The Application of Human Factors Engineering to Reduce Operating Room Turnover in Robotic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Human Factors Engineering
• Perioperative Management

Background:

• Robotic surgery turnover time presents unique challenges due to increased technological complexity in the perioperative environment.
• Optimizing turnover time is crucial for enhancing operating room efficiency and patient throughput.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply a human factors approach to develop and implement data-driven interventions aimed at reducing robotic surgery turnover time.
• To systematically analyze and improve the efficiency of the perioperative workflow in robotic surgeries.

Main Methods:

• A human factors approach was used to observe and analyze 40 robotic surgery turnovers (20 pre-intervention, 20 post-intervention).
• Key components of turnover time, including cleaning, setup, and delays, were documented and analyzed.
• Interventions were developed by a multidisciplinary team and included an electronic dashboard, role clarification, process standardization, and data transparency.

Main Results:

• Pre-intervention median turnover time was 67 minutes, with instrument setup and cleaning being the largest contributors.
• Post-intervention, turnover time significantly decreased by 26 minutes (median 41 minutes).
• Major delays were reduced by over 50%, from 22 to 10 incidents.

Conclusions:

• Human factors analysis successfully generated effective interventions to improve robotic surgery turnover time.
• The implemented strategies led to significant reductions in turnover time and major delays, enhancing operational efficiency.
• Future improvements can be achieved by addressing pre- and post-operative care phases.