When equipment booms perform as intended, they bring hazardous cables up off the floor, obviate the need to search for equipment between cases, help preserve sensitive equipment and improve OR ergonomics. But when they don't perform, booms can cause staff injuries, hinder efficiency and frustrate the surgical team - while costing a lot of money. The only way to prevent the latter scenario is to create a painstakingly thorough plan before you buy. This is the clear message from the 60 OR and facility managers who responded to our recent boom survey. Here's their long list of factors to consider: