental and support through virtual assistance.

16:08This shift could lead to a significant reduction in chronic diseases and more proactive approach to health and wellness. What it might seem radical today is the idea that this productive phase will rely not only on medical data, but on the vast amount of personal information we generate daily. Our diet, sleep patterns, movement, voice, online activity, even the way we type or talk. All these can be turned into health signals, processed in real time by AI to create a dynamic and continuous updated health profile. By combining wearable technology, environmental sensor, and behavioral analytics, AI could flag early signs of illness well before the symptoms appear, potentially preventing condition rather than just treating them.

17:02It's a future where healthcare becomes seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, invisible yet deeply personal. This development will see significantly altered the design, transforming the roles of healthcare providers and even the pharmaceutical company themselves. Thanks, Costanza. I know I'll be thinking about that impactful stat about how Gen Z is more reliant on social media over their own healthcare practitioners. It's certainly impacted my view about the opportunity for healthcare to evolve. Now, let's switch gears. For this next interview, I'd like for all of us to imagine that we're in the hospital of the future.

17:47What does that feel like? What does that look like? And maybe more importantly, what's possible? Let's hear from our favorite futurist, Kaylin Reed.

18:02We're just getting started. A quick pause for this short break, and we'll be right back. We challenged the status quo. We went looking for new and inspiring ideas beyond our Pinterest feeds, connecting the dots between how a future was unfolding and how we should be designing for it. I'm Kaylin Reed, Applied Insight Strategist, Certified Futurist, and host of Alternative Design Podcast. We started Alternative Design as a beacon of hope for our industry, at a time when the world was no longer business as usual. At Kimball International, the future isn't something that we wait for. We search for it, spotting the signals that reveal where the human experience is headed, both inside and far beyond the design industry.

18:48Alternative design is where those signals turn into ideas, where we connect what's happening in the world to what it means for the way that we design spaces and the furniture that shapes them. because when we design with intention, we're not just making furniture, we're making a better future. If you're a fan of Design Nerds Anonymous, you will love alternative design. You can find us wherever you listen to podcasts and make sure to subscribe to help us design what's next.

19:21All right, let's get back into it.

19:27Kaelin, welcome back to Design Nerds Anonymous. And I'm super excited to have you on this particular episode because you and your team have just released a fascinating new report titled Key Trends Redefining Healthcare. I want to start a little bit broad. Given everything you've learned as you've developed that report, what is one word that you would use to describe the future you see coming for healthcare? If I had to choose one word, I would say connected. What really came through in this report is how care is no longer confined to hospital walls. It's really reaching into our homes, into our workplaces, and of course, even our grocery stores, right?

20:06Patients in particular are more connected to their own data. If you have an Oura ring or a Fitbit, patients have more and more accessibility to understanding what their heart rate means for them personally, right, which is really exciting and a new frontier for patients for sure. Caregivers are more connected to flexible staffing and more real-time information, and communities are becoming more connected via public health through the opportunity to have more patient data that's coming out of their silos. And it's actually becoming more connected so that public health data is becoming more reflective of the local communities around them, because once you can plug in that patient health data, it can actually start to translate into really meaningful insights about the region and about the communities and what their health needs are.

20:53And it's not just about technology either. It's actually about connecting the dots between physical, mental, social, and increasingly environmental health. That level of connection is what's going to redefine what healing looks like in the future. I love the positive spin on that. You and I have talked a lot about AI and some of the connectivity and the pros and cons. So let's dive into your report a bit. What would you say are three of the most surprising or revealing themes from your work in this space that relate to this episode's topic? So first is this idea of Uber for nursing, which is a title that we have for one of our trends that we're seeing around staffing models and really the shift towards something that's more gig-like and it's more flexible.

21:38Nurses are able to choose shifts that fit their lifestyle. They can even move in between health systems. And so on one hand, there's retention and work-life balance that we can talk about that are obviously very positive in that regard. But it also challenges how we design those spaces. Because if you think about it, you have caregivers who are walking in who may not know the layout or the workflow or the culture of a hospital system. And so that really means that there's greater responsibility being put on the design of the built environment of the space in order to communicate what's going on and when and where, right?

