ARTICLE
5 Ways Automation in the OR Could Make Life Easier for Anesthesiologists
As an Anesthesiologist, you have a reputation for being discerning – even skeptical – when it comes to adopting new technologies intended to improve operational efficiencies. You have every right to be. Along with the rest of the surgical team, you are responsible for the health and safety of a patient whenever they enter the operating room. You likely prioritize this responsibility above all else and demand control to ensure the best possible outcomes for your patients. Incorporating a new technology could disrupt this dynamic and introduce risk.
However, sometimes the real risk can be an over-reliance on manual processes and human judgement. When applied appropriately, Omnicell believes that the right technology can help streamline your workflow, validate your efforts, and prevent missteps – all while allowing you to be in control. A fitting example of this is an automated anesthesia cart.
Here are five ways an automated anesthesia cart is designed to help alleviate some of the day-to-day burdens experienced in the OR:
Eliminate Bottlenecks to Medication Access
In high-pressure OR environments, even momentary delays in accessing medications may impact patient care. Manual processes or cluttered carts can potentially slow you down when time is of the essence. Omnicell asserts streamlining medication access begins with smarter organization and secure, on-the-spot availability. A well-designed anesthesia workstation that prioritizes medication visibility and quick retrieval should help minimize interruptions and keep you focused on your patient instead of spending valuable time searching for the right medications.
For example, based on Omnicell customer data, some health systems that leverage our XT Anesthesia Workstation have reported a 20% reduction in time spent at the cabinet because of enhanced medication access and workflows. The XT Anesthesia Workstation is designed with drawer types that are intended to enhance medication visibility and guiding lights that should help you quickly locate and remove desired medications.
Reduce Risk of Stockouts With Added Medication Storage
Storage constraints in the OR often lead to frequent restocking and supply shortages that may prevent you from having necessary medications on hand during an emergency. An automated anesthesia cart, like Omnicell’s XT Anesthesia Workstation, features a high storage capacity that is meant to help reduce the number of calls to the pharmacy for medication replenishment and help prevent stockouts.
Improve Emergency Preparedness and Inventory Accuracy
In an emergency, you typically need to have immediate access to the life-saving medications stored in a cart. This may mean bypassing tracking protocols and device safeguards. The XT Anesthesia Workstation comes equipped with a unique breakaway bar that is designed to provide access to essential supplies when needed.
Alleviate Documentation Demands
Anesthesiologists are often tasked with handwriting labels for syringes in the OR – a burden that may divert attention away from patient care or increase errors. Omnicell’s XT Anesthesia Workstations feature an integrated syringe label printer that is designed to print a label when a medication is dispensed. This feature is intended to help save time and enhance medication safety by eliminating the need for handwritten labels.
Simplify Waste Tracking and Medication Reconciliation
Anesthesiologists also often face the burden of documenting medication waste or returning unused drugs—tasks that can usually be inconsistent, time-consuming, and prone to error. An automated anesthesia cart should simplify this process and reduce manual rework by helping enable real-time documentation, easy transfers, and quick reconciliation.
Omnicell’s XT Anesthesia Workstation, is designed to enable wastage with minimal clicks and at any time. It is also intended to streamline the transfer of dispensed meds to other providers and patients. This should not only improve workflows but is also expected to enhance compliance and minimize discrepancies.
Omnicell’s closed-loop functionality integrated with the Epic™ electronic health record (EHR) system is designed to streamline workflows even further by automating medication reconciliation when drugs are administered from the EHR. This integration should eliminate the need for you to document medication administration in both the EHR and anesthesia workstation.
To see how one health system is improving OR efficiency with the XT Anesthesia Workstation, watch this video1.
- Outcomes shown represent exemplar data based on individual customer experience. Results may vary. Additional detail available upon request.