August 1, 2024

Room Turnover

OR Turnover Optimization for Improved Patient Outcomes

Healthcare professionals are tirelessly striving to enhance patient care and efficiency in their daily practices. In the operating room (OR), one critical aspect that significantly impacts both patient outcomes and workflow is turnover time. Turnover or turnaround time refers to the window between consecutive surgical cases, from when a patient exits an OR to when the next patient enters. Efficient and well-organized turnover processes are crucial to maximize resource utilization, minimize delays, and provide additional time to focus on the patient, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Why Turnover Time Matters

Efficient turnover times are not mere logistical concerns but pivotal factors in the quality of care provided. Shortening these intervals:

  • Maximizes resource utilization by ensuring that ORs are used to their full potential.

  • Minimizes delays, reducing patient wait times and increasing overall satisfaction.

  • Provides more time for patient care, allowing healthcare professionals to concentrate on delivering high-quality care rather than administrative tasks.

Implementing Standardized Room Turnover Procedures

One effective solution for improving turnover times is implementing standardized room turnover procedures. These practices create consistency in turnover processes, ensuring that staff follow a standardized approach. While there are no universal industry standards for cleaning and turning an OR, many excellent tools can support the development or enhancement of protocols.

Key Strategies for Standardized Turnover Procedures

The Environmental Cleaning Guidelines from AORN is one such valuable resource. The key strategies outlined in the guide include:

  • Partner with Infection Control to provide oversight during cleanup and turnover.

  • Review turnover procedures with staff, allowing them to provide input on areas of improvement.

  • Implement ongoing training and process improvement reviews for staff through immediate feedback and coaching.

  • Use fluorescent markers or ATP tests for quick audits, highlighting often-missed areas directly to staff.

The Role of Supplies in Room Turnover

Another crucial aspect impacting room turnover is the availability of supplies. Many facilities have successfully incorporated pre-packed room turnaround kits. These kits consist of disposable supplies and equipment needed for cleaning and preparing the surgical suite between cases. They are designed to create consistency in turnover processes, reduce time spent on inventory management, and enhance standardized room turnover procedures.

Benefits of Standardized Room Turnover Kits

  • Standardization of Supplies and Reduction of Waste:

    1. Pre-packed supplies reduce staff time to pick and assemble items for the task at hand.
    2. These kits offer the convenience of opening the supplies required in one easy step, reducing labor time spent on compiling individual components and minimizing packaging waste.
    3. Kits can be standardized to specific departments, driving consistency through the standardization of supplies.

  • Infection Control and Fluid Management:

    1. Disposable linens are designed to protect both the patient and equipment, minimizing the risk of cross-contamination and reducing gross contamination of OR tables, pads, and equipment.
    2. Absorbent table sheets incorporate an absorbent top layer that wicks moisture into the center, protecting the patient and staff from fluid exposure, while an impermeable bottom layer prevents fluids from striking through to the OR mattress and equipment.

  • Staff and Patient Satisfaction:

    1. Using kits provides quick and standardized supplies for staff, resulting in improved turnover times and consistent cleaning practices that enhance infection control.
    2. Implementing standardized practices ensures the room is turned over efficiently and effectively, leading to improved patient satisfaction and happier doctors.

  • Process Audit and Cost Reduction:

    1. With the estimated mean cost of OR time at $37 per minute, even a small reduction of 3-10 minutes in turnover time can result in significant savings by reallocating OR time rather than reducing staff hours.
    2. Conduct routine process audits to capture current processes and define further areas for standardization efficiencies or training opportunities.

  • Addressing Staffing Challenges:

    1. With ongoing staffing shortages in the healthcare industry, standardizing practices such as turnover can help mitigate the impact of these shortages on OR efficiency.
    2. By reducing errors and incomplete tasks, improving patient volume and workflow, and minimizing time spent on inventory management or set-up, standardized room turnover kits can ultimately enhance overall efficiency in the OR.

Conclusion

It is crucial for healthcare facilities to prioritize implementing processes that improve patient care while also increasing efficiency. Standardized room turnover is a simple and effective solution that can significantly impact both patient outcomes and staff satisfaction, ultimately allowing the clinical team to focus more on providing what they are trained to do—patient care!