Bay Pines VA Debuts Hybrid Operating Room
The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System recently performed their first procedure in the newly installed Hybrid Operating Room (OR).
The Hybrid OR reinforces the healthcare system’s commitment toward being a Highly Reliable Organization through modernization efforts that directly impact the ways Veterans receive world-class health care.
“A Hybrid OR is an advanced procedural space that features surgical equipment and imaging in one location,” said Dr. Amin Elamin, chief of staff, Bay Pines VA. “When a healthcare system embarks on the journey toward becoming a Highly Reliable Organization, adaptation to new processes is necessary to deliver the best standards of service to those we care for. I’m certain this innovation will help us realize our goal of being an HRO.”
The Hybrid OR combines rooms and teams to form a multi-disciplinary group of clinicians who are prepared to meet the complex needs of patients. This group consists of staff from Surgery, Radiology, Nursing and Anesthesia. Each member serves a crucial role in ensuring better patient outcomes during vascular surgery.
“Vascular surgeons diagnose, treat, and manage conditions of your arteries and veins, also called your blood vessels,” said Dr. Desiree Picone, M.D., staff vascular surgeon, Bay Pines VA. “More often than not, vascular surgeries are accompanied by advanced imaging techniques. Having a hybrid space allows us to rapidly convert to the open parts of our surgery in the operating room. And we can do it with better imaging quality at lower radiation doses.”
This evolving technology provides surgeons the ability to perform both minimally invasive endovascular procedures and traditional open surgical procedures in the same space when needed. This is significant because there may be instances where, while performing an endovascular procedure, surgeons realize that a more complex surgery is required. The presence of the Hybrid OR allows them to seamlessly transition to a more intensive level of care.
Prior to the installation of the Hybrid OR, a portable X-Ray unit would be available to staff in the OR. Although the portable unit assisted in the completion of successful surgeries, the Hybrid OR simply offers higher quality imaging in a safer manner.
“For the staff in the operating room, our cumulative dose of radiation can become pretty high, because we’re repeatedly exposed to it while conducting procedures,” Picone said. “To me this new technology really improves our ability to perform the involved surgeries that our Veterans need in the optimum environment for both patient and staff safety.”
Picone continued, “I immediately noticed a difference in delivery of care while conducting my first Hybrid OR procedure. The patient was in excellent condition afterward and I know our ability to better control certain metrics played a factor. I couldn’t be more pleased with the technology, and I look forward to improved outcomes for the Veterans we’ll serve going forward.”