| Owner | Virtual OR, LLC |
|---|---|
| Founder | Robert R. Lazzara and Thomas Overbey |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Location city | Tampa, Florida |
| Location country | United States |
| Homepage | Formerly, virtual-or.com |
| Current status | Absorbed by Swedish Medical Center[1] |
| Language | English |
The Virtual Operating Room (Virtual OR) was a company based in Tampa, Florida that broadcast live surgical operations over the internet. It was the first company of its kind to create web-based educational video content that was accessible from anywhere in the world, which earned it a Computerworld Smithsonian Award in 1999 for using technology to benefit the world.
The company's clients included hospitals, medical technology experts, and educational companies.[2] Surgeries were used to share innovations, for teaching purposes, and for marketing new surgical technology.
History
In 1998 Virtual OR was the first entity to live broadcast an open heart surgery over the internet, out of Providence Seattle Medical Center,[3] which became part of Swedish Medical Center in 2000.[4]
In August 2004, Robert R. Lazzara incorporated the company in Florida with co-founder Thomas Overbey who served as Producer and marketed the company.[5]
References
- ^ "LinkedIn profile of Damion Hankejh, founder CTO"
- ^ "VOR Client Profile". Archived 2009-02-28 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Virtual Operating Room to benefit both teaching and education purposes". 18 June 1999. Archived 23 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ "Facts & Figures". Swedish Medical Center. Archived 2012-04-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
- ^ "Florida Limited Liability Company - VIRTUAL OPERATING ROOM, LLC". Florida Department of State. Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-05-07.