zation's goals — to measure outcomes, even putting a higher value on
the ones that make sure there is satisfaction for the clinical team.
Then measure those outcomes and adjust based on the feedback that
you get.
Bringing in business analysts and looking at those measurable val-
ues, we've done that, and it's only gotten us so far. We need to have
technology help us do the right thing all the time, and that requires
integrated systems with interoperability at the core.
3. Get the complete picture. Why is the interoperability of an
integrated OR so important? Simply put, it's so you have access to all
the information you need to manage the patient's profile in one central-
ized location. If you have all the patient's data vs. having only some of
the patient's data, you have a better ability to make decisions for that
patient. If we had one patient profile in the maze of systems we now
have, that would be different. But we don't. We're re-registering patients
and re-entering data in the disparate systems and that's frustrating.
4. Improve safety. Knowing the patient by having all the details
about that person is important for any care team. And having a unified
look for that data through all the devices improves the patient's safety.
Clinicians are knowledge workers, they use data elements to make
decisions and they need a holistic view of the person they care for,
not pieces that they have to puzzle together.
You want to know everything about the patient, including medical
history and any medications they may be taking. By knowing the com-
plete picture, you may make different decisions for that patient's care,
like in managing their recovery. If you don't have all the information,
how can you make the best decisions? The integrated OR gives you
the best opportunity to make those decisions.
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