Hackensack University Medical Center Operating Room Administrators to Deliver Webinar on Robotic Surgery Best Practices

On April 20, 2021, two Hackensack University Medical Center nurses will deliver a webinar sponsored by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)on establishing a Center of Excellence for the Quadruple Aim. The Quadruple Aim is a healthcare performance optimization framework that promotes four goals, including improved population health, an enhanced patient experience, reduced costs, and enhanced job satisfaction for providers.

Terri Freguletti, MAS, RN, CNOR, Vice President of Perioperative Services at Hackensack University Medical Center, and Vivian Kufour, RN, BSN, CNOR, Clinical Nurse Coordinator for Robotic Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, have been invited to deliver the webinar in recognition of the successful implementation of enhancements that promote the Quadruple Aim in Hackensack University Medical Center operating rooms, which offer 24/7 robotic surgery.

Hackensack University Medical Center was the first hospital in the world to provide patients with 24/7 access to robotic surgery across all specialties for both scheduled and acute procedures. Hackensack University Medical Center surgeons have performed more than 31,000 robotic surgery procedures in 21 years, making the hospital’s operating room teams among the most experienced in the world.

Freguletti and Kufour have spoken at various national conferences to discuss nursing best practices for training, scheduling, and continuing education related to 24/7 robotic surgery. These best practices support the Quadruple Aim by promoting community health, enhancing patient outcomes, promoting efficiency and cost effectiveness, and increasing job satisfaction for operating room nurses.

“At most hospitals, surgical robots are only utilized for scheduled surgeries — and when the surgeon and operating room nurses go home, the robot is also done for the day,” said Freguletti. “At Hackensack University Medical Center, if a patient comes into the ER on a holiday, evening, or weekend, all of our operating room nurses are fully trained to use the robot in the operating room.”

“Data show that patients who have robotic surgery have a shorter length of stay, less blood loss, fewer complications, and a faster recovery when compared to traditional open surgery,” said Kufour. “As part of our commitment to the Quadruple Aim, we wanted to ensure that every patient — including those who need acute surgery — have access to robotic surgery, and that all of our operating room nurses are fully trained and have the opportunity to participate in paid continuing education on robotic surgery.”

Kufour and Freguletti shared a real-life example of how 24/7 robotic surgery benefits Hackensack University Medical Center patients and achieves Quadruple Aim objectives. An 80-year-old patient came to the emergency department (ED) on a Friday night in a lot of pain after having a colonoscopy earlier in the day. The ED team discovered a hole in the patient’s colon, and he underwent robotic surgery to seal the hole. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, two days later.

“Without access to robotic surgery, this patient would have had a colostomy and a 10-day hospital stay,” said Freguletti. “Then, he would have had to return in six weeks to have another surgical procedure to reverse his colostomy.”

“Not only did robotic surgery benefit the patient by promoting a faster recovery with less discomfort, but it also provided cost savings due to a shorter length of stay and only one procedure instead of two,” said Kufour.

“Hackensack University Medical Center is a national leader in nursing best practices for robotic surgery,” said Michael D. Stifelman, M.D., Professor and Chairman of Urology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine; Chairman of Urology, Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center; Director of Urologic Oncology at John Theurer Cancer Center; and Director of Robotic Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center. “Our entire robotic surgery team works collaboratively to ensure better patient outcomes and a better patient experience, which aligns with the Quadruple Aim.”

“At Hackensack Meridian Health, all operating room team members have a seat at the table and are heard,” said Ihor S. Sawczuk, M.D., Regional President, Northern Market, Hackensack Meridian Health. “The high level of collaboration between administration, surgeons, nurses, and other team members is the reason we have been able to offer 24/7 robotic surgery and achieve the Quadruple Aim.”