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implants and anatomical teaching tools. The sky's truly the limit with respect to
the potential benefits afforded by this technology.
• Patient-centered communication. Using telemedicine to provide personal-
ized care has never been more possible and the opportunity to stay in constant
touch with patients through apps and online portals is truly amazing.
Be ready to adapt
Surgical professionals need to buy into the belief that adding new technology
results in significant clinical benefits and perioperative efficiencies. There are 2
types of surgeons: younger docs looking for innovative ways to establish their
careers who are open to trying new things; and experienced surgeons with pre-
ferred surgical techniques and behaviors who aren't necessarily looking to
adopt new technologies. Ultimately, surgeons have to believe in the tools they
use, and it's often challenging to change their deep-rooted beliefs.
Will turning your ORs into high-tech wonders require waiting until the new
generation of surgeons becomes more established in their careers? Perhaps.
The more that new technology is introduced at academic learning centers, the
more residents will train with the latest innovations and look to incorporate
them into their practices. Push from industry and patient demand will also help
drive adoption of the latest surgical tools and devices. Patients who expect to
be operated on with cutting-edge technologies will force surgeons and facilities
to seek a competitive edge by adding surgery's most current platforms.
Early adopters are needed before any new developments become accepted.
They're the ones who truly believe in the technology's first generation, even if
it's not performing as well as it should be, and drive its use until later adopters
eventually buy in. If you don't have the courage or interest in being a futuristic
trailblazer, it's safer to wait 6 months to a year after a new technology is
launched to see what kind of response it generates. It's also important to draw a
line between sexy new marketing tool and useful new technology by looking for
unbiased evidence that backs claims of clinical or business benefit.
