Title Byline
STAFFING
2 2
O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4
Ensure First Cases Start On Time
Getting off to a good start sets the tone for the entire day.
S
everal years
ago, our first
cases of the
day rarely started on
time. There was a lot
of finger pointing.
Nurses said the ORs
weren't ready
because the surgeons
were always late.
The surgeons didn't think showing up on time was a priority because the
ORs were never ready. It was a vicious cycle. Today, 90% of our cases go
back to surgery not only on time, but 10 minutes early. Here's how we
changed the culture and expectations each morning so 90% of our cases
go back to surgery not only on time, but 10 minutes early.
Before
Nurses and techs would filter in at odd times, fill their coffee mugs, talk
in the lounge and they might or might not review their case assignments.
Now
Staff must be at their scheduled rooms at 6:30 a.m., 30 minutes before
the scheduled case start time. We measure "on-time starts" as "wheels in
the room," and we want patients in the OR at 7 a.m. Surgeon cut time is
10 to 30 minutes later, depending on how long it takes to position, prep
and drape the patient.
When nurses arrive, they immediately visit the first patients of the day
to confirm the correct procedure, determine if surgeons need to be con-
Renee
Levine,
CRNA,
MSN
EARLY BIRDS Staff members at
Carolinas Healthcare System are
ready to go well before patients
are brought back for surgery.
