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Published on: March 22, 2013
Establishing 3D Printing at the Point of Care: Basic Principles and Tools for Success
Sarah Bastawrous1, Lei Wu1, Peter C Liacouras1
1Department of Radiology (S.B., L.W., B.R.) and Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology (D.B.L.), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash; Departments of Radiology (S.B., L.W., B.R.) and Research and Development (B.S.), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Mailbox S-114, Radiology, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108-1597; 3D Medical Applications Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md (P.C.L.); Department of Radiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Ky (M.T.A., J.T.L.); Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, Surgical Services (112), Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Va (M.F.A.); and Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Md (J.C.).
Implementing point-of-care (POC) three-dimensional (3D) printing in hospitals offers significant patient care benefits. This guide outlines essential infrastructure, workflow, and regulatory considerations for successful adoption in healthcare settings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Technology
- Healthcare Innovation
- Radiology
Background:
- Three-dimensional (3D) printing is increasingly adopted in healthcare for enhanced patient care and sustainability.
- Point-of-care (POC) 3D printing in hospitals presents significant potential but also challenges.
- Radiology departments are exploring 3D printing to integrate it into routine clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a practical guide for healthcare organizations, particularly radiology departments, on establishing and expanding POC 3D printing facilities.
- To outline the fundamental principles and considerations for building the necessary infrastructure to support in-house 3D printing.
Main Methods:
- Developing a business case for 3D printing implementation.
- Defining requirements for facilities, space, and staffing.
- Designing digital workflows and considering electronic health record integration.
- Reviewing supported applications, benefits, quality, and regulatory aspects.
Main Results:
- Successful adoption requires a strategic approach encompassing business, infrastructure, digital workflow, and regulatory planning.
- POC 3D printing can transition from a niche application to a standard component of clinical care.
- Considerations for quality and regulatory compliance are crucial for safe and effective implementation.
Conclusions:
- Establishing POC 3D printing facilities requires careful planning regarding infrastructure, workflow, and regulatory compliance.
- This approach can significantly enhance patient care delivery and operational efficiency within healthcare organizations.
- Radiology departments can leverage this technology to improve diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.
