Twyford Courtney
Capella University
ENG-FPX2250: Academic Research and Writing
Dr. Sonja Andrus
August 8, 2022
Introduction
Technological advancements in the healthcare system reinforce the need for providers to embrace robots. Robotic surgeries improve precision and post-operative outcomes (Yu et al., 2018). Notable areas where robotic-assisted surgery is relevant are partial and total knee and hip replacements. While direct physician involvement remains a priority, surgeons acknowledge the significance of robots in assisting them to provide quality and safe patient care consistently. Sheetz et al. (2020) indicated that significant growth in the robotic surgery market encourages healthcare providers to embrace robot-assisted surgeries. The advancements provide opportunities for healthcare professionals to correct complex conditions, reduce the risk of infections, and achieve greater precision and accuracy. Compared with conventional procedures, robotic procedures are promising and could help healthcare professionals improve the accuracy of surgeries. Thus, robot-supported orthopedic surgery offers greater potential for healthcare professionals to perform complex operations and achieve the intended safety and quality of patient care.
The Relevance of Robot-Supported Orthopaedic Surgery
Efficient and Effective Surgical Procedures
Robot-assisted surgeries improve the efficiency and effectiveness of procedures. Successful outcomes help reduce the cost of care based on an organization’s ability to utilize advanced and better systems, multidisciplinary practices, and a competent workforce to enhance the quality and safety of patient care (Li et al., 2021). Despite the cost implications of robotic surgeries, healthcare providers can provide in-depth evaluations and precision in handling patients with complex health conditions. According to Li et al. (2021, p. 12), “robot-assisted surgery has gradually matured, with the surgeries likely becoming the mainstream choice in spine and joint surgery in the future.” Further development of robot-assisted technologies would strengthen organization’s ability to stay ahead of learning curves and optimize care outcomes. Efficiency and effectiveness are key aspects that influence significant investments in developing and implementing robot-assisted surgeries in today’s healthcare system. Healthcare providers acknowledge the contributions of robotic surgery toward maximizing patient experiences.
Opponents of robot-assisted surgeries claim that the high cost of implementation limits smaller and medium sized hospitals from benefitting from the technologies. In this sense, successful adoption requires additional investments in terms of upgrading systems, scaling interdisciplinary practices, and workforce training. Nonetheless, the specialized nature of robot-assisted surgery enhances the capabilities of surgeons’ hands. Increased portability and efficient workflows make robot-assisted surgeries appropriate for smaller facilities with resource constraints. Surgeons can perform procedures in complex areas through small incisions that support precise movements and enhanced magnification. Chen et al. highlight the relevance of robot-assisted orthopedic surgery in treating adult degenerative scoliosis. The findings capture patients’ vulnerability to blood loss, prolonged hospital stay, and other outcomes that increase operation costs. The multiple advantages justify the significant investment in pursuing changes within the clinical environment to optimize outcomes across the care continuum. In other words, healthcare providers should embrace robotic surgeries as part of the efforts to enhance the quality and safety of clinical practice. Robot-assisted technologies are effective and safe options for achieving satisfactory surgical outcomes.
The Impact of Robot-Assisted Surgeries on Patient Experiences
Unlike conventional orthopedic procedures, robot-assisted surgery maximizes patient experiences. The developments reinforce providers’ focus on patient-centered and outcome-based care. With multiple surgery procedures happening every year, robot-assisted surgeries are timely due to opportunities to provide better patient experiences and facilitating consistent improvements in hospital operations. For instance, the technologies help reduce vulnerability to severe blood loss, prolonged hospitalization, and readmissions (Jaiprakash et al., 2021). Patients, healthcare providers, the workforce, and families significantly benefit from streamlined surgical procedures. Jaiprakash et al. (2021, p. 4), argued that, “medicine has been a late adopter of robotics, but the trend will rapidly change in the upcoming decades.” The scholars added that, “robotic-assisted knee arthroscopy could decrease unintended iatrogenic trauma and improve visualization, thus increasing diagnostic yields and the execution of arthroscopic repair.” The findings reveal the relevance of robots in enabling healthcare professionals to access confined spaces within joins.
With robot-assisted surgeries, it is easier to manage complex manoeuvres required to access a joint and perform a successful surgery. The progress demonstrate viability of robot-assisted surgeries in making healthcare providers responsive to patients’ needs and expectations. However, opponents claim that surgeons can achieve the same level of accuracy without using the robot system. The narrative implies that physical involvement is a primary consideration for healthcare providers to optimize outcomes. On the other hand, increased surgical volume and demand for increased efficiency make robot-assisted surgeries a critical aspect of the modern healthcare environment. In the future, surgical robots will help reduce surgery time, enable providers to cope with increased volumes, and enhance value across the care continuum. Cutting time required for procedures boosts revenues and reduces recovery times for patients. Bai et al. (2019) advocated for precise and effective operation.
