Using a best-practice perioperative governance structure to implement better block scheduling

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Administration
• Surgical Operations Management

Background:

• Effective operating room (OR) scheduling is crucial for surgical program efficiency.
• Traditional OR/surgery committees often lack the structure for successful OR scheduling.
• A robust perioperative governance framework is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline an effective OR governance model for optimizing OR scheduling.
• To propose a structure that improves OR utilization and adaptability.

Main Methods:

• Describing a proposed OR governance model led by an OR executive committee.
• Highlighting collaboration between the OR executive committee, surgery department medical director, and OR advisory committee.
• Recommending a block schedule incorporating mixed access types.

Main Results:

• A governance model led by an OR executive committee is proposed.
• Collaboration with medical directors and advisory committees is emphasized.
• A mixed block schedule (block, open, urgent/emergent) is identified as most effective.

Conclusions:

• A well-designed perioperative governance structure, led by an OR executive committee, is key to successful OR scheduling.
• Implementing a balanced block schedule enhances OR utilization and operational flexibility.