Reaping maximum benefits from minimally invasive surgery.

A study conducted by Deloitte & Touche examined the use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS)--specifically laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and thoracoscopic wedge resection--at nine U.S. hospitals. From a total hospital cost perspective, two procedures studied reduce hospital costs, one is a breakeven and one increases hospital costs. In addition, with MIS there is a major shift in resource consumption from nursing care units to the operating room. Best practices, defined as most efficient staffing levels, operative times, lengths of hospital stay and other treatment characteristics practiced at the study hospitals, were also identified. Hospitals can maximize their return on MIS by providing ample training to surgical and processing staff, standardizing on equipment, wisely choosing when to use custom kits, block scheduling for MIS and incorporating MIS into the hospital's strategic plan.