Analysis of operating room efficiency between a hospital-owned ambulatory surgical center and hospital outpatient department

Abstract

BackgroundAmbulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are frequently utilized; however some ambulatory procedures may be performed in hospital outpatient departments (HOPs). Our aim was to compare operating room efficiency between our ASC and HOP. MethodsWe reviewed outpatient general surgery procedures performed at our ASC and HOP. Total case time was divided into five components: ancillary time, procedure time, exit time, turnover time, and nonoperative time. ResultsOverall, 220 procedures were included (114 ASC, 106 HOP). Expressed in minutes, the mean turnover time (29.8 ± 9.6 vs. 24.5 ± 12.7; p < 0.01), ancillary time (32.2 ± 7.0 vs. 22.2 ± 4.5; p < 0.01), procedure time (77.4 ± 44.9 vs. 56.2 ± 23.0 p < 0.01), exit time (11.8 ± 4.4 vs. 8.5 ± 4.3; p < 0.01), and nonoperative time (62.9 ± 21.9 vs. 48.7 ± 15.0; p < 0.01) were longer at the HOP than at the ASC. ConclusionASC outpatient procedures are more efficient than those performed at our HOP. A system evaluation of our HOP operating room efficiency is necessary.