Methods of recording theatre activity across publicly funded hospitals in Ireland

A review of theatre activity in all Health Service Executive (HSE) hospitals in Cork and Kerry in 2008 required a manual extraction of theatre activity data from largely paper-based log books. A key data management recommendation suggested that "a standardised computerised theatre log book system be developed in all hospitals in the region". HSE (2010) Reconfiguration of health services for Cork and Kerry—theatre utilisation review. ISBN 978-1-906218-54-6.

In 2010, a computerised minimum dataset project group conducted a telephone survey of theatre managers nationally to determine the methods of recording theatre activity across publicly funded hospital theatres in Ireland.

Sixty-one percent of acute hospitals nationally did not have a computerised theatre register. Of those who did, 15 % had a fully electronic system, 13 % had a dual paper-based and electronic system and 7 % had a single surgical specialty system. The HSE South region was significantly deprived of an electronic operating system in comparison to other HSE regions. While the total number of fully computerised hospital theatres remained small,they still dealt with the greater number of hospital discharges nationally.

The roll-out of the productive operating theatre programme is facilitating the implementation of operating room management systems on a phased basis nationally. This will greatly facilitate audit, research,patient care and theatre efficiencies.