There has been some big news in the world of healthcare innovation of late.
No, I'm not talking about the X Prize Foundation announcing 10 finalists for the $10 million
Instead, I'm referring to the surgical "black box," under development at a Toronto hospital, to help prevent errors in one of the most dangerous places on earth, the operating room.
The tracking system, consisting of a number of cameras and microphones to record movements and communications, plus software to analyze the images and data, is meant to head off mistakes and prevent surgical complications, according to a CNN story written by a University of Toronto surgical resident.
"At this initial stage, we are analyzing surgeries to determine how many errors occur and which ones actually lead to bad results for patients," system developer Dr. Teodor Grantcharov of Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital, is quoted as saying. His preliminary research of 40 laparoscopic surgical procedures found that even the most experienced surgeons make about 20 mistakes per procedure. Though not all errors result in complications or other adverse events, that's a frightening statistic.
"The feeling of not knowing what causes a complication, whether it's surgical technique, communication in the operating room or the patient's condition itself, is tormenting," Grantcharov said.
Grantcharov and his research team are looking at how to warn surgeons in real time when they make potentially harmful mistakes or deviate from standards of care, according to the CNN story. That could be a tricky proposition, given the "alert fatigue" so often associated with clinical decision support systems that causes physicians to tune out excessive or poorly timed safety alerts.
There's another hurdle to wide acceptance of the surgical black box: liability. As the story points out, surgeons might dread having their every move recorded if there was a chance that malpractice attorneys could get hold of the video.
That fear echoes the debate about installing cameras in police cars and interrogation rooms. (Since this month's civil unrest in Ferguson, Mo., following the shooting death of Michael Brown, there have even been growing calls for police officers to wear cameras on their bodies.) Cops initially hated the idea of being recorded, but they eventually warmed to the idea when they realized it could protect officers and restore public confidence in police departments.
I see exactly that happening with surgical recordings, as long as the technology fits workflow, is, to borrow a surgical term, noninvasive and users adequately protect patient confidentiality.
Per the CNN story, tests are planned elsewhere in Canada, as well as Denmark and unspecified South American countries. There are discussions with U.S. hospitals as well. The author said the recording system is not a medical device, so it would not need regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The faster the technology can be installed and refined, the better. How would you feel if you went into surgery knowing the medical professionals cutting you open would make 20 errors while you were on the operating table?
