Cancellation of Elective Procedures on the Day of Surgery

Abstract

38 Day-of-surgery cancellation is a global problem with reported rates ranging from 1.96% to 24%1,2. It could go unnoticed if the turnover of cases were high at the operating hospital. It causes distress to the treating doctors, the nursing staff, the families and the patients. Public and private hospitals suffer from waste of fund, resources and the unused slots, which cause delay to other patients on waiting list. In the long-term, this issue creates a financial drain, extended hospital stay, and multiple repeated tests and preoperative preparations3-7.