AI is all the buzz across industries, and healthcare is no exception. There is so much information out there about AI in surgery, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Here, we break it down into a three-step process to guide any health system considering adopting a new technology through implementation.
But first, what is surgical intelligence?
AI technology applied to operating rooms is more than just algorithms. It’s turning that data and analysis into digestible information that stakeholders across a healthcare system can use and act on, providing a data-driven path to improving patient care. That’s why we call it “surgical intelligence”.
Step 1: focusing on a surgical intelligence category
Health systems are in different geographical areas, treat different patient populations, offer different levels of care, have different in-house expertise, and the list goes on. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. With so many vendors focusing on different areas of surgical intelligence, it is difficult to know where to start. We’ve categorized available solutions into three buckets: intracorporeal, extracorporeal, and ecosystem.
There are pros and cons to each type of solution and must-have considerations. One key consideration is that intracorporeal surgical intelligence solutions leverage existing technology in the OR, delivering a big bang for the buck.
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Step 2: choosing the right surgical intelligence vendor
Even once a category is chosen, there are more choices to consider, such as which vendor to partner with. While surgical intelligence vendors all have the north star of improving patient care, the approach to making that a reality is ripe with different schools of thought. Asking the right questions at the right time is critical to identify which vendor best aligns with your health system’s needs and challenges. Our comprehensive evaluation template provides must-have considerations, key questions, and an easy-to-complete template to help compare and contrast available options.
Step 3: setting up the partnership for success
Choosing the right vendor takes careful consideration and effort, but the real work begins once the partnership has been established. Just like with any new category, it takes dedicated time and focus to extract value today and work as partners to identify and extract significantly more value for tomorrow. The amount of time and investment from the vendor is also an important consideration; both parties should have some skin in the game. The best way to ensure success is to identify the key personnel (at both the health system and vendor) to track performance, and, set up ambitious key performance indicators (KPIs) that are regularly reviewed, revised, and improved.
The resources you need, at your fingertips
Whether you are at the beginning of your surgical intelligence journey, the end, or anywhere in between, all of the resources for surgical intelligence are at your fingertips. Check them out for free here.
