to set up on-site OR
integration simula-
tions in a conference
room. He invited his
top 15 high-volume
surgeons and any oth-
ers with a particular
interest in integration
to try out the various
types of monitors,
routing options, audio
recording and video-
conferencing technol-
ogy. The goal was to
determine exactly
what would be benefi-
cial for their needs
and what would likely
be a waste, he says.
He went with the
lowest bid. That led to
a 2-week delay in both
of the ORs they were
integrating. That was 4 weeks without any cases, a delay that wiped
out any of the "savings" the vendor promised and wound up costing
more.
"You get what you pay for," says Mr. Smith. "You can't get a gold
nugget out of a penny."
If he had it to do over again, he would have found a creative way to
stay within budget and still get the best results for his surgeons and
8 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U L Y 2 0 1 9
• CIRCULATOR CHAMPION Adding staff like circulators and surgical techs to the
clinician champions involved in your integration will offer a unique perspective on
your facility's needs.
