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 The ''Computerworld'' Smithsonian Award is given out annually to individuals who have used technology to produce beneficial changes for society. Nominees are proposed by a group of 100 CEOs of information technology companies. The award has been gi ...
in 1999 for using technology to benefit the world.
The company's clients included hospitals, medical technology experts, and educational companies. 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, which became part of
Swedish Medical Center
Swedish Health Services, formerly Swedish Medical Center, is the largest nonprofit health provider in the Seattle metropolitan area. It operates five hospital campuses (in the Seattle neighborhoods of First Hill, Cherry Hill and Ballard, and th ...
in 2000.
In August 2004,
Robert R. Lazzara incorporated the company in
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
with co-founder Thomas Overbey who served as Producer and marketed the company.
References
{{Reflist
Companies based in Tampa, Florida