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A Dedicated Orthopaedic Trauma Operating Room Improves Efficiency at a Pediatric Center
Christopher M Brusalis1, Apurva S Shah, Xianqun Luan
11Division of Orthopaedic Surgery (C.M.B., A.S.S., and W.N.S.), Office of Clinical Quality Improvement (X.L.), and Division of Corporate Finance (M.K.L.), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume
|January 7, 2017
Summary
A dedicated pediatric orthopaedic trauma operating room significantly reduced after-hours procedures and wait times, leading to shorter hospital stays and cost savings. This improved patient flow and outcomes in pediatric trauma care.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Pediatric Trauma Care
- Healthcare Operations Management
Background:
- Dedicated operating rooms enhance efficiency and outcomes in adult orthopaedic trauma care.
- The study investigates the impact of a dedicated orthopaedic trauma operating room at a pediatric level-I trauma center.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if a dedicated orthopaedic trauma operating room improves patient flow and reduces costs in a pediatric setting.
- To evaluate the efficiency and safety of a dedicated pediatric orthopaedic trauma operating room.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of orthopaedic trauma procedures over two 3-year periods (before and after dedicated OR implementation).
- Comparison of efficiency parameters and surgical complications for 5 common pediatric fractures.
- Laparoscopic appendectomies used as a control group to account for external hospital efficiency changes.
Main Results:
- Reduced after-hours procedures by 48% and decreased operating room wait times for specific fractures.
- Shortened mean inpatient hospitalization by 5.6 hours, resulting in a $1,251 cost reduction per patient.
- Observed fewer surgical complications for supracondylar humeral fractures post-implementation.
Conclusions:
- A dedicated pediatric orthopaedic trauma operating room is associated with improved patient flow and cost-effectiveness.
- Implementation led to fewer after-hours cases, reduced wait times, and shorter hospital stays.
- The dedicated OR model shows promise for enhancing pediatric trauma care efficiency and patient outcomes.
