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O P H T H A L M O L O G Y
equipment-outsourcing firm would be more viable (see "Equipment
Outsourcing Service Offering Laser Systems").
Will it fit into your facility?
A cataract laser doesn't require specialized infrastructure to operate,
but it's not exactly plug-and-play either. Surgeons and staff must
undergo training to use the technology, and Dr. Berdahl de-scribes
performing 10 cases under the supervision of a proctor.
As far as installation and implementation is concerned, the more
make-or-break issue is whether your facility has the necessary physical space available to house the equipment. "Can you accommodate
the footprint in your space?" asks Dr. Rivera. "I'm aware of many situations in which the answer is no." You'll need at least an 8-foot-by-10foot room, he says, because a laser system is about the size of a small
compact car.
Manufacturers note that their systems are not intended for installation in ORs, with all the other surgical technology, but rather in procedure rooms of their own. Dr. Rivera's practice had a spare OR that
the laser occupied, and the physicians have since moved into a new
facility with a designated laser area, but he's heard of facilities that
have torn down walls and renovated spaces for laser surgery.
Dr. Berdahl's practice has likewise built a surgery center specifically
around laser cataract procedures, with 2 ORs and a laser in a pre-op
bay. The LenSx's particular configuration also helps. "The LenSx does7 4
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | F E B R U A R Y 2013
