Communication and Decision Support Tool for an In-Hospital 3D Printing Service

Abstract

Background: Effective communication is a key factor in healthcare, essential for improving process efficiency and quality of care. This is particularly true in new services, e.g., the 3D printing service inside the hospital. Objectives: A web platform, called 3DSCT, has been developed to act as an interface between the three categories of operators involved in 3D printing: physicians, radiologists and engineers. Methods: The 3DSCT platform has been designed using Microsoft Visual Studio Code, enclosing .js scripts and HTML pages with the relative CSS formats. Results: When applied to a real 3D printing service, the 3DSCT platform provided an effective solution that streamlined the process of designing and manufacturing 3D-printed artifacts, from physician’s request through development to printing. Conclusion: By incorporating the platform into the hospital management system, it will be possible to reduce the overall lead time and decrease the waste of time for the operators involved in 3D printing inside the hospital.