Erlanger East has joined the digital revolution. Last year the Gunbarrel Road facility became the first in the Erlanger health system to digitally integrate all its operating rooms.
What does this mean for physicians, staff, and, most importantly, for patients undergoing surgery at the Erlanger East Campus?
For surgeons, working in a digital environment means increased efficiency and overall control of the operating room, enabling them to provide the highest level of surgical patient care. At the touch of a screen panel, “Our surgical team can control everything from the lighting, iPods and XM radio, to the endoscopic camera and video equipment,” says Denyse Klenner, Erlanger East surgical specialty manager. “In a traditional operating room, most of these responsibilities are performed by the nursing staff. Instead of constantly retrieving and shifting equipment to the appropriate position, nurses can concentrate more on the patient in a fully digital OR,” Ms. Klenner explains.
From Sterile Field to World at Surgeon’s Fingertips
“We have microphones set into the flat panel screens at the operating room bed, which allow our surgeons to consult with specialists at other locations, like the downtown campus,” Ms. Klenner points out. This highly sophisticated imaging system delivers real-time streaming audio and video to colleagues on other campuses, and, in the near future, to remote locations anywhere in the world, such as other teaching hospitals, or medical or surgical conferences. Since last year, this valuable video conferencing tool has been used by surgeons at Erlanger East for real-time consultations with colleagues at the Erlanger Baroness Campus. And on more than one occasion, specialists have traveled from downtown to Erlanger East to assist after viewing a surgery in progress.
Digital-imaging technology also allows surgeons to instantly call for and view high-definition, medical-grade, real-time video of their patient’s anatomy. They can also immediately access archived images and medical records of their patient for a comprehensive view of the patient’s condition.
Another appealing feature of digital ORs is the spaciousness it offers. Display monitors, freestanding carts, and other equipment that often clutter an OR suite and crowd the staff are now suspended from jointed booms that drop from high ceilings. These boom systems, which can swing freely throughout the entire OR, serve as the central piece of equipment for accessing most surgical devices.
“Before we went digital, nurses spent 20 minutes or more just moving equipment around to get the best position; now we just reach up and swing instruments and displays to anywhere you need it,” notes Ms. Klenner. Another “clear” advantage is the clearer image available to everyone on the surgical team, not just those standing near the patient or equipment.
A Patient’s Perspective
One of the first patients to undergo surgery at Erlanger East after it converted to all digital OR suites was Crystal Kestila.
The Ooltewah resident had been experiencing excruciating abdominal pain off and on for a number of months, both during and after her pregnancy. An ultrasound had revealed a large gray area in her gallbladder, indicating the presence of gallstones, but medical treatments proved unsuccessful. “It finally got to the point where I was doubled over in pain, and I knew I had to have something done immediately,” says Mrs. Kestila, whose doctor recommended Dr. Todd Cockerham, a surgeon with University Surgical Associates.
“Dr. Cockerham was awesome; he really cared,” Mrs. Kestila says. The day after their consultation, the local surgeon scheduled her for a gallbladder operation at Erlanger East.
“As soon as I got there, the staff started taking care of me,” recalls Mrs. Kestila, who said she was fearful of needles, particularly since she was dehydrated and worried they couldn’t find a vein. “Their anesthesiologist came in and started my IV and was just super caring; it was like they were all there for me,” she says.
Dr. Cockerham then performed a laparoscopic gallbladder procedure which involved three small incisions in her abdomen and one in the navel. “They put the mask over me, and I was out. Right after the surgery, I asked if they had intubated me because my throat wasn’t even sore. They had, of course, but I didn’t even notice it,” she recalls.
After surgery, Mrs. Kestila learned “they had pulled out a gallstone the size of a walnut.” She continues, “The surgeon couldn’t believe I had endured the pain with a gallstone that size.”
Mrs. Kestila went home the same day as surgery. Slightly sore for the next two days, she was able to resume normal activities within four days post-surgery – including caring for an active toddler. “I’m doing great now, no stomach problems, no more problems eating,” Mrs. Kestila reports.
As for her surgical experience, Mrs. Kestila has two pieces of advice. “I would definitely tell someone to get checked out if they have real sharp abdominal pains. And I would definitely recommend Erlanger East. It is really a great establishment, and I can’t say enough good about the staff. From admission to discharge, they treated me like I was a family member,” she says.