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Next-generation hospital rooms likely will contain a range of technologies focused on improving efficiency and eliminating human error, according to a prototype recently unveiled by Cerner Corp., a health care information technology company, the Deseret Morning News reports. Showcased at the University of Utah's School of Medicine, the prototype room includes a system that scans employees' badges when they enter a patient's room and automatically displays patient information as appropriate. Should a physician enter the room, for example, the patient's full medical information would immediately display on a computer screen, allowing the doctor to update the record in real time. However, a nurse would be able to view only information relevant to the patient's medical history and care requirements, while housekeeping staff members would see only information pertaining to their job. Other high-tech components include a centralized IV pump system that eliminates the need for nurses to program the machines manually, and a computerized, automated and protected medication dispensing system that uses staff, patient and drug bar codes to reduce medication errors. The prototype also features a number of design elements aimed at providing patients with greater control over their room and experience, such as devices to raise and lower window shades, turn the lights on and off, order food, and access the Internet and educational material (Wilde, Deseret Morning News, 10/14/08).