According to the specific type of operation, disposable items are now assembled into standardized sterile surgical kits, and their accounting and stock replenishment are managed automatically using special technology. It is expected that the new solution will allow more efficient management of medical supplies, save nursing staff time, and contribute to patient safety.
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Until now, preparation for operations involved many separate actions, mostly performed manually. Staff checked the remaining supplies, placed orders, received and distributed products, and before each operation separately gathered the necessary items. “One of the most important changes for the nursing team is simpler and more consistent preparation for the operation. Instead of searching for and checking many separate items, the employee can select a kit prepared specifically for the procedure,” says Daiva Rimkūnienė, head of nursing at the Surgery Clinic of Kaunas Clinics.
The composition of the supplies needed for each type of operation is pre-agreed with the operating team. About 90% of disposable items can be included in the sterile surgical kit, and the prepared kits are delivered directly to their place of use. RFID technology automatically registers their receipt and removal, so stocks can be replenished based on actual consumption.
According to preliminary calculations by the Surgery Clinic, such a process could reduce preparation time for one operation by up to 15 minutes. However, the benefits of the solution are not only related to time saved. The standardized kit composition reduces the likelihood of forgetting a necessary item or noticing its shortage only after the operation has started, and the uniform preparation procedure helps ensure smoother work in different operating rooms and shifts.
Significant for patient safety is also the transition from reusable textiles to disposable items that perform a barrier function. Since new items are used for each operation, their protective properties do not depend on previous washing and sterilization cycles or material wear. In addition, fewer individually opened packages help reduce the risk of sterility breaches.
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According to D. Rimkūnienė, when implementing the system, not only more efficient management of medical supplies was important, but also the working conditions of nursing and auxiliary staff. “The smart supply management system is not only a technological solution but also a solution dedicated to the well-being of our employees. In a modern hospital, attracting and retaining employees is not limited to competitive wages – an equally important factor is a modern work environment, dignified and safe working conditions, and smoothly organized processes. This is an investment not only in the daily life of employees but also in the quality of the entire hospital’s operations,” emphasizes D. Rimkūnienė.
The smart supply management system has been implemented throughout the operating block of the Surgery Clinic of Kaunas Clinics, where more than 10,000 operations are performed annually. Its practical benefits will be evaluated once the system is used in daily work, and based on the results achieved, decisions will be made regarding the expansion of this model to other departments of Kaunas Clinics.
“Technology is important to us as long as it creates real value for people. In this case, we aim for employees to have more time for the patient, and for preparation for the operation to be simpler, more consistent, and more reliable,” says the head of nursing at the Surgery Clinic, D. Rimkūnienė.
