The digital transformation in the healthcare sector offers great opportunities to improve the quality of care in operating theaters and clinics. The number of medical devices in operating theatres and adjacent departments such as recovery rooms and intensive care units is constantly increasing – up to 40 different medical devices from different manufacturers are already in use in each operating theatre. These individual solutions prevent comprehensive data exchange and standardized device operation. Against this background, the open and manufacturer-independent networking of medical devices in accordance with the new ISO IEEE 11073 SDC (Service-oriented Device Connectivity) standard represents a promising solution. This technology has the potential to revolutionize and significantly relieve the healthcare market through the use of synergy effects. Networking leads to data fusion, automated documentation and standardized user interfaces and thus to an improvement in clinical processes.

These advantages lead to support and relief for staff as well as improved therapy options in combination with an increase in patient safety, which in turn leads to an improved clinical outcome. In addition to cost savings, this particularly addresses the challenges of increasing staff shortages and the growing documentation workload in clinical departments.

Imagine that all the devices in the OR play together like an orchestra. The conductor (surgeon/anesthetist) orchestrates OR lights/tables, endoscopy devices, X-ray and ultrasound devices as well as ventilators, patient monitors and syringe pumps via a central SDC workstation. When proprietary devices can be combined into an orchestra using SDC via plug-and-play, there are considerable advantages for clinics, users and ultimately for the patient.

Standardized operating concepts ensure a high level of usability and safe operation of devices from different manufacturers. Instead of up to 10 foot controls, as is common in neurosurgery today, only one universal foot control unit will be required in future. This means simplified operation from the sterile area and no “yell-and-click” communication, as was previously necessary from sterile to non-sterile personnel, e.g. when adjusting the operating table (quote: Prof. Clusmann, Head of Neurosurgery UKAachen: “If you have to adjust the operating table during the operation, you call the non-sterile jumper … and wait … and wait … which can lead to critical delays.”). Another example is the optimization of interdisciplinary processes. Both the recording of patient data (e.g. at the scene of an accident) and set parameters of treatment devices can be transferred to the shock room in advance and are already available in the devices on site when the patient arrives.

Currently, up to 55% of surgeons’ and anesthetists’ working time is spent on documentation (HIMSS (2015)). An SDC platform enables partially automated documentation across specialist disciplines and hospital departments. This frees up additional capacity for patient care.

Previously, hospital operators were usually tied to individual manufacturers for years. With SDC, users can now deploy the latest technology as and when they need it. Standardized operating concepts reduce the amount of familiarization and training required and intelligent workflow support significantly improves clinical outcomes.