Computerized barcode operational system for package of surgical instruments in operating room

About 8,000 people die every year in Taiwan as a result of nosocomial infection. Clinically, there is a high possibility for patients to contract nosocomial infection if medical equipment is not completely sterilized. In order to provide care and safety to patients in the operating room, increase management effectiveness and efficiency, and to reduce equipment operating costs, a project was developed to improve operating room management through data collection and analysis. A computerized barcode operational system for packages of surgical instruments was developed and executed throughout an entire operating room. The results showed that average time spent searching for surgical instruments decreased by 2,872 minutes (47.8hrs/month), 150% of the target figure; computerized monitoring of equipment expiration dates reduced total cost by 29.2% abnormal recognition of equipment tags was reduced to 0%. This project is the first one of its kind in the world.