The impact of verbal goal setting on operating room turnover time: a randomized trial

Operating room turnover times are highly variable, with longer times having a significant negative impact on hospital costs, surgeon volume, and satisfaction. The primary aim of this randomized trial was to examine the impact of a verbalized time goal on the likelihood of meeting institutional goals.

This is a prospective, single-blind, randomized study conducted across four operative sites: inpatient main campus and three outpatient centers. Sequential cases for the same surgeon in the same room were randomized to receive a verbal prompt versus usual care, in which no goal setting was verbalized. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were performed.

From July through October 2022, five attending surgeons randomized 88 cases (44 verbal prompt, 44 usual care). Of these, 30 were at the main inpatient hospital. The case mixture included 36% vaginal, 27% endoscopy, 8% open, 10% robotic, and others. Average turnover time was 51.7 and 35.3 min for inpatient and outpatient cases respectively. Overall, only 39.8% of cases hit the institutional turnover time goal. Verbal prompting did not significantly increase the likelihood of achieving the institutional goal (38.4% vs 43.4% p = 0.352) except for in minor surgery (64.0 vs 39.0%, p = 0.0477). A verbal prompt reduced turnover time in major surgery (59.7 vs 47.8 min, p = 0.0445).

Our academic center achieved goal turnover times in only 39.8% of cases. Although verbal prompting did not significantly improve the likelihood of meeting institutional goals in the group as a whole, some subgroups were significantly improved.