Reducing Surgery Cancellations at a Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery Center

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Ambulatory Care
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Surgery cancellations incur significant costs and cause frustration for patients, families, and staff.
• Ambulatory surgery centers, performing only scheduled elective procedures, are particularly affected by cancellations, leading to wasted resources.
• Effective preoperative screening and communication are crucial for mitigating pediatric surgery cancellations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reduce the rate of surgery cancellations at a pediatric ambulatory surgery center.
• To assess the impact of a structured preoperative communication intervention on cancellation rates.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a Nurse-Patient Preoperative Call Log system.
• Preoperative nurses conducted two calls within two weeks before surgery for each patient.
• Calls focused on reviewing health history, instructions, and addressing patient/guardian questions.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in surgery cancellation rates was observed, falling from 16.8% to 8.8% (P < .05) within three months of implementation.
• The Nurse-Patient Preoperative Call Log was utilized for all patients.
• 85.6% of patients received the intended two preoperative calls.

Conclusions:

• The Nurse-Patient Preoperative Call Log is an effective strategy for reducing cancellations in pediatric ambulatory surgery.
• Enhanced preoperative communication through structured nursing calls improves efficiency and patient care in ambulatory surgery settings.