Noteboom The Law Firm

Computerized Operating Room System Improves Surgeries

June 9, 2010 - OR•Control is a fully computerized control system used in operation rooms and the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Houston just installed one into their operating room. The OR•Control system will improve surgeries' competence and success. The system coordinates all of the following in real time:

• Supporting surgeons;
• Anesthesiologists;
• Nurses;
• Patients;
• Family members; and
• Support staff.

 The system tracks all the equipment, personnel, and any other necessary components required for a particular surgery and updates all involved staff through their surgical schedule on a continuous basis in real-time. Changing schedules are no longer going to cause confusion or under-staffed surgeries. Instead, everyone will know whenever anything happens related to their surgery.

The system will also send alerts when important events have failed to happen by scheduled deadlines. Everyone tied into the surgical schedule uses the system to manage and organize timelines so the entire surgical process is as smooth as possible for all involved parties, including family members, from beginning to end.

The system is very flexible in keeping all interested parties and makes alerts available through a variety of mediums such as: 

• E-mail;
• Cell phones; and
• Web-enabled devices.

 Should something cause a delay in the schedule, the system changes the procedure's start time and estimates how that will then affect the rest of the schedule. These estimations include not only personnel schedules but such things as the availability of equipment and keeping everyone updated as to the changes.

There is never a point in time within a surgical schedule where every necessary piece of the team's location is not known. This system will reduce the stress placed on surgical teams as well as increase the level of health care offered to veterans.