A Protocol for the Implementation of New Technology in a Highly Complex Hospital Environment: The Operating Room

Hein Gooszen,Bas Van Zaane Md,Johan Versendaal,Joris Jaspers,Navin Sewberath Misser

doi:10.1504/ijnvo.2020.10025195

Abstract

Medical equipment is implemented in highly complex hospital environments, such as operating rooms, in hospitals around the world. In operating rooms (ORs), technological equipment is used for surgi...

Highlights

Operating rooms (ORs) or operating theatres are examples of highly complex and dynamic environments where technological equipment is used before, during and after surgeries
We compose a protocol for implementation based on a systematic literature review
This protocol is based on a systematic literature review and an explorative survey that was conducted among surgical support staff

Summary

Introduction

Operating rooms (ORs) or operating theatres are examples of highly complex and dynamic environments where technological equipment is used before, during and after surgeries. In the Netherlands, the Dutch Hospital Association (NZA) has agreed upon a set of rules with regard to the implementation of new medical devices in hospitals: the Covenant Medical Technology (CMT). This agreement provides policy guidelines throughout the lifecycle of (medical) equipment – with regard to its acquisition, implementation, use, and disposal – to ensure patient safety (Dutch Hospital Association, 2016). Locally-defined policies have resulted in hospital-specific methods of implementing (medical) equipment and in a variety of implementation activities This variety has resulted in different implementation outcomes and increased implementation lead times, which can result in the increased use of resources, such as implementation time, funds, and involved members (Wickramasinghe et al, 2008). We conducted research on necessary factors for the implementation of new (medical) devices in highly complex hospital environments, with a specific focus on ORs, to answer the following research question: Which factors for successful implementation can be identified to compose a protocol for the implementation of (medical) equipment in ORs?

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Discussion

Conclusion