Operating room utilization

OR utilization is a measure of the use of an operating room that is properly staffed with people needed to successfully deliver a surgical procedure to a patient.

Raw utilization is the total hours of elective cases performed within OR time divided by the hours of allocated block time.

Raw Utilization = total hours of cases performed ÷ total hours of OR time allocated

Adjusted utilization uses the total hours of elective cases performed within OR block time, including "credit" for the turnover times necessary to set up and clean up ORs.

Adjusted Utilization = [total hours of cases + "credit time"] ÷ total hours of OR time allocated

Factors affecting utilization rates include: the accuracy of estimated case times, cancellation rate, number of add-ons available to fill gaps, whether longest cases go first, the time of day as utilization typically is highest in the morning and lowest in the evening, outpatient centers have lower utilization, and other constraints (ie, surgeon can only use room 12, or start at 11am).

Improvements in operating room efficiency can have a major impact on hospital staff and finances as well as operating room management.