Surgical services optimization: first case starts and turnover time

Operating room (OR) efficiencies are vital to the financial success of the hospital. Due to the negative outlook for hospital reimbursements and the rising costs of delivering care, it is important for hospitals to optimize OR efficiency for decreased costs and increased revenues. On-time first case starts (FCS) and turnover time (TOT) are two metrics that set the stage for other OR efficiencies to follow. The case of a community hospital is applied to four successful OR efficiency programs for opportunities for improvement. Opportunities to decrease OR costs and optimize surgical services metrics will thereby increase the OR capacity and revenue generating ability. OR efficiency is significant to the field of public health because optimization of efficiency contributes to the hospital's financial success and long-term viability in serving the community's needs