Efficiency Benefits and Practice Value of Alcon's Digital Cataract Surgery Planning System
Author(s)
Li-Chen Pan, MPH, Carine Hsiao, MHS, Yuta Inoue, MBA, MSc.
Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Cataract surgery is the most prevalent surgical procedure, and its demand forecasted to rise due to the aging population. However, inefficiencies exist in current cataract surgery planning workflows, including manual data entry and non-integrated data and device systems. Addressing these inefficiencies may offer an opportunity to streamline workflows to support growing demand. The aim of this study is to assess how the efficiencies gained from Alcon’s digital cataract surgery planning technology can translate into added value for a practice.
METHODS: This study employed data from a time-and-motion study comparing Alcon’s digital surgery planning workflow to a standard workflow. We evaluated 3-scenarios: 1) Percent-improvement in time and manual data entry points for three patient types (conventional, post-refractive, and astigmatic) 2) Time, manual data entry and number of potential data entry errors saved, and the time-to cost equivalence of time saved across 100 cases (assuming 50%-conventional, 25%-post-refractive, and 25%-astigmatic patients); and 3) Number of additional plans that could be prepared in a one-hour period due to time savings.
RESULTS: Alcon’s digital cataract surgery planning workflow demonstrated a 65%, 63%, and 73% improvement in time efficiency and 64%, 73%, and 70% improvement in data entry points compared to a standard workflow for conventional, post-refractive, and astigmatic patients, respectively. For a hypothetical cohort of 100 cases, the digital surgery planning workflow saved 260 minutes, 2,200 data entry points, resulting in a projected decrease of 70 potential data entry errors. For time-to-cost equivalence, the time saved was valued at $5,497 based on the National Ophthalmic Medical Technician’s mean hourly wage, reflecting the potential to redirect staff time toward other high-value activities or patient care. Lastly, the time saved offered 48 additional plans to be prepared within a one-hour period.
CONCLUSIONS: Implementing Alcon’s digital cataract surgery planning workflow offers efficiency gains, reduced errors and measurable value for cataract practices.
METHODS: This study employed data from a time-and-motion study comparing Alcon’s digital surgery planning workflow to a standard workflow. We evaluated 3-scenarios: 1) Percent-improvement in time and manual data entry points for three patient types (conventional, post-refractive, and astigmatic) 2) Time, manual data entry and number of potential data entry errors saved, and the time-to cost equivalence of time saved across 100 cases (assuming 50%-conventional, 25%-post-refractive, and 25%-astigmatic patients); and 3) Number of additional plans that could be prepared in a one-hour period due to time savings.
RESULTS: Alcon’s digital cataract surgery planning workflow demonstrated a 65%, 63%, and 73% improvement in time efficiency and 64%, 73%, and 70% improvement in data entry points compared to a standard workflow for conventional, post-refractive, and astigmatic patients, respectively. For a hypothetical cohort of 100 cases, the digital surgery planning workflow saved 260 minutes, 2,200 data entry points, resulting in a projected decrease of 70 potential data entry errors. For time-to-cost equivalence, the time saved was valued at $5,497 based on the National Ophthalmic Medical Technician’s mean hourly wage, reflecting the potential to redirect staff time toward other high-value activities or patient care. Lastly, the time saved offered 48 additional plans to be prepared within a one-hour period.
CONCLUSIONS: Implementing Alcon’s digital cataract surgery planning workflow offers efficiency gains, reduced errors and measurable value for cataract practices.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EE483
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Thresholds & Opportunity Cost
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, STA: Surgery