In October, Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center launched an initiative to enhance patient care. Through the use of an AI-based automation solution, the hospital expects to improve workflows, maximize operating rooms and technology, and create better patient outcomes.
Hackensack Meridian Health is part of a joint venture with Ardent Health Services, a private hospital management company with locations across six states. Ardent has partnered with Qventus, dedicated to simplifying healthcare operations.
Qventus’ Perioperative Solution works in a number of ways to benefit the hospital and the community. At its core, it makes the best use of operating rooms and surgical robotics. This allows patients to receive better care faster.
Many hospitals face challenges when delivering patient care, including scheduling difficulties and inefficient manual processes. Using Qventus, operations are streamlined, reducing the manual processes administrative staff must perform.
Coordination of Care
Coordination of care can be very complicated, with multiple actions needing to take place. Providers must schedule surgeries based on patient needs, available operating rooms, and the right technology. Before surgery, a patient’s record must be reviewed to ensure the planned procedure is the best one for them, while also taking into consideration pre-existing health concerns, medications utilized, and other factors.
To ensure patients are properly prepared for their procedure, their Electronic Health Record (EHR) must be reviewed, taking time away from the clinical work of providers. Qventus’ Perioperative Solution does this work in record time, creating greater operational efficiencies. Similarly, this technology can coordinate post-operative needs and care, reducing inpatient hospital stays by one or more days.
Valarie McPherson, DVP, is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer for Mountainside Medical Center. She explains, “This technology makes it easier for physicians to practice. It optimizes flow for the care [patients] receive.”
Ardent, like most healthcare systems, found that surgical robotic rooms weren’t just underutilized, they were often used for surgeries that did not require such equipment or could have been handled in an Ambulatory Surgical Center. Additionally, surgical blocks, the time allotted to particular surgeons, can go unused due to scheduling difficulties and inefficient pre-operative planning.
Streamlining Scheduling
By connecting health records, surgical provider offices, and the hospital, there are fewer phone calls and less back-and-forth required to get patients the care they need. Scheduling and coordinating services become more streamlined with shorter wait times for surgeries.
Mountainside has two surgical robotics rooms, and patients are actively seeking out this technology. Because of demand, it’s crucial for the right surgeries to be booked into those rooms as soon as possible. Qventus’ technology connects with surgical provider offices to send reminders of upcoming blocks to get patients scheduled, resulting in less lost time.
By creating these operational efficiencies, hospitals can schedule more surgeries. This increases revenue for the hospital that can be used to fund additional initiatives to improve patient care.
Dr. David Atashroo, Chief Medical Officer, Perioperative, at Qventus explained, “The partnership with Ardent grows surgical volume strategically, leading to a 7x annualized return on investment.”
According to Atashroo, only about 150 hospitals in the United States are using this technology. Most are part of larger health organizations like Ardent. He credits Ardent as a forward-thinking leader in patient care.
McPherson said Mountainside is a pioneer locally for their use of this technology for surgical specialties. She said, “We’re doing a lot of great surgical procedures at Mountainside. This ensures the community continues receiving excellent care.”