22:14And so there's a big conversation that has to happen around if we're seeing these flexible staffing models, how do we make sure that the built environment is intuitive for them and that it can be easy to navigate? Because as we know, time is crucial in these environments. Time being confused about what hallway to go down is really problematic when there's an emergency, that definitely becomes something that we as designers need to consider. I love that that connected theme came through even not only for the patients, but also for the staff. Let's dive in a little bit deeper to some of the shifts that we're seeing happen as it relates to the built environment.

22:51Given everything that you're seeing in your work, how do you think some of this connectivity is going to translate to physical changes to the built environment? And what advice would you give to those trying to construct these spaces today that can still serve for tomorrow. Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right. You know, those buildings can't turn on a dime, but much of our research has shown that the smartest design decisions that you can make today are the ones that are going to anticipate change in the future. So one big shift that we're seeing is healthcare spaces that are evolving into learning environments.

23:22Hospitals aren't just treatment centers anymore. They're becoming places for education, of course, for research, and even for lifestyle coaching. You may walk into a hospital that has a teaching kitchen or a broadcast room right alongside an exam room. And so what that requires is spaces that are going to be flexible and of course be multifunctional and multipurpose so that they can move seamlessly between things like clinical care and then community engagement and staff training. Another piece that often gets overlooked is what happens after mergers and acquisitions. So we're seeing, of course, the continuation of health systems that are consolidating.

23:57Campuses are absorbing those new functions, those new brands even, and again, even whole new patient populations and staff populations. And so suddenly we go back to this wayfinding conversation that becomes really critical, not just signage, but environments that feel cohesive, particularly as the backend gets more complex, right? So design has to make these very large integrated systems still feel navigatable and very human at its core. So my advice for those building today is design for radical flexibility, but also for clarity. So when I say radical flexibility, I want to just put the disclaimer that I'm talking about more than just casters on a chair.

24:39I mean, truly thinking about how a space can shift functions within the same day, perhaps even the same hour. Obviously furniture is a big factor in that, but we also need to be thinking about things like modular design and responsive architecture as well. We need to make sure that patients and family and staff can confidently find their way through these environments that are, again, increasingly layered. They're really complex. So right now we're watching things like AI and beacon technology that are able to provide precise location information to guide users throughout the hospital with really high accuracy.

25:16And some of these health systems are even leveraging AI to analyze patient data and visitor movements as to where they're going throughout the building so they can understand where those bottlenecks are and optimize signage placement. We'll likely continue to see real-time data start to influence wayfinding systems during peak times or even during emergencies as well. Super interesting. And I think, again, just tying it back to your initial word connected, I feel like when we think about these spaces, they've historically been separate. Like this is the staff area and this is the patient area.

25:53And even, you know, here's a nurse's station, but you don't cross this line. It almost sounds like some of your suggestions are also connecting the staff areas with the patient areas, maybe in new ways, or at least that allow the same spaces to be a bit more flexible. Is that accurate? Definitely. And honestly, that brings me to another trend that we had identified was this concept of the self-empowered patient. To your point of how we might see new space typologies come to exist with new roles and relationships happening in healthcare with the Oura rings and the Fitbits and the Apple watches that's providing patients with all this data, these patients are walking in with a lot more of a collaborative desire to have the role with their, or excuse me, to have a relationship with their doctor that's more collaborative in nature.

26:36So they want to walk in with their information and say, here's my sleep data from the past six months. Tell me what this means for my diet and my nutrition, Right. And so but that concept is so different than a traditional doctor knows best. You know, you walk in, you get your assignment, your prescription and you walk out. It's really reshaping it to be collaborative. So the environment, when we think about what does that mean for the exam room or the waiting room? How do we make sure that that digital data can be something that can be shared between doctor and patient? How is the exam room going to be designed to be a more collaborative environment where you can look at the data together?

27:15You can participate in shared decision making. And so to your point earlier about how these roles are shifting and how it might change the built environment, we see an opportunity for these exam rooms to really shift into something more consultative in nature. And so, you know, that may change posture that might change how casual or how residential the room feels so that it feels like you're walking more into like a therapist's office than, you know what I mean? So I think it just could change the perception of how we design these spaces in the next five to 10 years. Certainly exciting changes, especially for a system that has treated the sick rather than nurturing the healthy to be healthier.