9 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A n U A R Y 2 0 1 8
When was your last cancelled case?
• today 41.9% • this week 51.6% • this month 6.5%
How has your facility tried to prevent cancelled cases?
• patients fill out health history online 15.6%
• nurse calls patients for health history 53.1%
• collect co-pay or deductible in advance of surgery 37.5%
• send automated text or email reminders to patient 28.1%
• other 28.1%
Which cases are cancelled most often?
• colonoscopy 37.5% • ophthalmology 31.3%
• orthopedic surgery 6.3% • general surgery 3.1%
• other 21.9%
• THE OR SITS EMPTY Cases are cancelled due to health concerns, financial
issues or simply because the patient didn't understand how to prepare for sur-
gery, our survey found.
Last month, Outpatient Surgery Magazine asked a panel of 61 sur-
gical facility leaders in an online survey how often they experi-
ence case cancellations and why. Here are selected responses.
— Anna Merriman
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
Digging
Deep on
Cancelled
Cases
