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S U R G I C A L
I M A G I N G
to it, and your eyes can only take in so much at once." If, on the other
hand, your surgeons will be splitting the screen to view multiple images
at a time, a larger screen might be useful — but then you might see an
increase in collisions with other equipment (or staffers' heads) over the
field.
Q
Should an HD system's image quality be the
deciding factor?
Actually, no. It may not even be the most comparable crite-
ria. "We surgeons agree: We want the best image," says Dr. Ferguson.
But, notes Brooke Day, administrator of the Hastings Surgical Center
in Hastings, Neb., "If a center were to pursue a side-by-side comparison of video and picture quality for each of the top vendors, your surgeons and staff would not notice a distinguishable difference between
each vendor, at least not an obvious choice that would impact their
decision."
As an HD system's output device, the display monitor is unquestionably the most eye-catching component, but it is only part of a system
that also includes source cameras and routing/switching controls. In
fact, many facilities making the switch to HD systems don't put all
their available options through much of a trial. "Quite often they go
ahead with whatever products their OR integration vendor or endoscope dealer recommends," says Mr. Pinkney. There's nothing wrong
with that strategy, he adds, particularly if it can secure you a favorable
N O V E M B E R 2012 | 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
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