Optimizing Procedural Room Utilization

Abstract

Surgical services depend on the efficiency and optimization of each of their surgical suites. Case delays and cases that run-over play a big part in disrupting the scheduling process. The Special Procedure Unit (SPU) services pediatric patients, and it is vital that their procedures are completed on time. Cases must start and end on time to treat the maximum number of patients possible. The SPU must partner with the preoperative unit to identify barriers to patients arriving at the SPU on time for their procedure. A surgical readiness checklist allows the SPU and preoperative unit to identify barriers to patients arriving at the SPU on time. In the electronic medical record (EMR) documentation through EPIC, there are lists of barriers the perioperative unit can fill out that can be captured in reports. Case runover can also create delays in the following cases. Case run-over is an inappropriately scheduled case; with the help of preference cards, EPIC can calculate a provider's last five specific cases and give an accurate posting time for the case to get scheduled. By using the surgical checklist and the preference cards, it was the intention of this project to improve the efficiency of the procedure suites and optimize the scheduled block time to see the maximum number of patients per surgical day. Results from the project showed a reduction in delays by 164 minutes, which was a 23% improvement. There was also a reduction in run-over time by 249 minutes, noting a 57% improvement.