Measuring and Improving the Design Quality of Operating Rooms

Existing research regarding design improvements to the operating room (OR) is scarce and emphasizes the compelling need to measure and test new design strategies and interventions.

We propose a conceptual framework for measuring and improving OR physical space design by outlining how two existing measurement schemes can be adapted for ORs. The structure, process, outcomes model described by Donabedian in 1966 is used to show how each of these three measurement approaches can be used to evaluate OR design. In addition, we describe a common design framework that focuses on the end-user experience to highlight the impact different OR stakeholders can have on the prioritization of improvements.

The structure, process, outcomes model has both benefits and drawbacks for measuring OR design quality. For example, these components are easy to measure, highly actionable when deficient, and have high validity as the bottom line. However, they may not necessarily reflect better quality or correlate to better care, and some need risk adjustment to make comparisons fair. The end-user experience model should account for the needs of patients, OR nurses, anesthesiologists, surgeons, facilities managers, hospital administrators, infection control officers, and regulators, among others.

The design quality of ORs influences outcomes and determines the quality of experience for multiple stakeholders. Patients, providers, and hospital staff would benefit directly from efforts to improve OR physical space design. By adapting previously established frameworks, it is possible to measure, evaluate, and improve OR design.