Understanding the Surgical Efficiency Challenge

Improving surgical efficiency is essential for optimizing an organization’s bottom line. Even the slightest increase in turnover times can be costly, both financially and in terms of staff satisfaction. Yet predicting and preventing the root causes of inefficiency is extremely complex.  

Surgical efficiency and the role of AI

Gaining real-time visibility into every operating room is a manual, time-consuming process today. OR Charge Desk personnel make rounds to visually inspect each room and updates regarding status and remaining case duration are, plainly, educated assumptions. It is very difficult to gain objective, accurate insights into current OR status and how it will impact the downstream surgical schedule.  

However, healthcare organizations can leverage video capture and AI to accurately predict anticipated start times, end times, and overtime requirements. Their surgical schedules begin to optimize, and staff are alerted about key events in advance to minimize delays and maximize utilization. 

Healthcare organizations across the country are leveraging this technology to improve surgical efficiency. You can learn more about the surgical efficiency challenge in the infographic below and explore the power of AI-driven technology to optimize the OR workflow by downloading our fact sheet.  

Recommended Reading

1. Abouleish, A. E., Dexter, F., Whitten, C. W., Zavaleta, J. R., & Prough, D. S. (2004). Quantifying net staffing costs due to longer-than-average surgical case durations. Anesthesiology, 100(2), 403–412. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-200402000-00033

2. Perez, E. R., Kerko, R., Lever, N., White, A., Kahf, S., & Avella-Molano, B. (2022b). Operating room relay strategy for turnover time improvement: a quality improvement project. BMJ Open Quality, 11(3), e001957. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2022-001957 

3. Gee, B. (2024, January 16). Ultimate guide to surgery cancellation Policies. Surgimate. https://www.surgimate.com/your-ultimate-guide-surgery-cancellation-policy/

4. Taylor, A. (2022, November 4). AORN addresses critical shortage of OR nurses. Outpatient Surgery Magazine. https://www.aorn.org/outpatient-surgery/article/2021-August-chamberlain