Streamlining the OR

Streamlining the OR can increase physician and staff member satisfaction and improve efficiencies. Leaders at the West Florida Division for Healthcare Corporation of America took on the task of streamlining technology and processes for 16 facilities with the goal of surgical volume growth. After assessing the current processes, the team developed a plan to streamline the OR in four major areas. For each area, they paired technology with a process to accomplish the goal. The plan included improving the virtual supply inventory set up and case picking process, coupling the procedure groups and procedure set up with the scheduling process, improving the preference card set up and maintenance system, and pairing documentation with the pre-admission and chart completion process.