Are you looking for a way to generate more revenue for your medical facility? If so, it is important for you to think about your operating rooms. There are a lot of hospitals that depend on elective surgery for most of their revenue. If this sounds like something your hospital system does, then it is important for you to find a way to maximize operating room utilization. Unfortunately, there are a lot of hospital systems that lose a lot of revenue every day. What do you need to do if you want to get the most out of your operating rooms? Take a look at the list below, and do not hesitate to reach out to a professional who can help you address this issue.
Make Sure the First Case Starts on Time
Delays are going to happen from time to time. Emergencies take place, and there might not be a lot you can do about this. On the other hand, you have total control over when the first case begins. If you want your operating rooms to begin at 7 a.m., then you need to make sure that everyone is ready for that first case. Even though it can be a challenge to get people ready that early, it is just as important for you to make sure that all the support staff arrives early enough to make sure that the first case begins at 7. That way, you can set a good tone for the rest of the day.
Automate Everything When You Can
If you can, you need to automate as much as possible. There are plenty of programs you can use that can automate a lot of the tasks that you used to do by hand. The reality is that computer programs can work more quickly and accurately than people. Therefore, you need to take a look at some of the programs that are available that could help you automate a lot of the steps that must take place before you begin your neck procedure. If you can find a way to automate these tasks, you can reduce the amount of time you spend in between procedures, helping you get the most out of your operating rooms.
Use a Pre-Op Checklist
One of the biggest reasons why hospitals are not getting enough out of the operating rooms is that they do not use a preoperative checklist. It is important for you to have a checklist available so that you can make sure that you do not miss anything. Having a checklist available is an important part of standardizing the procedure between cases and patients. You might want to talk to your surgeon to figure out what items need to be included on the checklist. Then, you simply have to go down the checklist, helping you save time in-between cases.
Make Sure You Minimize Cancellations
Finally, you need to take as many steps as possible to minimize cancellations. Perhaps the biggest reason why hospitals lose money is that they have operating rooms that are not in use. If you have a high cancellation rate, you need to figure out why this is happening. Do you need to do more to manage surgeon schedules? Do you have a problem with patients getting sick right before the case? Are there other reasons why you might be suffering cancellations? You need to find a way to minimize cancellations so you do not have to worry about losing a significant amount of revenue from your operating rooms.
Implement a Strong Culture in the Hospital
Ultimately, if you want to improve operating room utilization, you need to make sure that everyone is on board with this process. That is why you need to implement a strong culture throughout the hospital. You need to think carefully about who you hire to work in your medical system. Then, you need to make sure you get input from everyone. That way, you can keep yourself aware of problems that could be present in the operating rooms. If you can address these issues as quickly as possible, you can find a way to get the most out of your operating rooms.
