The nurses wearingApples fancy gogglesin the operating room were running software built by a company called eXeX.
Thats not eXeXs business.
People assume that surgical healthcare has got to be sophisticated and modern.
Photo: eXeX
Its all memorization and guesswork with scribbles on pieces of paper.
Its total chaos theory.
Outside of the surgical process, eXeXs main product runs on a tablet.
But when the scrubs go on, a headset could be the ideal tool.
(This interview has been edited for clarity and consistency.)
Healthcare is almost a trillion-dollar industry, how can it be this bad?
Thats electronic health records.
It doesnt get a lot more sophisticated than that.
But nobodys really stopped to look at the very boring foundational part of it.
Gizmodo: So what exactly does your software do?
RM: Ill give you an example at the equipment level.
There are tens of thousands of pieces and tools and consumables.
The surgeon asks for the drill, and the technician says What drill?
Well, its the drill I use every time at this moment.
But theres no uniform process to keep track of these details.
Now someone has to run down in the elevator to get it.
Gizmodo: Thats not what you think of when you think about cutting-edge healthcare technology.
RM: Were talking about the least glamorous part of the process.
Gizmodo: But why do you need a headset for this?
RM: Well you certainly dont need it for every aspect of what were doing.
Its just a software environment for your organization.
Now, do I want the circulating nurse behind the field to have a fancy headset?
That person uses an iPad, or computer, or even a phone.
Our core product is tablet-based.
But what were really focused on is the portability and software these different types of environments require.
Gizmodo: So as I understand it, the surgeons themselves arent wearing the headset here.
Is that the next step?
RM: Honestly, as a surgeon, I wouldnt even consider it, at least for now.
Theres always a tendency to say look at this amazing tech, lets put a screw in with it.
Well, were already putting screws in without the headset, so it doesnt really solve a problem.
Honestly, its all unnecessary because we already do that pretty well.
What we dont do really well is stay organized.
What are the hurdles you should probably get past?
RM: Well the first thing you always hear is its going to cause infections.
If its the best app for the job, theres your answer.
This is Star Trek stuff, but were solving the least sexy problems in the world with it.
RM: Look, I dont want to imply that healthcare is bad.
Its just that nobodys focused on the basics.
Yet healthcare is just garbage.
But sometimes you do have to go backward to go forward.
Healthcare is finally doing that.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
You May Also Like
Two banks say Amazon has paused negotiations on some international data centers.
Pacific Rims TV Show Drifts to Prime Video
Good news for giant robot fans.
