The healthcare field is a complex combination of human capabilities, clinical processes, medical devices, and technology. Information Technology (IT) plays a crucial role in managing and integrating these factors, particularly in surgical environments. Peter O’Connor, IT Director at Inova Health System, has more than three decades of experience designing technology infrastructures for hospitals, with a focus on perioperative spaces.
In the context of the perioperative setting, the traditional functions of IT encompass not only the management of IT systems and infrastructure but also ensuring operability with clinical processes and biomed systems. Understanding the technological requirements of these settings is akin to learning a foreign language – the best approach is to immerse oneself in the environment to comprehend not only the language but its nuances. Spending time observing surgeries, examining various case types, and engaging with professionals in different roles is crucial in acquiring a deep understanding of these spaces’ unique technology needs.
However, the perioperative environment faces technology-related challenges stemming from poor design and planning, incompatible products, and ad hoc additions of equipment. These problems manifest as poor cable management leading to tripping hazards and unexpected disconnections, inadequate visibility of video images and data, and inefficient workflows caused by disparate systems.
To address these challenges, O’Connor emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the blurred lines between medical equipment and IT systems and the need for shared networks. He asserts that healthcare IT is ever-evolving, and planning for a ubiquitous medical-grade infrastructure while ensuring foundational requirements like cybersecurity, redundancy, business continuity, and performance is pivotal.
Planning for the physical space must be done collectively by architects, clinical teams, and IT personnel from the project’s inception. This ensures that issues like equipment location and connectivity, monitor placement, and room layout are cohesively addressed. Using 3D modeling software and virtual reality, or creating a full-scale mock-up of the operating room could help visualize the layout and evaluate the pros and cons of device placements.
O’Connor asserts that cable pathway identification should follow equipment location, and the need to ensure point-to-point cable routing as many devices in the operating room have distinct cabling needs. He notes that this aspect tends to be overlooked until the equipment installation, which could lead to costly on-spot modifications.
Data sharing between different systems remains a significant challenge in healthcare IT due to a lack of native interoperability. O’Connor recommends mapping out data workflows from case preparation to post-case review and image processing to address this issue.
In conclusion, the role of IT professionals in the perioperative world needs to extend beyond their comfort zones to understand both the clinical and technical aspects of these intricate environments. They must adapt and evolve with the sector’s changing needs and challenges to ensure seamless integration of medical devices and systems.
