Dr. R.B. Jones, United States : Driving OR Excellence with Digital Twin Technology
Dr. R.B. Jones – head of the total joint committee for the Mercy Health System, physician operational leader of Mercy’s Springfield orthopedic department,
and specialist in adult hip and knee reconstructive orthopedic surgery at Mercy Orthopedics – is renowned for his commitment to efficiency and operational excellence. He performs routine and complex primary and revision joint replacements and focuses on the biomechanics of hip and knee replacements, revision joint replacement techniques, the use of novel technologies to improve implant positioning, patient functional outcomes, and more.
Recently, DEO.care had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Jones to create a process digital twin of his OR.
“We are proud of what we do, and many of our processes are rooted in historical traditions,” said Dr. Jones. As a self-confessed data enthusiast, his interest was piqued when a colleague introduced him to the DEO.care solution. He appreciated the idea of creating a process digital twin and using granular, meaningful data to quantify his OR process.
DEO.care conducted an operational excellence assessment, which included data generation during a typical OR day where Dr. Jones and team completed 11 total joint replacement procedures. Following this, DEO.care presented a data and insights report outlining metrics, best practices and opportunities for improvement using this baseline process digital twin.
The results confirmed the OR team’s commitment to operational excellence, showcasing an already efficient process with several best practices in place. At the same time, process digital twin simulations revealed opportunities to enhance operational flow, reducing total OR time and decreasing process variability.
“It was reassuring to confirm how well we were performing yet humbling and exciting to discover areas for growth,” said Dr. Jones. “I found the comparison to the DEO.care database benchmarks particularly inspiring. This is the standard of operational excellence I aim for, and this approach brings these best practices directly to me.” He further noted that typically, surgeons gain these insights through fellowship programs or OR visits, which, while valuable, are not always accessible to everyone.
Dr. Jones intends to implement these improvement opportunities in the OR, confident that the data provided will support the change implementation. “Change can be challenging, and I believe that meaningful, objective data is crucial to minimizing resistance and aligning goals within the team,” he said.
Already setting a benchmark for high-quality patient care and efficiency, Dr. Jones aims to further elevate operational excellence in his OR and throughout his hospital by leveraging innovative solutions like DEO.care’s AI-backed digital twin technology. His dedication to continuous improvement ensures that Mercy Orthopedics will remain at the forefront of innovation and excellence.
