Last Updated: August 9, 2024 by Cat Saettel
From Machine Shop to Smart Hospital Rooms: A Journey of Innovation and Opportunity
Forty-five years ago, two entrepreneurs, Jim Gardner and Bob Mason, couldn’t have imagined what PDi would become. What began as a small machine shop in Ohio has evolved into a trusted leader in healthcare-grade TVs, arm-mounted solutions, and patient experience smart room technology used in hospitals across the country.
Like every great story, ours began with an opportunity. A health insurance broker connected our early team’s machining capabilities to a need for custom TV mounting arms in healthcare environments. That single connection would change everything, introducing PDi to a new industry and setting us on a path that would redefine how patients connect, relax, and heal.
Adapting to Change and Leading with Innovation
In the early 2000s, before “smart TVs” were a household term, PDi was already embedding computers into displays. Our “modular TVs” allowed hospitals to easily add components like computers or DVD players—offering flexibility long before it became standard in patient entertainment.
When healthcare IT was still rooted in Windows, PDi made a bold move to Android. It was a decision that changed the course of our future. The shift allowed for greater flexibility and a natural alignment with Epic MyChart Bedside TV. Today, PDi is proud to offer a UL-listed, healthcare-grade Android TV, trusted by hospitals for safety, reliability, and innovation.
Rooted in Ohio, Built for Healthcare
Even as technology evolved, one thing has stayed constant, our commitment to quality and care. Every PDi product is designed, built, and supported in the USA at our Springboro, Ohio facility. We’ve grown from producing metal arms to manufacturing complete smart room solutions that integrate entertainment, education, and engagement, all while improving workflows for clinical teams.
PDi’s partnerships have also grown. From long-term collaborations with healthcare distributors to integration with Epic, GENiO, and IPTV systems, every innovation has been driven by one purpose: to enhance the patient experience while supporting caregivers and facilities.
Prepared for the Future
Today, as we celebrate 45 years, we continue to evolve—developing technology that bridges the gap between patient comfort and clinical performance. From bedside smart TVs to cloud-based management platforms, we remain focused on what matters most: helping hospitals deliver exceptional care through connected, patient-centered technology. What began as a simple machine shop has become a story of resilience, innovation, and opportunity, and our journey is far from over.
Because at PDi, we don’t just make TVs. We make patient experiences better.
Celebrating 45 Years Together
As Lou Vilardo, our owner and president, reflects:
“We stumbled into the arm-mounted TV business—but we stayed because we cared about the people and the impact we could make. That’s what continues to drive PDi today.”
Here’s to 45 years of innovation, teamwork, and care—and to the next 45 years of empowering healthcare experiences.
Cat Saettel : October 15, 2018
Space is a commodity in patient areas. When designing patient areas in healthcare facilities, thoughtful consideration must be made for space...
Erin Todd : March 22, 2017
Part 3 of "Different Angles of Patient Engagement" Blog Series Previously, we discussed the experience of a large-screen footwall patient TV and ...
Lynn Schutte : December 6, 2022
Last Updated: August 9, 2024 by Cat Saettel Are you wondering what TV equipment to buy, how to safely install and control televisions for patient...
Cat Saettel
