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A P R I L 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
John D. Kelly IV, MD
CUTTING REMARKS
Open Season for Vendors in Our ORs
Scenes from the sales frenzy that was our video camera evaluation.
T
his week our OR conducted a trial of video camera systems.
This is other-
wise known as
open season for ven-
dors. We had more
salespeople in our OR
yesterday than a job
fair. This whole
process generates a
host of issues. We can
only laugh.
• Satisfy the egos.
First and foremost, every doctor has to be part of the
process. If left out of the evaluation schedule, Dr. X will cry foul and
generate a litany of nastigrams to administration. Never mind that
Doctor X never uses the arthroscope and that he is vacationing in the
Bahamas with his, ahem, new young associate for 2 weeks Also never
mind that Doctor Y's brother is a regional manager for a competitor
and, yes, Dr. Y is a paid consultant for this same company.
• Used car salesmen.
Every product has its pros and cons. I love the
spins vendors choose when performance is less than stellar. One
video system had all the clarity of a cataract. When I quietly mention
to the salesman that my glaucoma has been treated and the resolution
of the monitor is brutal, I am met with excuses:
a.
You're using the wrong scope
b.
It must be the connection
c.
It worked great for the last case
PSST, HEY DOC Almost anything
goes when salesmen descend on the OR.
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