ile field or up against the wall? Depending on how you answer that
question, you need to consider design features like edge-to-edge glass
that is both splash proof and scratch-resistant. Also, any surgical dis-
play within the sterile field should be able to withstand exposure to
disinfectants and other liquids to assist with infection control. Lastly,
the display shouldn't be too big to prevent other members of the sur-
gical team from effectively doing their jobs. (See "Mapping Out the
OR" on page 52.)
Split-screen functionality
Picture-in-picture and split-screen functionality are musts for
endoscopy. Projecting a CT scan or an X-ray into the corner of the
screen is incredibly helpful because it gives you access to additional
information that can affect the decisions you make, all without your
having to leave the sterile field. Based on how integrated our ORs
have become, you can project virtually anything — a consent form or
an H&P, for example — onto the screen.
Yes, the past few years have brought about some incredible
advances in terms of screen size, clarity and functionality, but it's like-
ly only the beginning. Where do we go from here?
Regardless of whether surgical displays go much bigger than 60-inch
screens, I think we'll likely see monitors continue to slim down and
become less conspicuous, and maybe even transparent. And if what
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 1
"A lot of physicians like to see how flexible their configurations
are in a real, physical space rather than seeing it in a 3D drawing,"
says Mr. Brink. "In the past, we've taken a shell space and put up
temporary walls and brought in a couple of different systems,
basically creating a whole OR — or least most of it — so [sur-
geons] can see what's possible." — Bill Donahue
