Huang AY, et al. - Researchers here developed an inexpensive, automated OR utilization system and analyzed data from multiple operating rooms. They observed that the SmartOR automatically and reliably captured data on OR room state and, in real time, identified outlier cases that may be examined closer to improve efficiency. As there was no necessity for manual entry, the data were indisputable and allowed OR teams to maintain a patient-centric focus.

Methods

• Researchers deconstructed OR activity into four room states.
• They then developed a sensor network to automatically capture these states using only three sensors, a local wireless network, and a data capture computer.
• Then installation of two systems was performed in two ORs, recordings captured 24/7.
• The following events were recorded by the SmartOR: any room activity, patient entry/exit time, anesthesia time, laparoscopy time, room turnover time, and time of preoperative patient identification by the surgeon.

Results

• From November 2014 to December 2015, researchers collected data on 1003 cases.
• They noticed that the mean turnover time was 36 min, and 38% of cases met the institutional goal of ≤30 min.
• Data analysis, in addition, highlighted the outlier cases (>1 SD from mean) in the domains of time from patient entry into the OR to intubation (11% of cases) and time from extubation to patient exiting the OR (11% of cases).
• In this study, observations revealed time from surgeon identification of patient to scheduled procedure start time of 11 min (institution bylaws require 20 min before scheduled start time), yet OR teams required 22 min on average to bring a patient into the room after surgeon identification.