3D printing technology boosts hospital efficiency and eases pressures

"Researchers investigating the benefits of 3D printing technology found it can deliver significant improvements to the running of hospitals.

A new study has found that using 3D printing technology in hospitals has aided complicated surgeries, and eased time and financial pressures. The research, which compared the drawbacks and advantages of using 3D printing technology in hospitals, has been published in the International Journal of Operations and Production Management.

The study was undertaken by Dr Atanu Chaudhuri, Associate Professor in Technology and Operations Management at Durham University Business School, alongside colleagues at ORT Braude College of Engineering in Israel, and the University of Southern Denmark.

The researchers conducted interviews, workshops, and field visits to better understand the reasons for investing in the technologies, how they were being used by surgeons and professionals on the surgical teams, and the results of their implementation.

Dr Chaudhuri, who is also a member of the Centre for Innovation and Technology Management at the Business School and Fellow of the Wolfson Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Durham University, said: “Our study sought to address two key concerns from the healthcare sector when considering whether to commit to the significant financial investment that 3D printing technology would require.

“First, we wanted to discover how custom-designed, 3D printed anatomical models, implants, and surgical instruments could impact upon hospital flow times, surgical outcome variability, and any other clinical outcomes that may result from its use. Second, we aimed to understand how hospitals make decisions regarding investment in 3D printing for surgical purposes, and how our research might help clarify that process.”..." Lire la suite