about patient use — like how he adjusts the flow rate or if he uses a
bolus — and imports it into your patient records.
Then there are several start-up mobile apps that prompt patients via
text message or e-mail to complete a survey periodically during their
recovery, asking questions about their narcotic use, pain scores and
overall satisfaction. We're a pilot site for Halyard, which is rolling out
a web-based patient tracking system called OnQ Tracker for its elas-
tomeric OnQ pump customers. Infusystem is working with a software
called SMART-DR (trackingoutcomes.com/smart-dr-for-anesthesia.html) for
automated patient follow-up and data collection to complement its
electronic infusion pump business.
2. Improved catheter insertion
You can't open a regional anesthesia journal without seeing ads for
new continuous nerve block catheter trays. Most of the advancements
are designed to make visualization better for the provider and improve
safety for patients. One area that's particularly grown in popularity
with anesthesia providers is echogenic catheters and needles. These
devices are designed to be more reflective to the ultrasound than stan-
dard options. This makes it much easier to visualize the needle and
place the catheter under ultrasound guidance. While I've found the
echogenic needles helpful in terms of visualization, the echogenic
catheters are more variable, so make sure providers trial them before
6 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A R C H 2 0 1 6
"Budget is often the first concern when it comes to
purchasing new technology for a regional anesthesia program,
but don't forget that you'll earn a return on your investment."
— Brandon Winchester, MD
