title: Characteristics and costs of surgical scheduling errors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Errors that increase the risk of wrong-side/-site procedures not only occur the day of surgery but also are often introduced much earlier during the scheduling process. The frequency of these booking errors and their effects are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  All surgical scheduling errors reported in the institution's medical event reporting system from January 1, 2011, to July 31, 2011, were analyzed. Focus groups with operating room nurses were held to discuss delays caused by scheduling errors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 17,606 surgeries, there were 151 (.86%) booking errors. The most common errors were wrong side (55, 36%), incomplete (38, 25%), and wrong approach (25, 17%). Focus group participants said incomplete and wrong-approach bookings resulted in the longest delays, averaging 20 minutes and costing at least $320.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although infrequent, scheduling errors disrupt operating room team dynamics, causing delays and bearing substantial costs. Further research is necessary to develop tools for more accurate scheduling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. rebecca.wu@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Arthur H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Aufses
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003142:Communication; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009519:New York City; D009871:Operating Room Nursing; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods