OR Manager August 2023 - 9

Harnessing power of AI: Operational improvements for the OR
TECHNOLOGY
BY ELIZABETH STOCUM
O
Rs are at the heart of healthcare
organizations, where critical
decisions are made, often
under immense pressure. This pressure
has escalated with ever-increasing
demands, growing complexities, and
the constant requirement for innovative
solutions. In today's rapidly evolving
technological landscape, artificial intelligence
(AI), machine learning (ML), and
the emerging generative AI could be the
keys to surfacing operational improvement
opportunities and illuminating
trends impacting OR utilization.
This article aims to demystify AI, ML,
and generative AI, its current use, and
how it can help OR and business managers
in a practical, applicable sense,
amidst the overwhelming amount of
information available today.
Understanding AI, ML, and
generative AI
AI refers to the development of computer
systems that can perform tasks requiring
human intelligence, such as problemsolving
and decision-making. ML is a subset
of AI that focuses on training algorithms
to learn and improve data without
being explicitly programmed.
Generative AI refers to a subset of AI
that leverages ML techniques to generate
new content or data that can mimic
human output. The most common types
include Generative Adversarial Networks
(GANs), which are algorithms that create,
for example, realistic human-like
images, and large language models like
OpenAI's GPT-4, which are capable of
producing human-like text.
mimicking or creating.
Yet generative AI goes beyond just
learns from
It
patterns and relationships within data,
generating not only new data instances
but also valuable insights and solutions
that can be applied to complex operational
challenges.
Considering these different applications,
the question arises: how do AI,
ML, and generative AI fit into the demanding,
dynamic world of the OR?
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Streamlining surgical
scheduling, planning
AI-powered platforms have transformed
the way surgical scheduling and planning
are being carried out. These advanced
systems leverage historical
data, real-time information, and ML algorithms
to create optimized OR schedules.
By considering factors such as
surgeon and resource availability, patient
needs, and procedure complexity,
AI algorithms can generate schedules
that maximize OR utilization and minimize
wait times.
equipment, and OR availability. By analyzing
historical data, patient demand,
and real-time updates, AI algorithms
can predict resource requirements and
allocate resources accordingly. AI-powered
platforms can identify patterns in
surgical caseloads and allocate staff
and equipment based on demand fluctuations.
This helps prevent bottlenecks,
reduces idle time, and optimizes
the utilization of available resources.
Additionally, AI algorithms can prioritize
urgent cases for decision-makers,
ensuring critical and time sensitive surgical
procedures are completed while
maintaining a balanced OR schedule.
AI can identify
patterns in
caseloads and
allocate staff,
equipment based
on demand.
Enhancing communication,
collaboration
Efficient communication and collaboration
among surgical teams are crucial
to delivering safe and effective surgical
patient care. AI technology fosters
improved communication channels
within the OR environment, facilitating
seamless coordination across multidisciplinary
teams.
Additionally, AI algorithms can predict
surgical durations more accurately
by continuously learning from historical
data and adjusting estimates accordingly.
This helps improve scheduling
accuracy and reduces the risk of underutilization
or overbooking of OR time.
Surgeons and OR staff can rely on AIgenerated
schedules to ensure smooth
operations, enhance patient flow, and
minimize disruptions caused by unexpected
delays.
Optimizing resource allocation,
management
Effective resource allocation is essential
for efficient OR utilization. AI technology
enables healthcare organizations
to make data-driven decisions regarding
resource allocation, including staff,
AI-powered tools can provide realtime
updates and notifications to all relevant
stakeholders including surgeons,
nurses, anesthesia providers, and
support staff. Integrating AI algorithms
with existing electronic health records
(EHRs) and other healthcare information
systems ensures all team members
and stakeholders have access to accurate
and up-to-date information. This
enhances decision-making, reduces errors,
and promotes a patient-centric approach
to surgical procedures.
Less surgical delays, more
patient satisfaction
Surgical delays not only compromise
patient outcomes, they also contribute
to increased healthcare costs. AI technology
plays a vital role in minimizing
surgical delays by streamlining the entire
perioperative process. By optimizing
scheduling, resource allocation, and
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OR Manager | August 2023
9
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OR Manager August 2023

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