Effects of Reengineering Operating Room Case Scheduling at Madigan Army Medical Center

摘要

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of reengineering operating room case scheduling at Madigan Army Medical Center. The goal of the reengineering initiative was to reduce the variations leading to inefficiency, thereby improving the processes and allowing for increased throughput in the operating room complex. Five variables, operating room turn over time, surgeon time, surgical cancellations, surgical referrals, and surgical backlog were analyzed. Data collection occurred in two phases. The first phase was retrospective and consisted of the time period from June 1, 1997 through August 31, 1997. The second phase was concurrent with the implementation of the reengineering initiative and consisted of the period September 1, 1997 through November 30, 1997. Independent-samples t tests indicated no significant differences (p=.O 1) in the variables after implementation of the reengineering initiative. Decreased variations were seen in three of the variables: operating room turn over time, surgeon time, and surgical cancellations. The results of this study indicate improvements in the operating room complex were realized after implementing the reengineering initiative.