Operating Room Turnover Time: Definitions and Future Research Needs

Abstract

One aspect of healthcare efficiency is operating room (OR) turnover time. OR turnover time is an area of high interest to hospital administration, however, limited Human Factors research exists on turnover time. The current paper describes OR turnover time and describes variables involved (e.g., tasks, procedures, personnel, and others). Next, research topics related to OR turnover time are described. This includes measuring turnover time, parallel processes, workflow layout, teamwork, and several other areas. Research gaps in these areas are discussed.