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

Abstract

This report shows how the results of a literature search for studies on healthcare management decision-making can help anaesthesiologists improve operating room (OR) turnover. The Scopus database was searched to obtain relevant studies on increasing surgery turnover. References and citations were then examined. The search identified strategies to reduce OR downtime time, facilitate overlapping surgeries, and optimize OR scheduling. Key findings show that reducing anaesthesia-controlled times alone is insufficient to reliably add extra surgical cases within an 8-hour workday. Instead, significant productivity gains are achieved 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 surgical cases performed daily. 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, anaesthesiologists should be engaged in daily OR scheduling and case sequencing, particularly within 2 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 anaesthesiologists in scheduling decisions to enhance surgical turnover.