The authors acknowledge robots as among the best choices for solving defects of conventional surgeries. Despite drawbacks such as low accuracy, strong physical strength, and time-consuming workflows associated with traditional surgeries, improvements in robotic surgeries provide alternatives for healthcare providers to achieve high precision, reduce time-consuming workflows, and minimize the effect of radiation. Similarly, Jaiprakash et al. (2021) highlighted the gains from robotic surgeries based on high adaptability and the ability to reduce the trauma associated with conventional surgeries. The authors describe benefits such as easy manipulation, minimal invasion, and low radiation linked to surgery robot technology. Thus, the findings support the need for increased investment in robotic surgeries to overcome the complexities of performing surgeries. Robot-assisted surgeries make facilities responsive to patients’ needs and expectations.
Opportunities for Surgeons to Stay Ahead of the Learning Curve
Robot-assisted creates opportunities for healthcare providers to stay ahead of the learning curve by identifying and adopting promising innovations. Yu et al. (2018, p. 1) argued that, “medical robots have gained widespread acceptance in many areas.” In orthopedic surgery, “more surgeons prefer using a robot for surgery to get a more accurate alignment and kinematics” (Yu et al., 2018, p. 2). The findings suggest that robotic technology could become state-of-the-art for surgery. Despite the existence of counterarguments such as the cost of implementation and limited studies in robotic-assisted surgeries, the benefits are clear. Robotic devices will be among the routine equipment of surgical procedures. However, Sheetz et al. (2020) claimed that limited studies and clinical trials undermine the viability of robot-assisted surgeries in the modern healthcare system. In this sense, the care team may lack the knowledge and skills required to optimize outcomes. Despite the limited clinical trials, massive improvements are achievable. Robot-assisted surgeries enable healthcare professionals to respond to patients’ demand for minimal post-operative bleeding and pain (Li et al., 2021). Gains such as accuracy, reduced complications, and better computer navigation make robots crucial for improving the quality and safety of patient care. Advantages such as better image magnification, improved ergonomics, and shorter learning curves enhance the need for healthcare providers to adopt robot-assisted surgeries. Additionally, patients, surgeons, and hospitals can benefit from decreased blood loss, short hospital stays, and lower incidence of surgical complications. The multiple benefits demonstrate that robotic surgery creates opportunities for evidence-based and patient-centered procedures.
Conclusion
Robot-assisted surgeries provide opportunities for healthcare professionals to stay ahead of the learning curve in adopting advances and developments associated with evidence-based and patient-centered surgical procedures. Better accuracy and precision are priorities for surgeons seeking to improve the quality and safety of patient care. “The potential value of robotic surgery might be greater when it comes to complex structures such as cervical spine and spinal deformities” (Chen et al., 2020, p. 2). The emphasis is on superior accuracy and patient outcomes. Robot-assisted surgeries will drive the future of surgical operations by reducing the cost of services and bringing additional value in terms of reduced readmissions, shorter recovery periods, and reduced post-operative complications. Further, massive technological developments will make robotic surgery accessible to more facilities. Robot-assisted surgeries create a win-win situation for healthcare professionals, hospitals, and patients due to benefits such as faster recoveries and reduced complications.
References
Bai, L., Yang, J., Chen, X., Sun, Y., & Li, X. (2019). Medical robotics in bone fracture reduction surgery: A review. Sensors, 19(3593), 1-17. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8f36/feeacbf217df8bbfb0d4dacac9636925671e.pdf
Chen, X., Feng, F., Yu, X., Wang, S., Tu, Z., Han, Y., Li, Q., Chen, C., Lao, L., & Shen, H. (2020). Robot-assisted orthopedic surgery in the treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis: A preliminary clinical report. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 15(282), 1-8. https://d-nb.info/1217979883/34
Jaiprakash, A., O’Callaghan, W., Whitehouse, S., Pandey, A., Wu, L., Roberts, J., & Crawford, R. (2021). Orthopedic surgeon attitudes towards current limitations and the potential for robotic and technological innovation in arthroscopic surgery. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery, 25(1), 1-5. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2309499016684993
Li, C., Wang, L., Perka, C., Trampuz, A. (2021). Clinical application of robotic orthopedic surgery: A bibliometric study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 22(1), 1-14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34809652/
Sheetz, K., Claflin, J., & Dimick, J. (2020). Trends in the adoption of robotic surgery for common surgical procedures. JAMA Network Open, 3(1), 1-8. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2758472
Yu, F., Li, L., Teng, H., Shi, D., & Jiang, Q. (2018). Robots in orthopedic surgery. Annals of Joint, 3(3), 1-7. https://aoj.amegroups.com/article/view/4155/4756