Israel's Sheba Medical Center climbs to 6th in global smart-hospital rankings

Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Israel, has climbed to sixth place in Newsweek and Statista’s 2027 rankings of the World’s Best Smart Hospitals, rising from its previous position in the top ten.

The rankings assess hospitals’ use of advanced technologies to improve healthcare, including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, telemedicine, digital imaging and electronic medical records. These technologies aim to improve patient care, increase operational efficiency and enhance the experience of patients and their families.

Sheba’s higher ranking reflects its work in AI-driven medical innovation, as well as its contributions to robotics and automation. Other hospitals in the top ten include the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, director general of Sheba Medical Center, said the hospital’s technological advances have implications beyond healthcare.

“An advanced healthcare system is a strategic foundation for national resilience, economic growth and Israel’s leadership on the international stage. We have a responsibility to push scientific and technological boundaries, nurture the next generation of medical entrepreneurs, and connect research, medicine and industry," he explained.

"Our responsibility is not only to lead at the forefront of medicine, but also to create value for the economy and society through medical innovation that advances science, strengthens the economy and improves lives in Israel and around the world,” Kreiss said.

Sheba is continuing to expand its use of AI and other technologies in clinical care and medical research.

This week, the medical center highlighted several initiatives, including a clinical AI platform being developed in collaboration with OpenAI to help healthcare professionals access medical knowledge and support their work. Sheba’s innovation platform, ARC, is also working with NVIDIA and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai on joint research combining AI and genomics.

“During the past year, ARC, Sheba’s innovation platform, has continued to achieve international milestones that demonstrate its approach to translating innovation into clinical practice.”

The hospital has also developed AI tools to support clinical decision-making and expand care beyond its facilities:

“In clinical care, Sheba has developed SmartER, an AI-powered clinical platform designed to support healthcare professionals, improve care quality and enhance the patient experience. The medical center has also implemented AI tools to help identify patients who may be suitable for hospital-at-home care and monitor their health remotely.”

Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, Sheba’s deputy director general, chief AI and digital transformation officer, and director of ARC, said the ranking reflects the hospital’s focus on integrating new technologies into everyday medical practice.

“Climbing to sixth place in the world reflects Sheba’s progress and our ability to make technological innovation an integral part of everyday medical practice. A smart hospital is not measured by the number of technologies it develops, but by its ability to integrate them into the daily work of medical teams and use them to improve patient care," Zimlichman said.