Digital Platform for Operating Room Teams Reduces Cross-Specialty Turnover Time: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis

To determine whether facility-wide implementation of a novel digital platform-providing operating room (OR) staff with mobile and desktop access to surgeons' preference card content and key workflow information-improves turnover time (TOT) and perioperative efficiency.

Reducing TOT is a key operational strategy that can increase the volume of surgery performed per session. Digital tools that support OR team preparation may offer a complementary and cost-efficient approach to existing strategies.

In this blinded, interrupted time-series quality improvement study, we retrospectively analyzed TOT, procedure duration, and intraoperative door movements for all elective cases at a general hospital between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023. The intervention platform, containing surgeon-specific protocols, setups, and preference card information, was introduced on August 1, 2022, and fully implemented across all ORs by May 1, 2023. Staff were unaware that their performance was being measured.

Over 2 years, 13,230 procedures met inclusion criteria. Median TOT decreased from 13 minutes (IQR 9-18) before implementation to 11 minutes (IQR 7-17) after (P < 0.001), with consistent reductions for short (<45 minutes) and long (≥45 minutes) procedures. Procedure duration was not significantly different (P = 0.130). Door movements decreased during late and after phases [Incidence rate ratio, 0.871 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.838-0.905) and 0.859 (95% CI = 0.829-0.889), respectively].

The intervention was associated with significant reductions in TOT and door movements. For short procedures, these reductions may enable additional cases within high-volume lists. These findings underscore the utility of digital tools to enhance operational performance and support team coordination.