Tampa General Hospital Implements AI-Powered Platform to Improve Operating Room Efficiency
Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has introduced Apella, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform designed to enhance safety and efficiency in its operating rooms. The system provides perioperative teams with real-time data to support decision-making, anticipate needs, and optimize operations.
The Apella platform utilizes a combination of AI, computer vision, and advanced communication technologies to deliver several key functionalities:
-
Predictive Analytics: Apella can predict case durations, which helps in planning and scheduling surgeries more effectively. By estimating how long each procedure will take, the platform enables more efficient use of operating rooms and resources.
-
Turnover Optimization: The system offers insights into turnover durations between surgeries, helping to streamline the process of preparing operating rooms for the next patient. This includes the cleaning, restocking, and setup required between procedures, reducing downtime and increasing the number of surgeries that can be performed.
-
Staffing Recommendations: Apella provides data-driven staffing suggestions, ensuring that the right personnel are available at the right times. This feature is designed to match staff levels with the demands of ongoing and upcoming surgeries, improving both efficiency and patient care.
-
Real-Time Decision Support: The platform gives perioperative teams a 360-degree view of the operating room in real time. This capability allows for more informed decision-making, enabling teams to respond quickly to immediate needs and to plan more effectively for upcoming steps during surgeries.
-
Continuous Improvement: Apella captures and analyzes data from each surgical procedure to identify patterns and opportunities for improvement. This feedback loop supports ongoing training and learning efforts within the surgical teams, helping them to refine their processes over time.
-
Enhanced Scheduling: By improving the scheduling workflow, Apella helps ensure that patient needs are met more efficiently, reducing wait times and optimizing the use of surgical facilities.
John Couris, President and CEO of TGH, commented on the initiative:
"Through innovation and technology such as Apella, we're giving our teams the tools and information to enhance quality, strengthen safety, and improve patient outcomes."
Dr. Murray Shames, Medical Chief of Staff at TGH and Chair of the Department of Surgery at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, noted the technology's potential, stating:
"The technology's ability to look deeper into process efficiencies, predict workflow improvements, and find opportunities for quality improvement in our cases are just a few ways we can use this technology to work toward better patient outcomes and improved efficiencies."
The introduction of Apella follows its recent implementation at Houston Methodist and is part of TGH’s broader strategy to integrate advanced technologies into its healthcare delivery model.
Topics: HealthTech
