• The surgery department could also gain workflow efficiencies by eliminating delays in operating room (OR) start time, which occurred frequently with same-day wire localization. Such efficiencies would save time and money and allow increased OR utilization. Ease of use of the SCOUT system within the OR would facilitate training of surgical staff and further enable rapid adoption of the technology across the network.

• From a healthcare finance perspective, reducing inefficiencies in Northwell’s radiology and surgical departments would reduce unnecessary costs while increasing the volume of breast lesion localization and excision procedures. The efficiencies gained through the use of radar localization also had the potential to increase the efficiency and volume of other procedures performed by the radiology and surgery departments.


• Being at the forefront of adopting new technology is critical for advancing Northwell Health’s position as a leader in making healthcare innovation broadly available throughout the communities it serves. Adopting radar localization as the standard of care across the Northwell network would demonstrate the organization’s commitment to providing patients with optimum care. Additionally, taking a pioneering approach to implementing this new technology could increase Northwell’s opportunities to participate in evaluating breakthrough medical innovations by demonstrating its ability to rapidly deploy new advances across its network.

A commitment to new technology implementation
Adoption of a new technology is a two-stage process – evaluating which technology to adopt and then effectively implementing it throughout the system. Following the decision to adopt SCOUT as the standard of care for localization of non-palpable breast lesions, Northwell and the vendor (Cianna Medical), established a mutually agreed-upon trial period that included on-site training and support at two pilot facilities. Champions within the radiology and surgery departments proactively initiated training of relevant departmental staff. Within the radiology department this process built on the staff’s existing device placement skills, facilitating rapid adoption. Breast surgeons were contacted personally and encouraged to attend procedures in which SCOUT was used. Onsite vendor clinical applications specialist support was especially important for addressing surgeon’s questions in real time as they were observing or participating in excision procedures using radar localization. This high level of support enabled a short surgical learning curve and rapid adoption of the technology by surgical staff.

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