Monitoring the cost-effective use of operating theatres

This study was undertaken to evaluate the utilisation of operating theatres in an academic 2000 bed hospital in order to assess nursing manhours. The incidence of operations performed over a 4 year period, differentiating between cold and emergency cases, was mapped. The theatre list (booked cases) was checked against actual operations performed, identifying an 8% cancellation incidence. This was further analysed using specialisation and reasons for cancellations as indicators. Further analyses per theatre were done, using 3 indicators, i.e. scheduled, anaesthetic and surgical times. These showed +/- a 20% difference between anaesthetic and surgical time and was identified as an area for remedial action. The final analysis showed that more nursing manhours (100%) were made provision for than the scheduled theatre time required. It was suggested that the present nursing allocation system to theatres be reconsidered.