Purpose
Waste within the healthcare sector is a common issue. The operating room is a major source of health system waste. One particularly egregious type of waste is unnecessary waste, sterile items that are opened onto the scrub table, but never used. If the item is single-use, then it goes into the garbage. If the item is re-useable, then it must be sent through the energy intensive and time-consuming process of re-sterilization. Unnecessary waste can result in hundreds to thousands of dollars of unnecessary cost in each surgery. In the US alone, there are billions of health care dollars from wasted sterile supplies literally going up in smoke (incineration).
S O L U T I O N
As clinicians we understand the nuances of working in one of the most sensitive and high-stakes domains in the hospital: patient safety, privacy, and sterility foremost. Using intentionally placed cameras, we use machine vision to identify and track the usage of sterile surgical items. Overtime we aggregate our data and provide actionable reports to perioperative administrators. Perioperative administrators and surgeons can use this valuable information to design sterile kits and pans. Creating a more efficient operating room and more efficient scrub table.
B E N E F I C I A R I E S
Patients
Excessive costs can be passed along to patients. Reducing unnecessary waste will reduce costs.
Surgeons
By having an evidence-based list that demonstrating items used, there is less pressure for the surgeons to justify their requsted tools.
Hospital Administrators
Evidence of item usage provides a new opportunity for negotiations with surgeons surrounding instruments and supplies, leading to direct cost-savings.
Our Planet
Operating rooms are one of the largest sources of waste. By reducing unnecessary waste, we reduce total health system impact on our environment.
M I S S I O N
Identify and minimize perioperative waste through advanced analytics and a deep understanding of the perioperative space.
V I S I O N
Provide novel insight and data to health care systems in order to reduce perioperative waste and facilitate data-based cost-saving measures.