From the April 2016 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
For example:
• In many facilities, CCUs, information management devices, displays and light sources are mounted on mobile carts, allowing them to be transported between surgical suites and/or repositioned to meet space requirements.
• Hospitals with higher MIS volumes may have ORs dedicated to MIS procedures, in which displays may be permanently mounted on articulating arms of surgical booms, and light sources and CCUs may be located on one of the boom’s shelves to enable convenient positioning during the surgical procedure.
• A surgical video system can also be permanently installed in an integrated OR, where routing of video signals to various destinations is controlled from a central location, either within the OR or the surgical department. When selecting a surgical video system, facilities should consider a number of options, including:
• Video performance (video performance affects the surgeon’s ability to detect and differentiate between different tissues and blood vessels);
• Compatibility of components (image quality and/or size may be compromised if the signal from the CCU does not match the monitor input); and
• The availability and efficacy of advanced imaging modes. Several advanced imaging modes are now available to enhance video images in real time with the aim of increasing the conspicuousness of subtle details. As a result, these modes may help improve diagnostic accuracy or reduce errors during procedures.
Average quoted costs are based upon a complete HD surgical video endoscopy system along with two laparoscopes. Costs can vary significantly depending upon the model and system configuration. Surgical video endoscopy systems have an estimated service life of at least five years. Although system components can last much longer (depending upon usage), manufacturers tend to introduce new systems every three to four years touting better image quality and greater image enhancement features. Is it time to consider replacing or upgrading your system? ECRI Institute’s Health Devices System and SELECTplus programs offer guidance on not only the evaluative criteria that are essential to understanding the systems, but also the experience to assist facilities in determining which systems best suit their specific needs.
ECRI Institute’s Healthcare Product Comparison, a database of specifications for
capital medical devices, offers ECRI’s Recommended Specifications — our experts’ opinion on the minimum performance requirements for a device. This offers additional guidance in the selection of a system. For nearly 50 years, ECRI Institute, a nonprofit organization, has been dedicated to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to discover which medical procedures, devices, drugs and processes are best. To learn more, visit www.ecri.org or call 610- 825-6000, ext. 5891.
About the authors: Kevin Lee is project lead, SELECTplus, and Mairead Smith is project officer, Health Devices Group, at ECRI Institute.Back to HCB News
