The use of local area networks in the day surgery department

As patient care moves from inpatient to outpatient status, there is an increased demand for specially developed software applications in the Day Surgery Department. Although a stand-alone computer initially could handle routine tasks performed by surgical staff, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a need exists for a more inclusive system that can manage the vast amounts of information necessary for effective resource management in today's Day Surgery Department environment. Local area networks (LANs) provide the necessary flexibility, expandability, and usability requisite of such a system. This article will discuss the benefits of using LANs in the Day Surgery Department. Specifically, an operating room scheduling and resource management software program is used to illustrate the advantages of LANs in the Day Surgery Department.