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Surgeons want more than better views from their arthroscopy
towers, so here are other features to look for in your next sys-
tem:
• Cloud-based storage. This is especially helpful, because
information captured by the video tower can be accessed any-
where by the patient's care team. Additionally, you can set up
password-protected sites where patients can access post-op
protocols, images and even videos from off site.
• EMR integration. Shane J. Nho, MD, MS, an assistant
professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Ill.,
says his hospital has been working to integrate its
arthroscopy system with the health system's electronic med-
ical records, so images and videos can be saved directly into patients' records.
• Easy upgrades. Make sure your system can remain current with just a few tweaks.
"Modern systems are software-based as opposed to hardware-based," says Stephan Pill, MD,
MSPT, an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoCarolina in Kernersville, N.C. "This makes upgrades
more efficient, because changes can be made simply by inserting a USB stick."
• Big screens. Larger monitors — 55 inches and bigger — are recommended, especially if
your surgeons are working with 4K. If your facility doesn't have the wall space to mount larger
screens, consider using booms to make them easier for the surgeon to shift as needed. You can
also invest in display monitors on wheels that can be moved from room to room and positioned
around the OR table to optimize the surgeon's view.
• System integration. Be mindful of how cameras, recorders and towers work together. If
the components aren't fully compatible, especially on towers with 4K or other advanced fea-
tures, surgeons won't be able to adjust the focus on the image as needed, says Dr. Nho.
— Kendal Gapinski
BONUS FEATURES
Image Isn't Necessarily Everything
• BEHIND THE SCENES The benefits of
investing in the newest arthroscopy towers
extend well beyond what the surgical team
sees in the OR.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
