Military Operating Room of the Future
Abstract
Rather than focus on the skills of individual clinicians, this project focuses on providing a working environment and system that identifies and proactively addresses errors. This identification of a broad range of system problems has facilitated a better understanding of human abilities and has afforded greater opportunities to help clinicians avoid and deal with error. The analysis of why, when, how and where errors happen provides a window through which it is possible to understand the weaknesses of the modern healthcare system, and thus strengthen it through considered redesign. Direct, prospective observation and systems analysis methods have demonstrated the value of looking deeper into complex, error-prone systems to develop higher-level quality improvement initiatives. The detailed study of the trauma system and the collection of data prospectively ? to understand in depth how healthcare of the near future will look ? were thus central in guiding us toward the largest opportunities in trauma care. We conducted interviews and focus groups with a broad range of practitioners to discover their impressions of the problems with the trauma process. Next, we developed an observational methodology, PC tablet data collection tool, and analysis techniques that identified, in great detail, a range of components of care organization that compromise the ability to deliver fast, efficient and safe trauma care. Through a combination of statistical analysis and multi-disciplinary consensus we identified key aspects of process, workplace modification, teamwork, technology and information management that would benefit from reengineering. By piecing together all of the data elements collected, we were able to target our interventions in order to have the greatest positive impact on the process, and thus the most direct benefit for the future. We have comprehensively studied the weaknesses of our current civilian trauma system using a bespoke PC-tablet and trained observers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA567191
Entities
People
- Bruce Gewertz
Organizations
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center