UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are reimagining the future of healthcare. Much of that work takes place in the Innovation Design Unit (IDU), a living laboratory on the sixth floor of University Tower, where technology, design and patient feedback shape healthcare innovations and solutions.
“The IDU is focused on a human-centered design,” said Bethany Lowndes, PhD, scientific director of the unit. “We’re designing for all the people who are working and healing inside this unit.”
The 17-bed unit, which opened to patients in January 2025, tests and validates new models of care, innovative technology and facility design. Spanning 20,000 square feet of active patient care space, the adaptable patient rooms explore cutting-edge equipment and care delivery methods in real-time.
“When patients come into the hospital, they may feel like they lose control over everything,” said Kara Tomlinson, DNP, executive director of system care delivery and innovation at Nebraska Medicine. “We want to give control back to the patients and have them actively participate in their care.”
In the IDU, technology allows patients to take control of their environment. They can adjust the room temperature, lighting and blinds with an iPad. They can view their care plan on a digital whiteboard, check when they last received pain medication and video call family members during provider visits.
The unit also tests ways to keep patients safe and help staff work more efficiently. Virtual nursing allows a remote nurse to help the bedside care team with tasks like admissions, discharges and patient education. Ceiling lifts help staff safely move patients and even allow some patients to shower when they otherwise couldn’t.
Adjacent to the care unit is the 4,500-square-foot Innovation Bridge, where scientists, researchers, clinicians and industry partners collaborate to develop, test, evaluate and, at times, fast-track innovative ideas into clinical settings.
“The IDU is helping us set the blueprint for what healthcare in this country is going to look like,” said Michael Hasselberg, PhD, chief transformation and digital officer for Nebraska Medicine.