Optimization of the Operating Room Scheduling Process for Improving Efficiency in a Tertiary Hospital

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Hospital Operations
• Surgical Services

Background:

• Efficient operating room (OR) scheduling is crucial for optimizing hospital resources and reducing operational costs.
• Current scheduling processes may not fully leverage OR capacity, leading to underutilization and increased expenses.
• A centralized scheduling approach could potentially enhance OR efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a centralized scheduling process, led by the OR scheduling office (ORSO), on OR utilization rates.
• To compare key performance indicators such as OR utilization, daily case volume, and operative time before and after implementing scheduling process alterations.
• To determine the financial benefits and operational improvements associated with enhanced OR scheduling.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of OR data from a single tertiary hospital over two consecutive calendar years.
• Comparison of OR utilization rate, daily case numbers, and cumulative operative time pre- and post-implementation of a modified scheduling process.
• Statistical analysis to determine the significance of observed changes in OR efficiency metrics.

Main Results:

• Daytime OR utilization rate increased from 85.6% to 89.4% (P < 0.001).
• Overall OR utilization rate improved from 115.1% to 117.6% (P = 0.019).
• Cumulative operative time for daytime cases increased significantly (P < 0.001), while evening/night case-hours decreased (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Centralizing OR scheduling under the ORSO effectively enhances OR utilization and operational efficiency.
• The OR scheduling office can function as a control tower, enabling flexible OR management and yielding financial benefits.
• Optimized scheduling processes improve resource allocation and contribute to cost savings in tertiary hospitals.