Here are three quick tips for improving operating room efficiency.
1. Include assistants. Including staff such as physician assistants to help with more complicated cases can reduce case time, according to Joseph Bosco, MD, vice chairman for clinical affairs at the Hospital for Joint Diseases' department of orthopedic surgery. Dr. Bosco shared this insight in a webinar with Jeff Peters, president and CEO of Surgical Directions.
2. Establish a coordinated patient transport system. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic increased OR on-time starts fourfold by establishing a coordinated patient transport system, according to a study in Journal for Healthcare Quality.
3. Designate a navigator. Assign a navigator who is responsible for controlling traffic in the operating space, suggests Kelly Doyle, CEO of Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital in Philadelphia.
More Articles on OR Efficiency:
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7 Tips for Improving Efficiency in Your Anesthesia Department
What Hospital CEOs Need to Know About Surgical Services: 4 Strategies for Protecting OR Revenue