orations and provided a more robust means for accountability in
health care.
In another regard, one of most tangible impacts of technology
can be felt in the operating room. Complicated open surgeries that
once led to disfigurement, massive blood and/or functional loss,
and increased likelihood of infection and death have been effectively replaced by minimally invasive surgeries that mitigate such
shortcomings. Surgeons have expressed appreciation for modern
approaches as they enhance vision, dexterity, precision, and access.
To patients, the prospect of returning to a normal life is equally
as cherished. Yet, a key question is not whether modern surgical
approaches are beneficial, but rather if the degree to which they are
implemented is truly warranted. In addition to having a steep-learning curve and high costs of acquisition and maintenance, surgical
systems such as da Vinci® significantly increase total operating
time and are often incompatible with existing protocols and tools
in the OR7,8. Further, such technologies are driving up the cost of
health care in general9. As smaller hospitals and clinics buy more
advanced systems to compete with larger centers, the need to push
their utilization grows proportionally as reimbursement rates fall10.
A procedure that could be sufficiently accomplished via open or
conventional laparoscopic approaches may instead be performed
robotically to enhance a hospital’s return on investment, even though
long-term outcomes between robotic and cheaper, conventional
laparoscopic cases remain comparable11,12. Here, physicians should
give important consideration as to whether a procedure absolutely
requires the latest, more expensive tools to deliver a desired outcome. )%