Improving First Case Operating Room Efficiency

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Improving transition to the operating room (OR) can enhance healthcare efficiency. Our aim was to determine whether adopting a communication board (CB) for first case surgical patients reduced delays to OR. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted from April to October 2021. We calculated differences in surgical daycare (SDC) departure time before and after implementation of the CB, differences in departure whether the CB was used or not, delay in variability between surgical specialties, and overall adoption of the CB. Results: After CB adoption, 13% of first cases left SDC by predefined target times. The mean delay in transfer was 18:51 minutes. When the CB was used, cases were on average 10:43 late, compared with 26:00 when it was not used. Otolaryngology had the shortest delays while plastic surgery had the longest. Reasons for delays included staffing delays, holds, and pending laboratory results. Conclusions: Introducing a CB significantly reduced delays in transferring first case surgical patients from SDC to the OR.