title: Educating surgeons on intraoperative disposable supply costs during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a regional health system's experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgeons play a crucial role in the cost efficiency of the operating room through total operative time, use of supplies, and patient outcomes. This study aimed to examine the effect of surgeon education on disposable supply usage during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgeons were educated about the cost of disposable equipments without incentives for achieved cost reductions. Surgical supply costs for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in fiscal year (FY) 2013 were compared with FY 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average disposable supply cost per laparoscopic cholecystectomy was reduced from $589 (n = 586) in FY 2013 to $531 (n = 428) in FY 2014, representing a 10% reduction in supply costs (P < .001). Adjustments included reduction in the use of expensive fascial closure devices, clip appliers, suction irrigators, and specimen retrieval bags.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disposable equipment cost for laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be reduced by surgeon education. These techniques can likely be used to reduce costs in an array of specialties and procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gitelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Yalini
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vigneswaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: mujiki@northshore.org.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ujiki
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Woody
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Denham
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talamonti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Muldoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Linn
mesh_terms: D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics*; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics*; D061646:Operative Time; D012040:Regional Health Planning / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D066231:Surgeons / Q000193:education*
keywords: Cost; Disposable supply; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Operating room; Savings; Surgeon education