12. Impacts of Robotic Assisted Surgery on Hospital’s Strategic Plan: A Social Cost Approach

In this paper presented a methodological approach of the possible effects, considering various aspects, of incorporating robotic systems in complex environments like hospitals. In particular we examine the implementation of robot-assisted surgery systems which are of key importance within hospital’s environment. Although robotic systems are quite new and not widespread, due to various reasons, it has been identified that those systems affect seriously the whole operation of the hospital. The analysis take into account the different aspects like Surgical, Economic, Organizational, Structural as well as Legal issues, Ethical issues and Patient issues that are related to the implementation of robotic surgery in a hospital. Harmless of the surgical robotics in hospitals might affect the economical and social structure of the public system leading to direct and effective decisions to overcome the problematic. For that reason, calculation of social cost of harm could be introduced over time (t) as a proposed social measure to define the variability of social indicator on society.

Moreover we present the various stakeholders that are involved in the application of robotic systems within a hospital and their different key role, how they influence the use of such systems. The hectic aspect of economic sustainability is discussed taken into account terms of running costs, investment costs, and costs for patients and caregivers. Implementation of robotic systems is a part of a serious strategic plan of the hospital and could start composing a SWOT analysis in order to reveal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats regarding Medical, Technical, Social and Ethical aspects. Specific problems such as lack of resources and coordination necessities such as restructuring and finally weaknesses in the production of services can be managed with innovative solutions such as of Robotic Surgery.