Statistical Method to Evaluate Management Strategies to Decrease Variability in Operating Room Utilization

Abstract

Background: Operating room (OR) managers seeking to max-imize labor productivity in their OR suite may attempt to reduce day-to-day variability in hours of OR time for which there are staff but for which there are no cases (" underutilized time "). The authors developed a method to analyze data from surgical services information systems to evaluate which management interventions can most effectively decrease variability in unde-turnover or delays between cases, or (3) day-to-day variation in hours of add-on cases would have a small effect. Conclusions: This method can be used for decision support to determine how to decrease variability in underutilized OR time.