ule, but you've still got holes in your schedule because of unused block
time, you've got a problem. The best solution is a set-in-stone percent-
age of block time that physicians must fill. Let's say you set the block
time utilization threshold at 70% of their scheduled time. If doctors are
only filling their schedules, say, 50% of the time, you should cut the
blocks accordingly.
Create a ramp-up schedule. When bringing on new surgeons,
you'll want to analyze anticipated case volume. Create a form
for potential physicians that asks how many cases they typically do by
day or by block, how many of those cases they'd bring to your facility
and what the case mix is likely to be (for example, will an orthopod's
cases include complicated shoulder surgeries or simple knee arthro-
scopies?). You'll also want to get the physician's payer mix. You might
think twice if 17 of the 20 cases an ENT wants to bring to your facility
each month are Medicaid patients.
3
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 9
Interested in finding out more about what you can
do to combat excessive tardiness, constant call-
outs, endless turnover and personality conflicts
among staff? Make plans to attend OR Excellence
in New Orleans from Oct. 3-5. Ms. Geier's talk,
"Yes, You Can Conquer 5 Persistent Staffing
Problems," will cover everything from proven strategies to manage con-
trasting staff personalities (sensitive introverts clashing with passive-
aggressive extroverts) to the keys to maintaining organizational trans-
parency. Visit orexcellence.com for more information about the conference
program and to register.
See Ann Geier, MS, RN, CNOR, CASC, at OR Excellence
