8 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E A P R I L 2 0 1 6
medical errors.
For that to happen, many EMRs need smarter user interfaces and more layer-
ing of analytics and artificial intelligence to pull out the most relevant informa-
tion from the mountain of patient-specific data, care guidelines and clinical trial
results. Instead of getting overwhelmed by too much information, caregivers
could actually use the leveraged information to make informed clinical deci-
sions.
Perhaps you'll be able to analyze individualized information related to complica-
tion rates, case start times and room turnovers to determine which surgical team
members work best and most efficiently together. You'll be better able to measure
patients' baseline levels to gauge how effective interventions are, how patients are
progressing in their recoveries or perhaps which patients should and shouldn't be
operated on in the outpatient setting.
Other technologies are coming to the OR. Google Glass hasn't yet been a con-
sumer hit, but surgeons and anesthesiologists might still benefit from its
untapped potential in the surgical setting. Masimo recently launched its AIR
Smart Glasses, a heads-up display that lets anesthesia providers call up patient
information and real-time monitoring without taking their eyes off the patient.
Today's wearable technologies are still at version 1.0 and augmented reality (AR)
is still in its infant phase, but don't ignore the future promise of wearable tech-
nology that would let surgeons, nurses and anesthesia providers call up safety
checklists, pre-op scans and clinical information in displays that overlay their
views of the patient.
Technology will also let surgical care become more patient-centric. 3D print-
ers are becoming exponentially faster, meaning customized implants and instru-
ments could be printed in real-time at the point of care. Instead of basing your
care on a one-size-fits-all checklist, EMRs integrated into tablets or AR headsets
could generate checklists based on an individual's specific clinical needs, so
your situational awareness will be enhanced as soon as the patient enters the
OR. Smart technologies could help optimize outcomes by warning a surgeon
