When I talk to health system leaders, they often muse about how this era of technology innovation reminds them of the early days of EHRs. A big question back then was, “Do I want one vendor to do everything? Or would it be better to choose specific vendors for each distinct area?”
While technology has come a long way since the emergence of the EHR, hospitals continue to face the decision between consolidated vendors and specialized solutions.
Both then and now, the forward-thinking health systems appreciated that the bottom line was demonstrating proven results. No matter how ambitious a vendor was to build a broad platform that would eclipse all other related technologies, specialized solutions and the innovation they introduced were only merited by their unique and differentiated results. At Apella, our results of the past year and the successes of our partners tell the entire story.
That’s why we’re so thrilled Apella’s platform for operating room management was just recognized with the 2025 MedTech Breakthrough Health Administration Innovation Award. This honor celebrates the companies delivering exceptional solutions, and it’s a testament to everything our team and partners across the country are doing to transform perioperative workflows and increase patient access to quality healthcare. (It also nicely follows our Fast Company Most Innovative Companies win!)
Most of all, the MedTech Breakthrough Award recognizes the results our customers have achieved through our partnership. For example, thanks to Apella’s innovative approach to data and AI in the operating room, Houston Methodist achieved an average increase of two cases per month per OR during just its first 10-month pilot across 32 operating rooms in its famed DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center. Following the success of the pilot, Houston Methodist expanded our collaboration to all 200+ surgical suites system-wide.
Check out our case study on How Houston Methodist Increased Case Volume While Decreasing Overtime and drove a 10% case volume increase while cutting overtime by an average 36 minutes per OR per month.
At Tampa General Hospital, real-time visibility from Apella’s always-on ambient sensor technology significantly reduced the manual room checks, phone calls, and disruptions typical of the charge nurse’s perioperative workflow, creating a more connected and informed OR environment. In just the first 10 months of pilot implementation, Tampa General estimated that the team reduced interruptions by about 1.4 door opens per case, adding up to about 40,000 minutes of productivity saved for clinicians, nurses, administrators, and more.
Our focus remains steadfast on addressing the fundamental data challenges that impact not only surgical outcomes, but also health worker productivity and hospital efficiency. This Health Administration Innovation Award from MedTech Breakthrough reinforces that we’re on the right track: transforming the surgical suite into a data-driven environment, producing better outcomes for all.