[Influence of the space layout of a surgical department on use efficiency]

There is a growing gap between the rapidly increasing diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities and the patient demands on one side and the continuously declining hospital budgets on the other side. This gap forces hospitals to search for rationalization potentials and ways to increase their efficiency. It is well known that the operating theatre unit is one of the most important internal cost factors. Many reorganization projects therefore focus on operating theatres. In Germany, several alternative operating room layouts have been developed in order to reduce running und building costs and to reach a high degree of flexibility in their everyday use by means of an improved design. This article analyses and compares the classic operating room and four alternative layouts intended to make them suitable for reaching the promised objectives and, especially, achieving an economically run business management. Furthermore, preferred layouts for certain types of operations are recommended.