Baxter HST OR Thought Leadership Article

A premature infant needing a time-critical operation. A beloved grandfather facing a delicate coronary stent insertion. A teenager embarking on complex limbsparing surgery. Life-changing moments happen each day in the operating room (OR). Here, in the beating heart of the hospital, every decision made by skilled healthcare professionals can transform lives.

But today, more than ever, surgeons face countless barriers: a depleted, often burned-out, workforce, financial strain, and stretched healthcare systems. And with a rapidly aging population, outpacing the current supply of surgeons, teams are under increasing pressure to do more with less.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 2015 and 2050 the number of those aged over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%, to 2.1 billion¹. The demand for surgical care will also grow, particularly in the fields of vascular, cardiology, neurological, and general surgery² – putting extra strain on healthcare systems.

Yet while the volume and complexity of surgical procedures increase, the impact of staffing shortages is profound, stifling the capability of skilled surgeons and jeopardizing patient care. And there are few signs of a resolution with the WHO projecting a worldwide shortage of 10 million healthcare workers³ by 2030.

Time-stretched staff are also trying to navigate systems fraught with challenges. Over half of the UK surgical workforce report⁴ problems accessing
operating theaters, leading to longer waiting times. As such, there's an increasing demand for more efficient, less invasive, quicker, and more accurate surgery with lower risk and more predictable outcomes, offering a better experience for both staff and patients.

As a critical revenue generator for hospitals, optimizing efficiency in the OR is also key to boosting financial performance. Futureproofing the OR requires easier access to data and specialist expertise at the touch of a screen, with innovative, integrated technology to improve workflow efficiency and increase the volume of operations, ultimately getting more patients home sooner.

Ninety-four years of expertise has taught us that each operating environment is different. But regardless of its specialty, complexity, or size, one thing remains constant: at its core is the commitment of the surgical team. And this is where our focus will always be, as we support them in their vital work and facilitate an environment in which they can deliver the best possible care.

Our deep understanding of the intricate precision, skill, and dedication required to achieve peak procedural performance ensures we are the partner of choice for surgeons across the globe. It's not a role we take lightly. Having the trust of the surgical community is a privilege. It's why we're relentlessly focused on serving its needs through innovation, strategic partnerships, and, crucially, collaboration.

We provide solutions to facilitate every type of surgery – from the simplest to the most complex procedures – including equipment such as tables, lights, hemostats, irrigation, and fluids. And our surgical offering is centered around three core principles: simplifying workflow, connectivity, and versatility.

Rapid innovations in surgical digital technology can transform the OR, bringing efficiencies to surgical workflow and technologies that can now connect every moment of care. Surgical teams understand that key to a high-performing OR is synergy between these technology advances and human expertise.

Take the Helion System, which offers teams the right equipment and access to specialist advice, helping them perform to their highest level. It allows them to collaborate, communicate, record, and save important information. It's easy to use, with clear display and audio recording capabilities, so expertise can be harnessed from specialist clinicians or multidisciplinary teams located anywhere in the world, offering guidance in real-time, as though they were in the room. Plus, it can be scaled up, depending on needs.

"To make life-saving decisions, we all need the right information for each operation, to make the right decision at each critical moment." Dr. Marco Scatizzi, General Surgeon, "Santa Maria Annunziata" Hospital, Italy.

We know that every second counts in the OR. We offer surgeons a seamlessly integrated environment with the tools needed at their fingertips to minimize interruptions and delays, delivering surgical, imaging, and navigation insights every moment, so everyone remains focused on the patient.

"The last two decades focused on how to invent better surgical techniques to help patients recover more quickly. This led to robotic and imaging innovations. We are now focused on what connectivity can do to help surgical team efficiency." Dieter Ceglarz, Head of Strategic Alliances, Baxter.

From pre- to post-op, data connectivity ensures surgeons can access patient and imaging data precisely when and where it's needed to facilitate better planning and greater efficiency during procedures. We bring simplicity and connectivity to the OR with an integrated surgical system that gives real-time insights and information. This system enhances robotic-assisted surgeries with improved intraoperative imaging workflow and intraoperative patient positioning. And, by connecting high-quality data from multiple networks, we simplify the flow of patient information, enhancing OR workflow efficiency and precision patient positioning.

Growing demand for minimally invasive surgery, driven by its benefits of smaller incisions, more accurate surgery, reduced trauma, and quicker recovery times, has fueled the need for greater adoption of robotic systems.

Da Vinci Surgical System has revolutionised multiquadrant robotic-assisted surgeries and enhanced workflow. When discussing workflow efficiency related to ITM, the most frequently cited aspect is the avoidance of undocking and redocking of the surgical robot. By eliminating this step, respondents provide a range of 10 to 35 minutes saved per procedure (range varies due to numerous types of procedures).⁵

While these exciting developments are already making an impact on patients and operating rooms, we continually engage with those on the frontline of care delivery. This ongoing dialogue means we're one step ahead, enabling future innovations to reduce healthcare pressures, while saving and sustaining lives.

Looking forward, AI and VR technology have the potential to continue to transform surgery, improving outcomes and recovery time for patients, reducing costs, and making surgical procedures more accessible to more patients. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to help surgeons make more informed decisions during procedures, leading to improved outcomes.⁶ VR technology can provide surgeons with a more immersive and realistic simulation of the surgical environment, allowing them to practice complex procedures and develop their skills.

We're excited about our vital role in making the OR fit for future demands, improving the surgical teams' experience, and above all, to enhance the humanity behind lifesaving surgery.