title: Monitoring the cost-effective use of operating theatres.
abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate the utilisation of operating theatres in an academic 2000 bed hospital in order to assess nursing manhours. The incidence of operations performed over a 4 year period, differentiating between cold and emergency cases, was mapped. The theatre list (booked cases) was checked against actual operations performed, identifying an 8% cancellation incidence. This was further analysed using specialisation and reasons for cancellations as indicators. Further analyses per theatre were done, using 3 indicators, i.e. scheduled, anaesthetic and surgical times. These showed +/- a 20% difference between anaesthetic and surgical time and was identified as an area for remedial action. The final analysis showed that more nursing manhours (100%) were made provision for than the scheduled theatre time required. It was suggested that the present nursing allocation system to theatres be reconsidered.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bruwêr
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013019:South Africa