Page 12 - Demo

10Chapter1INTRODUCTIONTheimpactoftechnologyontoday’ssocietyandourdailylivesisunmistakableSincethebeginningoftheThirdIndustrialRevolutioninthemid-1980s1smartphoneshaveimproved andchangedour wayofcommunicatingcomputershaveenhancedtheefficiencyofalmosteveryworkprocessandtheInternethasbecomeasourceofessential(andlessessential)informationSimilarlytechnologyhasleftamajorfootprintonhealthcareManymedicalprocedureshavebeenimprovedandefficiencyhasenableddoctorstoprovidemore andbetter treatment to theirpatientsRevolutionary technical developmentssuchasimage-guidedsurgeryandroboticshaveenabledphysicianstoexecutemoreadvancedandcomplexsurgeriesSometechnologieshaveevendisruptedclinicalproceduresForexampletheintroductionofX-rayandultrasoundhavechangedthewaysomediseasesarediagnosedPrimarilythisistheresultofnewdevelopmentsthemselvesandoftheincreasedacceptanceoftechnologyFurthermore new professionals such as clinical technologists and new departmentssuchasa3DLabsupportnewtechnologytonestintohealthcareTheterm‘innovation’isgenerallyusedtodescribenewtechnologyTheWHOdescribesinnovationasamethodthatimprovestheefficiencyeffectivenessqualitysustainabilitysafetyand/oraffordabilityofhealthcare23 ThisconciseandfittingdescriptionofinnovationcanhelpusevaluateitsimpactTheaimofthisprojectistoimproveclinicalcarethroughtheimplementationofinnovationsThe WHO’sdefinitionandmeasureswillbeusedthroughoutthisthesiswhereverpossibletoevaluatetheimpact YetthemostimportantoutcomeparameterthatwillbeusedistheactualclinicalimplementationThisthesisfocusesmainlybutnotexclusivelyonthecareandtreatmentofcraniosynostosispatientsCRANIOSYNOSTOSISCraniosynostosisisacongenitaldefectcausedbytheprematurefusionofoneormoresuturesofthecraniumAsaresultthenormalgrowthanddevelopmentof