How to decide whether to buy new technology
The financial risk of new technology often falls on the same-day surgery program. Before you buy expensive equipment or commit to new procedures, consider these issues, advises Vangie Paschall-Dennis, RN, CNOR, laser endoscopic coordinator at Promina Gwinnett Health System in Lawrenceville, GA:
· Technical information. How difficult is the new equipment to set up and operate in your operating room? Will you need to invest in training of personnel?
· Cost. Beyond the initial purchase, what other costs will you incur in maintenance, disposables, training, or impact on your OR schedule? Will it bring cost savings in other areas, such as earlier discharge or more efficient use of the OR?
· Special requirements. Will it require special protective gear or procedures, such as eye wear? Will you need to change your OR processes or protocols? How well does it adapt to the existing OR?
· Clinical outcomes. If this technology costs more, will it produce better outcomes - or just another way of doing the same procedure? How will it benefit the patient? What is the reliability of the equipment or procedure?
· Installation requirements. Do you need to alter your OR or physical space to install the equipment? For example, does it require special outlets or exhaust systems?
· Physician interest. What is the physician demand for the new technology, and are they high-volume or low-volume surgeons? How much use is the equipment likely to get?
· Competitiveness. What is the patient demand? How will accessibility to the new technology impact patient choice to use your center or even contract negotiations with payers?
· Getting Started: A Beginner's Guide to Freestanding Ambulatory Care Accreditation - June 10, Atlanta. Sponsored by GHA: An Asso ciation of Hospitals and Health Systems. Contact: Martha Harrell, Director of Educational Meetings, GHA, 1675 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, GA 30067. Phone: (770) 955-0324. Fax: (770) 955-5801.
· Freestanding Ambulatory Care Accredi tation Standards and Survey Process - June 11-12, Atlanta. Sponsored by GHA. Contact: Martha Harrell, Director of Educational Meetings, GHA, 1675 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, GA 30067. Phone: (770) 955-0324. Fax: (770) 955-5801.
· Same-Day Surgery: Successful and Cost-effective Management Tools for the Next Millen nium - June 14-16, The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, FL. Sponsored by American Health Consultants, publisher of Same-Day Surgery. Contact: Customer Service, American Health Con sul tants, P.O. Box 740056, Atlanta, GA 30374. Phone: (800) 688-2421. Fax: (800) 284-3291. E-mail: [email protected].
· Hospital-Sponsored Ambulatory Care Accreditation: Standards and Survey Process - June 18-19, Oklahoma City. Sponsored by Oklahoma Hospital Association. Contact: Mary Winters, Vice President of Support Services, Oklahoma Hospital Association, 4000 Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Phone: (405) 427-9537. Fax: (405) 424-4507 or (405) 427-1566.
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