Georgetown Surgeons Integrate iPad into their Operating Room

As featured in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of Surgical Radiology, surgeons at Georgetown (Durham, N.C.) have transformed the iPad from an entertainment device into a multimedia platform from which they can access up to date patient data and radiographic images. By making the iPad as essential as a scalpel, they can have this information available at their fingertips during major surgical procedures.

With its large screen and networking capabilities, the iPad permits access to x-rays, CT scans, and laboratory data. Real-time access to this critical information makes the iPad attractive as well.

Integrating the iPad into a clinical setting helps eliminate guesswork by busy doctors taking care of dozens of patients. Laboratory data and other key patient information are immediately accessible both on wards and in the operating room. Data can even be captured during surgery and appropriate photographs shared with the patient afterward.

Published in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of Surgical Radiology, Dr. Felasfa Wodajo, an orthopedic surgeon at Georgetown University, details how he has integrated the iPad into his clinical practice. A sample work flow and helpful pointers on high quality software are included. By decreasing the barriers to integrating technology with clinical care, the outcome can be improved patient safety, higher patient satisfaction, and decreased health care costs.