OpenSurg Inc., and OSF HealthCare collaborate to revolutionize operating room efficiency and improve patient safety
OpenSurg, Inc., a cutting-edge health care technology company headquartered in Chicago and with offices in Peoria, has announced a significant milestone in its mission to enhance patient safety and streamline operating room processes.
OpenSurg emerged from an idea of two surgical nurses at Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare. The new startup will commercialize their Device Table – part of a cloud-based web application with an expanding database for implanted medical devices, including those used for outpatient procedures. Rebranded as DeviceWise™ the app will include critical information about how to manage those devices for safety during surgeries. Millions of people across the country live with some type of medical device in their bodies to treat chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and epilepsy. If not handled properly patients and/or the devices can be harmed.
OSF Healthcare, regarded as one of the most innovative health care systems in the U.S., recently signed a licensing agreement for intellectual property that is included in DeviceWise™. This agreement marks a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing surgical practices and elevating patient safety standards.
Other revolutionary features of DeviceWise™ are specifically designed to optimize patient flow, reduce procedural delays and cancellations, and significantly enhance patient safety throughout the surgical process. For example, the DeviceWise™ team is currently working on an addition to its app, called CaseChat to help surgical care teams communicate in real time about device preparation and management.
DeviceWise™ has been successfully deployed at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria for the past three years and is being scaled across all 16 hospitals within the OSF HealthCare Ministry.
This technology has demonstrated its efficacy in real-world surgical environments, garnered positive feedback from medical professionals, enhanced patient outcomes, and achieved significant savings, including $1.9 million in reduced surgery cancellations and delays at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center alone.
"We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with OSF HealthCare," says Jim Weldy, CEO at OpenSurg, Inc.
This collaboration underscores our dedication to advancing medical technology and improving patient outcomes. These technologies have been very beneficial for OSF, and we are excited about extending their reach to revolutionize the periprocedural process globally.
Weldy is a former member of the OSF Innovation Studio team and helped shepherd the idea to solve the surgical implant problem that caused the delay or cancellation of hundreds of surgeries at OSF Saint Francis. Surgical nurses Jill Teubel and Mary Marvin initially created a spread sheet which they manually updated and made available on surgical carts. The OSF Innovation Studio team helped develop the user-friendly product that OpenSurg further advanced and will continue to scale, along with other features.
“The collaboration between OpenSurg, Inc. and OSF HealthCare exemplifies our shared commitment to innovation in the health care sector,” said OSF Innovation Senior Vice President Becky Buchen. “By leveraging these groundbreaking technologies, both of our organizations aim to transform the landscape of surgical procedures, providing health care practitioners with state-of-the-art tools to enhance their capabilities and elevate patient care.”
OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, OSF HealthCare has 16 hospitals – 10 acute care, five critical access, one transitional care - with 2,131 licensed beds throughout Illinois and Michigan. OSF employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners across 150+ locations; has two colleges of nursing; operates OSF Home Care Services, an extensive network of home health and hospice services; owns Pointcore, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. In 2020, OSF OnCall was established, a digital health operating unit, including a hospital-at-home. OSF OnCall delivers care and services when, where and how patients prefer to receive them. OSF HealthCare has been recognized by Fortune as one of the most innovative companies in the country. More at osfhealthcare.org.
OSF Innovation is a collaborative network of different disciplines that designs bold, strategic solutions to advance the future of health care. Learn more at osfinnovation.org.
OpenSurg, Inc. is a medical technology company headquartered in Chicago, IL. Committed to advancing surgical innovation, the company focuses on developing cutting-edge solutions that make a tangible difference in daily practice. More information is available at opensurge.com.