Computer Technology Boosts Rhinologic Surgery, but Poses Choices for Surgeons

Doctors should also consider other practitioners who might be using the system-a neurosurgeon, perhaps-and be sure the system works well for both.

Dr. Tami said it is crucial to understand the system once it is purchased; a pet peeve of his is surgeons who get a system but don’t learn how to use it.

If you have an image guidance system, you need to know how to work it, he said. I think that it’s foolhardy to have it and expect your nursing staff to be able to run it or expect the tech to come in and run it when you need to use it. I know people who I work with or have worked with who, if there’s not a resident around or there’s not the nurse there, if something happens, they’re lost.

Dr. Tami said that, when it comes to image guidance systems and other purchases, whether to buy a system is often seen through a strictly financial lens.

The decisions are mostly local financial decisions, especially in today’s environment, he said. It’s getting more and more difficult to get hospitals and surgery centers interested in purchasing equipment if they can’t see a large financial benefit for themselves.

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