Literature search for healthcare management decision-making on how to increase productivity by performing more surgical cases in the same staffed time

Franklin Dexter; Manuel Ángel Gómez-Ríos; Richard H Epstein

doi:10.1016/j.redare.2024.501656

Back

Journal article

Literature search for healthcare management decision-making on how to increase productivity by performing more surgical cases in the same staffed time

Franklin Dexter, Manuel Ángel Gómez-Ríos and Richard H Epstein

Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación (English ed.), Vol.72(4), 501656

04/2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.redare.2024.501656

PMID: 39694265

View Online

Abstract

This report shows an example of using literature search for healthcare management decision making, specifically, how anesthesiologists can enhance operating room (OR) productivity. A search was conducted using Scopus to gather relevant research on increasing surgical case numbers. References and citations were then examined. The search identified strategies to reduce non-operative times, facilitate overlapping surgeries, and optimize OR scheduling. Key findings indicate that reducing anesthesia-controlled times alone is insufficient to reliably add extra surgical cases within an eight-hour workday. Instead, significant productivity gains are realized by managing OR turnover times, using induction rooms, and revising workflows to maximize efficiency. Studies show that overlapping surgeries and strategic use of adjacent spaces can significantly increase the number of daily surgical cases performed. Most surgical growth is driven by accommodating low caseload surgeons across multiple specialties. Facilitating OR time access for these surgeons through flexible scheduling and re-sequencing of cases is crucial. Additionally, anesthesiologists should be engaged in daily OR scheduling and case sequencing, particularly within two days of surgery. The dual goals are to increase OR utilization and reduce patient wait times. These results from the management case report underscores the importance of evidence-based OR management practices and proactive involvement of anesthesiologists in scheduling decisions to enhance surgical productivity effectively.

Operations Research

Industrial Engineering

anesthesia-controlled time

tiempo controlado por la anestesia

operating room management

Surgical productivity

overlapping surgeries

OR scheduling

gestión del quirófano

epidemiología gerencial

búsqueda de operaciones

Productividad quirúrgica

programación del quirófano

managerial epidemiology

ingeniería industrial

solapamiento de cirugías

tiempo de rotación

turnover time

Details

Title: Subtitle: Literature search for healthcare management decision-making on how to increase productivity by performing more surgical cases in the same staffed time
Creators: Franklin Dexter - University of Iowa
Manuel Ángel Gómez-Ríos - Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña
Richard H Epstein - University of Miami
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación (English ed.), Vol.72(4), 501656
DOI: 10.1016/j.redare.2024.501656
PMID: 39694265
NLM abbreviation: Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed)
ISSN: 2341-1929
eISSN: 2341-1929
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 12/16/2024
Date published: 04/2025
Academic Unit: Anesthesia
Record Identifier: 9984758268102771

Metrics

6 Record Views