Effect of a novel financial incentive program on operating room efficiency.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Operations
• Health Economics

Background:

• Operating room (OR) turnaround times (TATs) and on-time first-case starts (FCSs) are key metrics for OR efficiency.
• Prolonged TATs and late FCSs are common challenges in academic medical centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a financial incentive program (FIP) on OR efficiency.
• To determine if an FIP could decrease TATs and improve on-time FCSs.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study was conducted at an academic trauma hospital over 10 months.
• OR team members received education, and a points-based FIP was implemented, awarding bonuses for meeting TAT and FCS goals.
• TAT was measured from "wheels out" to "wheels in," and on-time FCS was defined as "wheels in" within 6 minutes of the scheduled start.

Main Results:

• After FIP implementation, on-time FCSs improved from 31% to 64% (P < .001).
• The percentage of TATs of 60 minutes or less increased from 24% to 52% (P < .001).
• The FIP resulted in an estimated hospital savings of $210,000.

Conclusions:

• A novel FIP effectively enhanced OR efficiency.
• Improved staff awareness and teamwork, alongside financial incentives, likely contributed to the success.
• The program demonstrated a significant return on investment for the hospital.