Optimizing Operating Room Scheduling

Wilton C Levine; Peter F Dunn

doi:10.1016/j.anclin.2015.07.006

Optimizing Operating Room Scheduling

Anesthesiol Clin. 2015 Dec;33(4):697-711. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2015.07.006.

Authors

Wilton C Levine¹, Peter F Dunn²

Affiliations

¹ Perioperative Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, White 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
² Perioperative Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, White 400, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: pdunn@partners.org.

PMID: 26610624
DOI: 10.1016/j.anclin.2015.07.006

Abstract

This article reviews the management of an operating room (OR) schedule and use of the schedule to add value to an organization. We review the methodology of an OR block schedule, daily OR schedule management, and post anesthesia care unit patient flow. We discuss the importance of a well-managed OR schedule to ensure smooth patient care, not only in the OR, but throughout the entire hospital.

Keywords: OR case length; OR case order; Operating room design; Operating room resource management; Operating room schedule; Post anesthesia care unit (PACU) flow.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anesthesia Recovery Period
Appointments and Schedules*
Efficiency, Organizational*
Humans
Operating Rooms / organization & administration*
Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / organization & administration*
Recovery Room / organization & administration*
Time Factors