Hybrid Operating Rooms Benefit Patients

The hybrid operating room at Evangelical Community Hospital includes a Toshiba ceiling mounted C-arm (x-ray device) that travels on rails, around the patient, in any direction and at any angle, from head-to-toe, fingertip-to-fingertip instantaneously displaying real-time images on a monitor above the patient for the surgeon.

With the opening of its new Surgical and Cardiovascular Expansion in early July 2012, Evangelical Community Hospital will introduce a new hybrid operating room. One of eight new operating rooms located on the second floor of the new facility, the hybrid is larger than the other seven in order to accommodate special imaging technology not found in a standard operating room. It provides the capability for both surgery and endovascular procedures (entering the body through major blood vessels) in one space. This enhances patient care since all necessary procedures can be performed in the hybrid OR, thereby alleviating the need to move the patient.

To get an inside look at the hybrid operating room at Evangelical Community Hospital join us for the Surgical and Cardiovascular Expansion OPEN HOUSE on June 21st from 3-7 pm.

Hybrid operating rooms are ideal for minimally invasive, image guided and/or catheter-based procedures including treatments for varicose veins, carotid artery blockages, aneurysms, angioplasty, removal of gallstones, and more. In addition, the hybrid OR’s design allows for multiple specialists to perform traditional procedures and minimally invasive surgeries on the same patient within one space.

Todd Stefan, MD, FACS, RPVI, of Surgical Specialists at Evangelical Community Hospital serves as Medical Director of the Peripheral Vascular Lab. Stefan says, “A hybrid operating room is a rarity among community hospitals. An operating room that serves both diagnostic and surgical functions in the same location is a plus for our patients, as often this specially equipped space is only available in larger health systems.”

Patients – Shorter Stays, Faster Recovery

Most procedures done in a hybrid setting are minimally invasive in nature, with smaller incisions, requiring shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery periods.

In addition, the cost of care can be dramatically reduced if multiple procedures can be accomplished during one surgery, under one act of anesthesia.

Patient’s risks are minimized because of less invasive treatment, fewer exposures to anesthesia and because there is no need to move the patient from the operating room to another area for imaging procedures, which can heighten the risk of infection.

Surgeons – Modern Equipment, Less Fatigue

Having direct access to some of the most modern and innovative technology to do their procedures, surgeons benefit from shorter operating times, under cooler but brighter lights, which causes less fatigue on them as they complete each surgery. More importantly, the technology and imaging validates success of the procedure before the completion of a case.

“I greatly appreciate the ability to see what is going on inside the patient so clearly. We can know whether what we’ve done in surgery will have immediate impact on the patient’s improved health,” said Dr. Stefan.

Hospital – More Efficient, Future Possibilities

Having a hybrid operating room on-site creates more efficiency within the entire surgical suite since the surgical and imaging procedures can be performed in one space – it makes for a more efficient experience for the patient.

“Patients want to have a safe and successful procedure, but they also want to minimize their time away from loved ones as much as possible,” said Dr. Stefan. “The Hybrid OR helps us to enhance the care experience by affording us the capability to perform all procedures in one location.”

All of the eight, new operating rooms that will be opened in July enhance the Hospital’s ability to recruit new surgical specialists.

“Surgeons want to treat patients with the most advanced equipment and technology. The new ORs will help the Hospital to recruit new and experienced surgeons to the region and provide additional surgical specialties for our patients,” said Stefan.

Evangelical Community Hospital is a non-profit organization that employs approximately 1,300 people and has more than 170 employed and non-employed physicians on staff. The Hospital is licensed to accommodate 127 overnight patients, 12 acute rehab patients and 18 bassinets. The Hospital serves residents throughout the Central Susquehanna Valley, including those living in Snyder, Union, Northumberland and Lycoming Counties, and has earned the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for four consecutive years.