Technology in the OR: AORN Members' Perceptions of the Effects on Workflow Efficiency and Quality Patient Care

Abstract

This collaborative study sought to describe technology used by AORN members at work, inclusive of radio-frequency identification or barcode scanning (RFID), data collection tools (DATA), workflow or dashboard management tools (DASHBOARD), and environmental services/room decontamination technologies (ENVIRON), and to identify the perceived effects of each technology on workflow efficiency (WFE) and quality patient care (QPC). The 462 respondents to the AORN Technology in the OR survey reported use of technology (USE) in all categories. Eleven of 17 RFID items had a strong positive correlation between the designated USE item and the perceived effect on WFE and QPC. Five of the most-used technology items were found in the DATA category. Two of the five related to Intraoperative Nursing Documentation and the use of the Perioperative Nursing Data Set. The other three related to Imaging Integration for Radiology Equipment, Video Camera Systems, and Fiber-optic Systems. All three elements explored in the DASHBOARD category (ie, Patient Update, OR Case, OR Efficiency) demonstrated approximately 50% or greater perceived effectiveness in WFE and QPC. There was a low reported use of ENVIRON technologies, resulting in limited WFE and QPC data for this category.

Innovaciones que pueden cambiarlo todo: el futuro de la enfermería quirúrgica

“…(4) El concepto Eficiencia en el Flujo de Trabajo hace alusión a cómo se tra-baja, en relación con el tiempo y los recursos disponibles. Es un concepto para el que no hay uso consensuado (5) , por lo que en adelante utilizaremos rendimiento como sinónimo.…”

“…Paciente refleja el impacto que producen en los indicadores las tecnologías utilizadas en sanidad. Actualmente hay poca evidencia de correlación entre el uso de las tecnologías de la información y mejoras específicas de los resultados en salud en EE.UU., pero sí está demostrada su existencia entre estas y la calidad clínica (5) .…”

Perspectives: A Window into the World of OR Technology

“…The resulting data were analyzed by Carolyn Sipes, PhD, CNS, APN, PMP, RN‐BC, associate professor of specialty tracks, nursing informatics, at Chamberlain College of Nursing, and Joy Don Baker, PhD, RN‐BC, CNOR, CNE, NEA‐BC, clinical professor at the University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation and AORN Journal editor‐in‐chief. Sipes and Baker shaped the research article “Technology in the OR: AORN Members’ Perceptions of the Effects on Workflow Efficiency and Quality Patient Care.” 1 The article is available online in the September 2015 issue of the AORN Journal . Kelly believes the study findings can serve as a springboard to fuel conversations and investigations that will lead to new evidence that can shape informatics curriculum and professional practice training and support a true team approach to technology in the OR.…”