In the United States, surgeons are losing an average of four hours of work time each week due to outdated technology in operating rooms, according to a recent report from Medtronic. The ‘State of Surgery in the US 2024 Report’ revealed that three out of four US surgeons believe that the technology in their OR is inefficient, impacting overall patient care. This raises concerns about the potential benefits of using technology to improve healthcare outcomes.
The study found that over two-thirds of US surgeons spend time outside of the hospital on administrative tasks due to outdated technologies such as recording surgical videos on USB sticks and DVDs or taking manual notes. Furthermore, many surgeons reported that the technology in their OR lags behind consumer tech they use in their personal lives, leading them to rely on platforms like WhatsApp, Zoom, and FaceTime for sharing and viewing surgeries. This not only hinders their efficiency but also poses cybersecurity risks for the industry.
Many surgeons feel that current technology limits their ability to perform at their best, with some even considering leaving the field due to burnout. Medtronic Medical Surgical Portfolio EVP Mike Marinaro emphasized the importance of surgeons spending their time helping patients rather than dealing with inefficient technology.
The report also highlights the potential of AI, robotics and virtual reality in reducing errors in patient care and enhancing training for surgeons. By leveraging these advanced technologies, surgeons could allocate more time to providing high-quality patient care. The study serves as a reminder that investing in advanced technologies can lead to significant improvements in healthcare outcomes.
