title: Effective block scheduling strategies.
abstract: The scheduling of surgery provides opportunities to orchestrate a wide variety of resources that have a significant impact on both hospitals, physicians, and patients. This article presents the successful development and implementation of a block scheduling system in a large operating room setting. Strategies include process redesign, automation, and physician empowerment to achieve outcomes of improved efficiency, customer satisfaction and physician self-governance.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Surgery Services, Saint Francis Hospital, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Geuder
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Banschbach
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006754:Hospital Restructuring; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009825:Oklahoma; D009870:Operating Room Information Systems; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010562:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling Information Systems