orm_october-2023 - 20

Finances
Takeaways
* OR leaders can compare results of productivity measures with external and internal benchmarks.
* Technology that provides operational data, such as information on capacity, can facilitate productivity analysis.
* Establishing partnerships with senior leadership facilitates understanding of productivity metrics.
Productivity, Saver
Continued from page 1
that sweet spot for productivity, " she
says.
The ideal productivity level is 100%
to 108% but the percentage will fluctuate.
For instance, Casteel says that
on Tuesdays, the number of cases are
lower, but they are longer and more
complex, which results in lower postanesthesia
care unit (PACU) productivity.
However, Wednesdays bring higher
PACU productivity because there are
more shorter cases, such as GI and
urology. Therefore, Casteel recommends
that in addition to reviewing
daily data, leaders should review trends
over six pay periods. She recommends
leaders avoid dipping below 95%. On
the other hand, " If you're consistently
above 120%, you need to ask why, "
Casteel says. Productivity may be higher
because someone was on family leave
or out sick, which reduces the number
of staff. While a 120% productivity
report might seem like good news,
sustained for too long, staff will feel
overworked and could leave the organization.
For that reason, Casteel says
consistently high productivity percentages
could indicate an inappropriate
staffing model.
Benchmarking with
national data can be
helpful in answering the
second question related
to comparison data. For
example, Edna Gilliam,
DNP, MBA, RN, CNOR,
assistant vice president
for perioperative services
and sterile processing
department (SPD) for Nemours
Children's Hospital in Wilmington, DelEdna
Gilliam,
DNP, MBA,
RN, CNOR
20
OR Manager | October 2023
aware, says the hospital
reports data to the
Children's Hospital Association
(a collaborative
of more than 220
children's hospitals that
seeks to improve child
health) and receives
quarterly reports in return.
" We look at the
reports to see how we
Brian
Dawson,
MSN, RN-BC,
CNOR, CSSM
measure up to other children's hospitals, "
she says. In general, however,
national comparison data for the perioperative
setting are lacking, according
to Brian Dawson, MSN, RN-BC, CNOR,
CSSM, system vice president for perioperative
services at CommonSpirit Health
in Chicago. Instead, healthcare systems
may choose to compare hospitals
within the system.
time, which are opportunities
for more cases, "
says Shawn Sefton,
MBA, BSN, RN, a perioperative
consultant. " It
can help us understand
our business much better. "
Sefton was chief
nursing officer and vice
president for clinical soShawn
Sefton,
MBA,
BSN, RN
if
Productivity
analysis helps
leaders make
impactful changes
The goal of data analysis is to use
the results to improve care (sidebar,
Success stories: Operationalizing productivity
results).
Technology's role
Technology can provide information related
to factors such as capacity and
patient flow that can be used to facilitate
productivity measurement and
foster better business decisions. " The
newest technology gives leaders real
time and predictive information so they
can better plan and identify windows of
lutions at Hospital IQ, which was acquired
by LeanTaaS in January 2023.
That understanding helps OR leaders
ensure they have the right resources at
the right time. For example, when OR
leaders can predict the types of cases
coming up, they can staff rooms with
employees who have the competencies
needed for those cases. Leaders also
can adjust block schedules to optimize
utilization. Sefton says these types of
features help leaders present a business
case for purchasing a system. If,
for instance, utilization is below target,
being able to predict where additional
cases can be scheduled and how to
use staff most efficiently will increase
revenue. In essence, the technology
can help optimize OR management,
which will improve margins and gain the
attention of those in the C-suite.
Many organizations pull productivity
measures, such as first-case start
times and turnover times, from electronic
health records (EHRs). Software
that provides operational data is usually
focused on inpatient units, but a few
commercial products can be helpful in
the perioperative setting. One option
is iQueue for Operating Rooms (LeanTaaS),
which CommonSpirit has purchased.
The product helps the organization
establish realistic productivity
standards and staffing for various hospitals.
For the SPD, Nemours Children's
Hospital uses SPM Surgical Asset Tracking
Software (Steris), which includes a
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