Technology Reduces Errors, Improves Quality and More

Surgical Information Systems (SIS), a leader in perioperative information systems, has released results of a nationwide survey showing that surgeons view specialized perioperative information systems as essential tools to drive OR efficiency, enhance physician satisfaction and improve access to patient information.

Additionally, surgeons indicate they are turning to information technology (IT) to manage collective healthcare challenges such as rising case volumes, increased regulatory compliance requirements, and increasing financial pressures.

IT a Strategic Success Driver for Surgical Operations
Today, information technology solutions — which drive optimized operations and processes — play an important role in the overall success of the operating room. Workflow in the OR is seen by surgeons as unique compared to other areas of the hospital. 66 percent of respondents indicated that scheduling the OR is inherently different from scheduling other services, and requires a uniquely tailored process and IT solution.

A majority of those surgeons surveyed reported that they either agreed or strongly agreed, “Information technology solutions are a strategic driver of success in the operating room.” Even more significantly, with added focus on individual efficiency, 89 percent said that IT plays either a very important or important role in their own jobs.

“As case volumes rise and pressures to provide more coordinated, cost-effective care increase, information technology can facilitate the heightened data-driven communication we need to improve healthcare collaboration and clinical and financial outcomes,” notes Kenneth H. Cohn, MD, MBA, FACS and CEO of Healthcare Collaboration.

According to respondents, perioperative documentation solutions – and easy access to the information contained inside of them — help solve key issues that are important to both surgeons and hospital administrators. Of those surveyed:

• 61 percent believe these systems improve compliance with regulatory and quality compliance mandates;
• 51 percent expect improved access to prior records as a result of such software implementation; and
• 50 percent believe that using perioperative software creates complete, accurate records.

Optimized Operations Improve MD Satisfaction and Recruiting Efforts
Perioperative IT solutions do more than increase efficiency so that surgeons and hospitals can take on more cases. The survey also revealed that 81 percent agreed that IT plays a very important or somewhat important role in physician satisfaction and the ability to recruit outstanding nurses and doctors.

For example, key challenges uncovered by the survey include time management, especially delays in start times (22 percent), the need for faster turnover times (11 percent), and consistency and quality of staffing (8 percent) as the top areas of frustration. While lack of efficiency may be the root cause of these issues, surgeons look to organizations to implement technology that assists in improving scheduling, preventing delays, and reducing turnover times. Technology-driven process optimization can alleviate surgeon dissatisfaction and mitigate issues that keep hospitals from attracting new physicians. One cardiac and thoracic surgeon notes, “Technology is making it easier because it’s making the case go more efficiently. It’s getting the patient out of the OR, out of the hospital quicker.”

Evaluation Factors: Error Reduction, Focus on Improving Outcomes, Ease of Use
Like hospitals, surgical practices face increasing regulatory, documentation and reimbursement requirements. When it comes to the most important criteria in their evaluation of perioperative software, surgeons surveyed most frequently cited the following factors: ability to help reduce the likelihood of errors (79 percent), focus on improving patient care (73 percent), and intuitiveness and ease of use for clinicians (67 percent).

“Technology is impacting surgeons in three major ways: improved surgical tools and techniques, better patient experience, more efficient perioperative processes,” states SIS Chief Executive Officer Ed Daihl. “In an environment of fundamental industry change, information technology can drive alignment and mutual success. Healthcare leaders who understand the needs of surgeon stakeholders and deliver the capabilities most important to them will recognize the efficiency gains necessary to master the challenges of a rapidly changing OR environment.”

About the Survey
SIS commissioned the study in which Penn Shoen Berland conducted online quantitative surveys among 100 practicing surgeons in the United States. The surgeons surveyed use perioperative software at the organizations where they practice. The margin of error is +/- 9.78%.

About SIS
Surgical Information Systems (SIS) provides software solutions that are uniquely designed to add value at every point of the perioperative process. Developed specifically for the complex surgical environment, all SIS solutions – including anesthesia – are architected on a single database and integrate easily with other hospital systems. SIS offers the only surgical scheduling system and the only anesthesia information management system endorsed by the American Hospital Association (AHA), and analytics and rules-based charging products that have been granted Peer Reviewed status by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). SIS is also the first AIMS provider to be designated as an AQI Preferred Vendor by the Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI). For more information, visit www.SISFirst.com.