Boosting efficiency in the endoscopy suite: integrating team workflows improves productivity and minimizes cost

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Healthcare Operations Management
• Process Improvement

Background:

• Endoscopy suite inefficiencies lead to significant frustration among healthcare professionals and patients.
• Turnover time (TOT) between procedures is perceived differently by various team members, causing workflow disruptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define perceptions of turnover time (TOT) within the endoscopy suite.
• To identify and target specific process steps to improve overall efficiency.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study was conducted in an outpatient endoscopy unit.
• Phase I involved analyzing electronic medical record timestamps to identify TOT components and define perceived TOT (pTOT) for gastroenterologists and anesthesia staff, alongside standard TOT (sTOT).
• Phase II implemented a change in patient transport responsibility from anesthesia to endoscopy nurses, comparing pre- and post-intervention sTOT.

Main Results:

• Seven key TOT components were identified, explaining variations in perceived TOT.
• Average anesthesia pTOT was 15 minutes, while gastroenterologist pTOT averaged 34 minutes.
• Following the intervention, mean sTOT decreased from 18.51 to 14.25 minutes (P < .0001), and the proportion of cases with sTOT < 15 minutes increased from 41.79% to 58.90% (P < .0001).
• The intervention resulted in an estimated saving of 45 minutes per room per day, with a potential revenue increase exceeding $300,000 annually per procedure room.

Conclusions:

• Variations in perceived turnover time (TOT) within the endoscopy suite were defined.
• Reallocating workload, specifically patient transport, significantly improved efficiency and reduced costs.
• Workflow optimization in endoscopy suites can lead to substantial financial benefits and improved operational performance.