Hybrid OR: Ready for a Standout Performance

Matt Terry discusses the Hybrid OR market and how the vendors are performing

I love to watch big moments in sports. I was glued to the TV as a young boy when an injured Kirk Gibson of the Dodgers hit his game-winning, late-inning home run—and limped victoriously around the bases. I was intently watching as my heart was torn out by Michael Jordan in the 1998 NBA Finals in Salt Lake City when he calmly pushed (it was a push—no matter what the referees said) Bryon Russell aside and knocked down the winning jump shot. I may never recover from that dagger!

I also remember the not-so-great moments in sports, like Bill Buckner’s gaffe in Boston when that slow, easy grounder to first base trickled through his legs, allowing the Mets to win the game and ultimately the World Series. (Thank goodness the good folks in Boston finally have something to cheer about this year.) Sports fans can also never forget Jean Van de Velde’s colossal meltdown at the British Open when his four-stroke lead going into the final hole disappeared in a matter of moments. Ouch! 

What do these big moments in sports all have in common? They all represent standout performances, positive or negative, and an athlete’s ability or failure to deliver in a crucial moment. Like in sports, thehybrid OR market is at a defining moment. The market is ready for a standout leader.

Siemens and Philips, seen as the leaders in this space with the Siemens zeego and Philips FD20 FlexMove, have substantial market share and are top of mind for many providers looking at hybrid OR equipment. Siemens, although perceived by many as a technology leader in this space, has customers who speak to challenges with training and ease of use. Philips may be poised to make significant strides and gain market share with their FlexMove; customers are pleased with the early implementations and training, but some customers also indicate challenges with EMR integration. In spite of promising satisfaction trends among early customers, GE and Toshiba may be a little bit late to the game in terms of offering a dedicated hybrid OR suite. The GE Discovery IGS 730 and Toshiba Infinix have happy customers, but they do not have the market share or the presence of Siemens and Philips. GE and Toshiba have an uphill climb. 

Will any vendor make a strong move in offering the complete hybrid OR experience and be seen as the leader in this space? Or will missteps, poor implementations and less-than-stellar training along the way cause a vendor to slip and stand out in a negative way? We know the hybrid OR market will see continued and steady growth as health systems look to improve efficiencies. There is a real opportunity for all of the vendors to stand out and separate themselves from the competition based on improvements in technology, innovation, service, implementations and training. Stellar performance and consistent delivery will be the difference makers. Just ask Michael Jordan.