Using a computerized scheduling system to predict procedure lengths.
To determine the effectiveness of our computerized OR scheduling system and database, we compared scheduled surgical procedure lengths to actual procedure lengths for a large, multispecialty sample (1,103 procedures in 14 surgical subspecialties). We were able to accurately predict procedure lengths, within 15 minutes, 65% of the time. The estimated procedure lengths were more accurate in some surgical subspecialties than others, and four specific factors accounted for a large percentage (ie, 84%) of all delayed start times.
Bross
B
B
St Vincent's Hospital, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Gamblin
B B
BB
Holtzclaw
S L
SL
Johnston
S E
SE
D000407:Alabama; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009870:Operating Room Information Systems; D010562:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling Information Systems; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013996:Time and Motion Studies