Wesley Medical Center to launch $500,000 system to track patient procedures

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Nick Simonite

Dr. Chad Dietrichs, an anesthesiologist at Seton Medical Center, shows the functions of the ORControl operating room management system developed by Healthcare Control Systems Inc.

Josh Heck

Reporter- Wichita Business Journal

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Wesley Medical Center is implementing a new technology system providing real-time updates on surgical procedures.

Wesley plans to launch its ORControl work flow system on Nov. 3 in the hospital's surgical services department. The system is being tested between now and then.

Hospital leaders say the new system is designed to better manage patient cases by scheduling and coordinating the involvement of individuals and departments inside and outside the hospital.

The system uses color-coded labels that alert health care providers and patients' loved ones where the patients are in the surgical process.

Wesley has installed 28 ORControl status boards on three floors of the hospital, including one in its cafeteria. Medical providers also have access to the information on their smart phones or other mobile devices.

Austin-based Healthcare Control Systems developed the ORControl system.

This HCS video provides an overview of how the system works.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, Wesley's director of surgical services and associate chief nursing officer, says the system gives the hospital documented operational information that can be used to increase case volumes and on-time starts. The system is also designed to reduce room turnover times, patient wait times and surgery delays, Fitzpatrick says.

"Physicians can see real-time case status, view their schedule and see how surgery is queuing up for the day all with their smart phone or other mobile device," Fitzpatrick says. "They won't need to call us for status updates."

Josh Heck covers health care, professional services, education and energy.