Reduce overcrowding.
Restore flow. Deliver better care.
SmartCrowding is a real-time decision-support tool that helps hospitals manage high activity, cut delays, and protect patient safety.
Born on the frontline.
Proven in practice.
Real world results at Stavanger University Hospital in Norway.
Optimise patient flow in real time
Built on the clinically tested PHA Method, SmartCrowding gives hospitals a shared framework for managing busyness. It turns indicators into pressure levels, and levels into clear action plans — helping staff act early and reduce escalation.
Supporting every role in the hospital
Discover how SmartCrowding helps management, leadership, and clinicians work together to reduce overcrowding and keep patients moving.
Make the right resources go further
For bed and ward managers, SmartCrowding turns busyness into a shared picture everyone can act on. It helps:
- Get a real-time view of pressure across wards and flow zones.
- Allocate staff and beds more effectively.
- Reduce bottlenecks before they escalate.
Plan shifts and patient movement with confidence — rather than firefighting.
Clarity and control for better decisions
For executives and hospital leaders, SmartCrowding provides insights and foresight to:
- Understand hospital-wide pressure instantly.
- Make informed decisions about flow, staffing, and bed usage.
- Balance competing priorities with a shared, objective view.
Leadership sees the same picture as frontline teams — reducing debate and uncertainty.
Less stress. More time for patients
For doctors, nurses, and frontline teams, SmartCrowding provides:
- Clear escalation plans when activity rises.
- Faster access to support during pressure peaks.
- A calmer, more coordinated working environment.
Clinicians report improved control, stronger teamwork, and greater trust.
How it works
See pressure clearly
Replace debate with a shared, objective view across ED, wards, and flow zones.
Act early
Indicators update in real time. Levels change instantly. Action plans provide clear steps to reduce pressure.
Keep patients moving
Coordinate staff, beds, and patients so care is delivered faster, safer, and more efficiently.
Intelligent solutions
SmartCrowding is built around four core elements that work together to give hospitals a shared, real-time understanding of pressure — and a clear plan for what to do next.
Indicators:
SmartCrowding uses indicators to show what is happening in real time. These fall into two groups: those that describe the overall level of activity, and those that explain the causes behind rising pressure such as bottlenecks or delays. Together, they provide an objective foundation for shared decision-making.
Levels:
Indicators are converted into clear pressure Levels, from 0 to 3. This replaces vague language like “busy” with a simple, shared scale that everyone can interpret instantly. Levels create a common understanding across teams, reduce variation in how staff respond to pressure, and support faster, more aligned action.
Action Plans:
Each Level is linked to a clinically developed Action Plan. These plans outline the steps staff should take as pressure increases — what to monitor, who to inform, how to prevent escalation, and when to intervene. Action Plans provide consistency, remove hierarchy in crisis, and support earlier, more effective responses.
Flow Zones:
SmartCrowding groups wards and departments into Flow Zones — areas that rely on each other to keep patients moving. Flow Zones give teams a real-time, system-wide view of pressure, helping them coordinate during huddles and capacity meetings, and strengthening collaboration across traditional boundaries.
Future Vision: The PHA Ecosystem
These elements are not part of SmartCrowding today, but represent the longer-term roadmap for the PHA methodology and ecosystem.
PHA Assistant
A digital tool to help teams navigate indicators, levels, and recommended responses.
Training, certification, and shared best practice for hospitals adopting PHA.
PHA Academy
A network for hospitals using the PHA Method to collaborate, share insights, and improve patient flow together.
PHA Community
Ready to see SmartCrowding in action?
Book a personalised demo to see how SmartCrowding can support patient flow in your hospital.