increasingly larger surgical displays — 55 inches or more — can pose
some challenges, especially in ORs where unused space is a rarity. But
how big is too big? We're not quite there yet, says Vangie Dennis, BSN,
RN, CNOR, CMSLO, administrator of The Emory Clinics.
"We've got 42- to 47-inch screens in all our ORs, and I think they will
continue to get bigger," she says. "Who knows? One day they make
take up an entire wall."
• Image enhancement. Endoscopic fluorescence technology helps a
surgeon make more informed decisions intraoperatively by visualizing
features that are invisible under conventional white light — differenti-
ating between healthy tissue and malignancies, for example. Also, in
colorectal surgery, the technology can assess bowel perfusion and
evaluate vascular blood flow following anastomosis to avoid post-
operative complications.
Intangible benefits
For Ms. Dennis, next-generation surgical video does more than just
give a surgeon a better window into the surgery. She says it can also
be a "huge" recruitment tool.
"Because of that, I think we will move faster than most centers in terms
of the integration of new technology," she says. "These investments are
mostly made for reasons surrounding safety and the quality of clinical
outcomes, but you can't deny their impact on recruitment. You may not
get a change in reimbursement, even though the cost is higher, but the
return is there one way or another."
Many surgical video systems come with value-added features that
can improve efficiency. Two of the most popular: autoclavable cam-
eras, for quick turnover; and iPad apps, for ease of use.
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