Testing ground in the OR

Collaboration in action

In the 'proeftuin', or 'testing ground', innovative techniques are validated in three steps.

Step 1

Firstly, a multidisciplinary team of experts assesses the technical feasibility of the product, process or service in a health technology assessment. They look at whether the product performs as intended in practice, whether it fits the hospital’s, surgical environment’s and personnel’s way of working, whether it is in line with the sector and supervising organizations, how innovative it is, and if it contributes to cost-effective care. To ensure this assessment is performed in an organized manner, the Delphi method is used.

Step 2

During the second phase, the feasibility of the use of the product, process or service in practice is demonstrated in the animal lab or in the Radboudumc’s surgical rooms with the use of fresh frozen cadavers. Both locations offer the opportunity to test new technology in as realistic a setting as possible without endangering any patients.

Step 3

In the last validation phase, the use of the product, process or service is demonstrated in MITeC operating theatre. By using a realistic, High Tech user environment, developers can gain insight in the workings of the innovation in clinical practice. This knowledge can be used during the definition of the final market application of the product, process or service.