6 Tips for Reducing O.R. Turnover Time

Surgical centers nationwide can knock precious minutes off the time it takes to turnover their operating rooms by taking a cue from one Colorado hospital.  After careful observation of 10 different patient cases that spanned multiple shifts, hospital administrators at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins discovered six common denominators that helped them reduce their average turnover time from 26 minutes to 20 minutes.

An article published in Outpatient Surgery shares all six observations the hospital used to make time-shaving modifications to their turnover process. 

1. Reducing Inefficiencies: The hospital noted that several little inefficiencies can add up to a big inefficiency. Observers noticed that as patients moved through various stations of care, hospital staff had to attach and remove EKG leads, pulse oximeters and blood pressure cuffs because of the varying sizes and types used at different stations. To help this process flow more efficiently, the hospital now uses adapters so the vital sign monitors stay with the patient from station to station.
    
2. Eliminating Unnecessary duplication of Efforts: A lack of clear role-assignment was causing multiple staff members to perform tasks that had already been completed. "We would wipe off the back table three times, given the opportunity," says Paul Higgins, BSN, RN, CNOR, business manager for perioperative services at Poudre Valley. Today, everyone knows their specific role on the team.
    
3. Using Turnover Kits: Replacing reusable linens that need to be laundered with disposable turnover kits was the third efficiency booster the hospital made. Turnover kits helped ensure everything was in one place and proved to be less expensive than the hospital’s laundry service bill.
    
4. Using a More Efficient Cleaning Agent: Switching to a cleaning agent that had a faster dry and kill time also helped staff avoid “standing around watching the paint dry.”
    
5. Implementing Tracker Boards: Using tracker boards in key areas throughout the facility informs the hospital’s turnover team when a room is about to be turned over so that all involved are ready to do their part once the OR doors open. 
    
6. Engaging Surgeons to Participate in the Turnover Process: Instead of dawdling in the physicians’ lounge or doing rounds with other patients, surgeons were invested in getting back and being prepared for surgery. This streamlined the turnover process.

To learn more about this more time-effective process, be sure to read the entire article.