OR Manager August 2023 - 11

Technology
Continued from page 9
communication, AI-powered tools reduce
the likelihood of delays and cancellations,
proactively identify bottlenecks or
conflicts in the OR schedule, and provide
recommendations to mitigate these
issues. This helps maintain the smooth
flow of surgical procedures, minimizes
wait times for patients, and enhances
the overall patient experience.
Data-driven decision-making
AI in OR utilization empowers healthcare
organizations with valuable data insights
for decision-making and performance
improvement. Predictive and prescriptive
analytics can generate comprehensive
reports, metrics, and analytics on OR
utilization, surgical outcomes, and efficiency
metrics using real-time data.
By analyzing this data, healthcare
administrators can identify areas of
improvement, streamline processes,
and implement evidence-based strategies
for better resource utilization and
allocation. AI algorithms can identify
trends, patterns, and outliers in surgical
data, enabling organizations to make
informed decisions regarding quality
improvement initiatives, patient safety
measures, and operational enhancements.
This data-driven approach ensures
continuous optimization of OR utilization
and helps healthcare organizations
achieve strategic goal attainment
and improved patient outcomes.
Identifying challenges,
considerations
Addressing challenges and considerations
in the implementation of AI, ML,
and generative AI in healthcare involves
multiple key factors. Data quality and
interoperability are crucial to fostering
accurate and complete data for AI algorithms.
Healthcare
institutions must focus
on improving data accuracy and completeness
while ensuring seamless data
interoperability across different systems
and sources. Integrating AI and ML techwww.ormanager.com
nologies
with existing healthcare systems
and workflows requires careful
planning, alignment of stakeholders,
and coordination to avoid disruptions
and ensure smooth adoption. Ethical
and legal considerations, including patient
privacy and data security must be
addressed through robust governance
frameworks and adherence to regulations
and ethical guidelines. Lastly,
training healthcare professionals in AI,
ML, and generative AI concepts and
tools is essential for successful adoption.
Investing in comprehensive training
programs enables healthcare staff
to acquire the necessary knowledge to
effectively embrace and utilize new technology
in their daily workflows.
sults, ensures that they understand the
unique challenges faced and can offer
tailored solutions.
Generative AI is
quickly becoming
the new frontier
in healthcare
technology.
Cutting through the noise
In the midst of the overwhelming
amount of information and hype around
AI, it is essential for both perioperative
leaders and administrators to navigate
through the noise and distinguish reality
from fiction. To achieve this, several
strategies can be employed.
Seeking out relevant case studies
that offer tangible examples of AI applications
can provide valuable insights
and help identify potential use cases
within specific contexts. Additionally,
engaging with reputable vendors, who
possess a track record in the perioperative
space and are able to provide
referenceable customers with proven reSuccessful
collaboration with a vendor
extends beyond the implementation
phase, and the level of customer
service provided should include a team
of highly trained perioperative experts.
Promoting education and training should
extend beyond the technical staff, encompassing
all levels of personnel from
OR staff to management, fostering a
shared understanding of AI's capabilities
and its potential to support their
work. Such collective comprehension
promotes buy-in and facilitates successful
implementation. Finally, cultivating
a culture of innovation that encourages
exploration and embraces learning is
crucial. Viewing mistakes and setbacks
as opportunities for growth and improvement
enhances the organization's ability
to adopt and integrate AI effectively.
AI and ML are rapidly transforming
the healthcare industry, and the perioperative
space is no exception. Generative
AI is quickly becoming the new
frontier in healthcare technology, and by
understanding what it is, how it can be
used, and cutting through the AI noise,
perioperative leaders can harness the
power of this promising technology to
improve patient care and operational
efficiency in their facilities. The demands
of managing an efficient, safe,
and effective operating room are immense,
but AI, ML, and now generative
AI present an opportunity to transform
these challenges into opportunities for
improvement. Today's impossible jobs
might just become tomorrow's standard
of excellence. ORM
-Elizabeth Stocum, BSN,
RN, CNOR, is product marketing
manager, iQueue for
Operating Rooms, at LeanTaaS.
She has over 18 years
of experience in the perioperative setting
and served in leadership roles including
administrator, director of nursing, and
OR manager.
OR Manager | August 2023 11
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OR Manager August 2023

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