Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/873929
"Each member of the surgical team has their own responsibility in room turnover," says Marcia Conley, RN, BSN, director of nursing at the Cataract and Laser Center in Crossville, Tenn. "Even our surgeons are involved in some aspect, such as moving foot pedals and the microscope when needed." The Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii., has a dedi- cated turnover staff. "The entire team works together," says Tiffany Chance, MSN, ANP-C. "There are rewards for not having delays. The core team has all case carts stocked and ready." Clean your room Turnover time and surgical specialty are closely related. Take endo vs. ortho, for example. At the Community Endoscopy Center in Indianapolis, Ind., a circulator floats in the procedure hallway, helping the scrub nurses turn over the 4 procedure rooms between cases — typically in less than 10 minutes. "This person has other duties as well, though. She's not specifically dedicated to turnover only," says Tammy Richardson, RN, BSN, MHA, the center's director. Meanwhile, at the orthopedics department at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., turnover time is closer to 30 minutes for heavily soiled orthopedics cases. "We need to thoroughly clean multi- ple pieces of equipment," says Barbara Earp, RN, BSN, CNOR, the orthopedics coordinator. Nearly one-third (30.9%) of our respondents have an average room turnover time of less than 10 minutes; one-fourth (25.5%) average 10- 15 minutes; and one-fifth (19.2%) average 15-20 minutes. Fewer than 10% take longer than 30 minutes on turnover. Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center, Iowa, is one such facility. "We only have the one big OR, so no more surgeries until the room is turned over!" says OR Manager Doris Terwilliger, RN. "Our OR staff 1 0 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7